What does hernia mean in children?

Some parents feel very scared about their children getting hernia, as if their children are in great danger. This will cause a certain sense of tension in the child, which will cause psychological panic in the child, and the child will feel worse physical discomfort. So before a child develops a hernia, we should first understand what hernia is.

"Hernia" is a common disease in pediatric surgery. Most cases are discovered at 2-3 months of age, but some are not discovered until 1-2 years of age. The incidence rate is high in premature infants and low-birth-weight infants. Medically speaking, what people usually call pediatric hernia mainly refers to congenital indirect hernia. It usually occurs when there is increased intra-abdominal pressure.

A walnut-sized swelling forms on the navel of a child and protrudes outward. It is spherical or hemispherical in appearance, has a small scar on the top, and feels soft. This is one of the symptoms of infant hernia. The tumor is characterized by its reversibility. During the day, the swelling will grow larger when the child runs and jumps, but there is no obvious pain. At night, the tumor will shrink or retract into the abdominal cavity, accompanied by bowel sounds. After the tumor shrinks or retracts, the loose skin wrinkles left in the area are also symptoms of infantile hernia.

The normal shape of the belly button should be concave, but if there are other abnormal conditions, such as developmental delay, abdominal mass, etc., these are symptoms of infant hernia. Since the baby's abdominal muscles can gradually become stronger as the body grows, the hernia may disappear on its own. Therefore, babies under 6 months old do not need treatment for the time being. When the hernia protrudes, it should be reduced in time to prevent the hernia from protruding again. The developing abdominal muscles still have the opportunity to strengthen the abdominal wall, making it possible for the hernia to heal itself.

Therefore, when a child develops a hernia, parents do not need to worry first, but should go to the hospital for examination and treatment in time. If the child's hernia is not serious and the child is relatively young, the hernia problem can heal itself. Even if it cannot heal itself, it can be treated by other methods.