Umbilical Hernia Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

Umbilical Hernia Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

An umbilical hernia, usually containing omentum and gut. About 30% of preterm infants who have received mechanical ventilation have an umbilical hernia. No treatment is needed, as the hernia usually disappears spontaneously by the age of three years, although in West Indian infants it may take a further three years.
In contrast to an umbilical hernia the sac of an omphalocoele is covered by peritoneum but incompletely by skin. An omphalocoele is a hernia into the base of the umbilical cord and contains gut and sometimes solid organs like the liver. Immediate transfer to a surgical unit is needed.

Umbilical Hernia Symptoms

Umbilical hernias can usually be seen when your baby is crying, laughing, or straining to use the bathroom. The telltale symptom is a swelling or bulge near the naval area—a symptom not present when your baby is relaxed.
Adults can get umbilical hernias as well. The symptoms will be the same—a swelling or bulge near the navel area. These can be very painful and treatment is usually required.
Symptoms that indicate a more serious situation requiring medical treatment include:
    the baby is in obvious pain
    the baby is vomiting
    the bulge (in both children and adults) is tender, swollen, or discolored

Umbilical Hernia Causes

In a majority of cases, umbilical hernias occur in babies. Babies who are African-American, premature, and of low birth weight are at even higher risk of developing an umbilical hernia. There is no noted difference in occurrence between boys and girls.
An umbilical hernia in adults usually occurs when too much pressure is put on a weak section of the stomach muscles due to:
    being overweight
    frequent pregnancies
    fluid in the abdominal cavity
    stomach surgery








References:
Bernard Valman. 2002. ABC of the First Year. London: BMJ Books.
Shannon Johnson. 2012. Umbilical Hernia. http://www.healthline.com/health/umbilical-hernia (viewed Januari 2, 2014 at 22:16 GMT+07)
Image Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Umbilical_Hernia.JPG

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