Patient's question:
My son is two and a half months old, but his navel is protruding very much now, about 1 cm. Is it normal? What measures should be taken?Doctor's answer:
Hello: The condition of the child is likely to be a symptom of an umbilical hernia. After the umbilical cord falls off, the area has long since healed. However, in some children, the navel protrudes more and more outward, forming a bulge with normal skin color—this is an umbilical hernia.An umbilical hernia occurs because, after the umbilical cord falls off, the umbilical vessels and gelatinous substances degenerate and disappear. The peritoneum becomes adhered to scarred skin tissue, and the median fibers of the bilateral rectus sheaths fail to form. This creates a weak ring at the umbilicus. When the child cries hard, the intra-abdominal pressure increases, causing the peritoneum at the umbilicus to bulge outward, forming an umbilical hernia.
Umbilical hernias do not require treatment. As the child grows, the muscles around the umbilicus develop properly, and the hernia can heal on its own before the age of two. However, if the umbilical ring is too large, it may not heal on its own and will require surgical repair.
Children with umbilical hernias should be avoided from crying excessively, constipation, or coughing, as these conditions can increase intra-abdominal pressure, worsen the hernia, and delay the healing process of the umbilical ring.
If the umbilical hernia is large, it can be wrapped with gauze around the abdomen, but be careful not to make it too tight to avoid adverse consequences. If the hernia has not healed by the age of three, surgical repair should be considered.