Umbilical hernia

What is umbilical hernia?

An umbilical hernia is a type of hernia, and refers to when a part of the internal organs protrudes through a weakened surrounding cavity.

In the case of an umbilical hernia, abdominal fat or part of the intestine passes through an area around the navel.

What are the symptoms?

Umbilical hernias are very common, especially in infants, and are characterized by a bulge around the navel that may enlarge when laughing or coughing. They are usually painless in infants and children, however, in adults who develop them, the swelling may also be accompanied by pain and discomfort.

Umbilical hernia is very common in both adults and infants.

What causes umbilical hernia?

Umbilical hernia develops because of a weakening in the abdominal wall at the level of the umbilicus. If the hole through which the umbilical cord passes during pregnancy does not close properly after birth, it can cause a hernia, either at birth or later in life. In adults, excess pressure in the abdominal cavity can increase the likelihood of umbilical hernia.

How can it be prevented?

There is little that can be done to prevent umbilical hernias at birth, however, there are certain risk factors for adults. Anything that increases pressure in the abdominal cavity, such as obesity, straining while moving or lifting heavy objects, a strong and persistent cough, ascites (fluid in the abdomen) and multiple pregnancies (twins, triplets, etc.), can increase the risk of umbilical hernia.

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What is the treatment?

In infants, an umbilical hernia very often goes away on its own: the hernia goes back inward and the muscle closes it back up, covering it. In adults, an umbilical hernia usually gets worse over time.

In most cases, it is advisable to wait until a child has reached four or five years of age to see if the hernia disappears before considering surgery, except in cases where the hernia is very large or if there are other complications.

In most adults, umbilical hernias are treated with surgery to press the abdominal tissue back into place and close the abdominal wall. Complications include obstruction, in which part of the intestine gets stuck outside the abdomen and can cause nausea, vomiting, and pain and discomfort.

Strangulation, in which blood flow to the part of the intestine that forms the hernia is cut off, is a potentially serious complication and requires emergency treatment to prevent necrosis of the trapped tissue.