Patient's question:
My little niece recently discovered she has a small inguinal hernia. Whenever she cries, a hard lump appears above that area. Sometimes she herself says it hurts a lot. There was even a time when it swelled up and didn't go down. The family is very worried. Some people say it will get better as she grows older, but the doctor said surgery is still the best option.What help is needed: Does the little girl with a small inguinal hernia need to have surgery at the hospital?
Doctor's answer:
Since the abdominal muscles of infants can gradually strengthen with the growth of the body, and hernia may also disappear on its own, infants under 6 months old can be temporarily left untreated and closely monitored for any changes in the condition. When the hernia lump is weak, it should be promptly reduced to prevent it from becoming weak again. The developing abdominal muscles not only provide an opportunity to strengthen the abdominal wall but also increase the possibility of the hernia healing on its own. (However, it must be noted that during this period, if the hernia recurs and becomes incarcerated—the situation where the hernia lump is trapped and cannot be reduced—effective measures should be taken immediately to reduce it, and treatment should be sought as soon as possible.)