Patient's question:
My sister just had a baby in January, and the baby is two months old now. The belly button is sticking out a few centimeters. Is this an umbilical hernia? What can be done to fix it? Is it true that a protruding belly button in newborns is a hernia?Doctor's answer:
Hello, a protruding navel in babies is very likely to be a hernia, also known as an umbilical hernia. Parents should pay attention to observation and provide supplementary treatment. The main cause is a congenital disease where the abdominal contents of infants and young children protrude through the umbilical ring. The incidence rate is approximately 2.6%, with girls being more affected than boys. Premature and low-birth-weight infants tend to have a higher incidence. Long-term constipation or frequent crying in babies can promote the occurrence of umbilical hernia, but most infant umbilical hernias heal within the first year, with some showing improvement within 100 days. Specific advice is to take the child to the hospital for further diagnosis and examination.