Causes of hernias in infants and how to treat them

If the baby has a lump around the navel, he may suffer from a condition called umbilical hernia. Hernias in these babies may be caused by various risk factors, but are usually not dangerous.

When the baby is still in the womb, the umbilical cord becomes a bond between the baby and mother. When born and the umbilical cord is broken, the baby's navel must be closed immediately.

However, in some babies, the muscles around the stomach or navel do not close completely. At this point a part of the intestine or adipose tissue enters the area around the baby's stomach, creating an umbilical hernia.

Causes of hernias in infants and their symptoms

Umbilical hernias are often found in infants or children. The cause of hernias in infants is not known with certainty, but babies who are at higher risk for umbilical hernia are infants who are not yet months, premature and birth weight. less than 1.5 kg.

In addition, babies who are obese and have long-term coughs can also experience umbilical hernia. Although related to maternal factors, pregnancy with more than one fetus (twins, triplets or more) can also make babies born with the risk of umbilical hernias.

You may have heard that the way doctors cut umbilical cord can be a cause of hernias in this baby. However, this hypothesis is only a myth.

Umbilical hernias look like bumps on the stomach button. Hernias in babies will be seen more clearly when he laughs, cries, wants to urinate or cough. During this time, when the baby is resting or sleeping, the hernias will appear to be reduced.

When should you see a doctor?

Hernias in these babies usually do not cause pain. About 90% of umbilical hernias heal by themselves. However, if the hernia is not closed when the child reaches 4 years of age, it may have to undergo medical treatment.

Doctors usually wait for children to reach this age before taking medical care. However, you can immediately consult your baby at the doctor if:

The baby feels pain around the protruding navel
The baby is vomiting accompanied by an enlarged size
The pieces in the belly button get bigger or change color
The belly button will feel very painful when pressed

The doctor will physically examine the hernia in the baby and determine whether its size can be put back into the stomach (can be reduced) or if it is already in place (imprisoned). Advanced hernia is a more serious problem because it can cause permanent damage to the stomach tissue or block blood flow.

The doctor may recommend an x-ray or ultrasonography in the abdominal area to ensure there are no complications from this hernia. Blood tests may also be needed to determine the presence or absence of infection, especially if the baby's hernia is stable.

How to treat hernias in infants?
To treat umbilical hernias in children, the doctor will perform surgery. However, this procedure is quite simple and only takes 20 to 30 minutes with general anesthesia.

In children, the navel's open area is usually closed with stitches. However, if the hernia is large, sutures will also be supported by special tools to strengthen the area around the old hernia operation.

Patients with hernias are usually allowed to go home one day after surgery. Children usually complain of numbness or discomfort in the previous operating area, but that is a normal complaint.

However, 1 in 10 children who undergo a hernia operation may have postoperative complications. Its characteristics are:

Infection (marked by red, suppurative, or painful surgical sutures)
bleeding
Tear on the stitches
Hernias breed
Navel seems not normal

To minimize the risk of complications, limit the child's activities during the recovery period. When the child goes to school, it is recommended to take a day off for one to two weeks after surgery. If the results of the operation are fully restored, the doctor will usually allow the child to return to normal activities.