Patient's question:
Last night, while changing my child's clothes, I noticed that whenever they strain, there's a bulge on their abdomen, but it disappears when they don't strain. My child's usual milk intake is also quite good. Some people mentioned it could be a hernia. I was wondering what are the risks of hernia surgery in children?Doctor's answer:
Hello! Based on the described situation, the possibility of an umbilical hernia is relatively high. An umbilical hernia is a type of abdominal wall hernia where abdominal contents protrude through a weak area at the umbilical region. The umbilicus is located at the center of the abdominal wall and is the last part of the abdominal wall to close during embryonic development. The lack of adipose tissue in the umbilical area causes the outermost layer of the skin, fascia, and peritoneum to be directly connected, making it the weakest part of the entire abdominal wall, where abdominal contents can easily protrude to form an umbilical hernia. Most umbilical hernias heal on their own within the first year of life through gradual contraction of the umbilical fascial ring. After surgery, it is important to avoid actions that increase abdominal pressure, such as loud crying in children and constipation.