What are good remedies for infant umbilical hernia?

Written by Zhang Xian Hua
Pediatrics
Updated on January 01, 2025
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Umbilical hernia in infants is caused by congenital underdevelopment of the abdominal muscles, forming a bulge beneath the skin due to abdominal distension protruding from the umbilicus. In fact, it usually does not require special treatment. Most umbilical hernias will gradually narrow and shrink within the first year after birth as the infant's nutrition and physique improve and the abdominal muscles develop, typically leading to natural closure with a very good prognosis. In daily care, it is important to prevent the child from crying loudly, especially when the child has gastrointestinal diseases and increased intestinal gas, which should be actively treated to minimize the herniation and to reduce it back when it does protrude. With such care, the chances of natural healing increase. However, if the child is over four years old and the hernia sac is still relatively large, surgical repair might be necessary.

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Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
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Can you run with an umbilical hernia?

Patients with umbilical hernias are generally advised against engaging in vigorous activities such as running and jumping. This is because an umbilical hernia is a type of hernia that can lead to incarceration or even rupture due to sudden increases in abdominal pressure, which would require emergency surgery. For umbilical hernias, conservative treatment is mostly adopted. Typically, affected children can self-heal within six months through conservative treatment. However, if the condition persists beyond the age of two and the diameter of the umbilical ring is still greater than 1.5 cm, surgical treatment is recommended. If the patient is over the age of five, it is advised to undergo surgery as soon as possible, regardless of the circumstances. Both before and after the surgery for an umbilical hernia, vigorous activities are not recommended. Intense activities increase abdominal pressure, which on one hand can lead to complications like incarceration, and on the other hand, can affect the outcome of the surgical treatment.

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Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
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Can umbilical hernia be vaccinated against?

After the birth of a child, it is necessary to vaccinate on schedule. There are some situations where vaccination is not possible. When a child has an umbilical hernia, it means that there is a protrusion at the navel, with abdominal contents pushing through a weak spot around the navel, forming an umbilical hernia. Umbilical hernias in children do not affect the vaccination of various vaccines, so parents can take their children to the local vaccination department to get vaccinated on schedule. At the same time, try to avoid letting the child cry loudly, as most umbilical hernias in children can heal by themselves within two years. Only more severe umbilical hernias may require surgical treatment. Therefore, parents can rest assured and take their children for vaccinations on time, as the umbilical hernia does not affect vaccination.

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Written by Zeng Hai Jiang
Pediatrics
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Is there no belly button after umbilical hernia surgery?

Umbilical hernia refers to a protrusion formed by abdominal cavity contents through the umbilical ring, commonly seen in infants and young children. Most umbilical hernias can heal on their own within the first year as the umbilical fascial ring gradually contracts. Therefore, non-surgical treatment is mostly adopted to promote healing. However, if the child is over two years old and the diameter of the umbilical hernia exceeds 1.5 centimeters, surgical treatment is recommended. After umbilical hernia surgery, the belly button is still preserved. The surgery generally involves making a small incision at the lower edge of the navel, freeing the hernial sac, repositioning the hernial contents, and after partially excising the hernial sac at the umbilical ring, suturing is performed.

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Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
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Is an enlarging umbilical hernia dangerous?

Umbilical hernia is not more dangerous as it gets larger; rather, the larger the umbilical hernia, the less likely it is to heal on its own. During the observation of an umbilical hernia, we need to be vigilant about the possibility of incarceration or rupture. This condition arises because the umbilical ring does not heal and close properly, typically presenting as a raised lump at the navel, which can recede on its own or disappear. Generally, umbilical hernias can heal on their own within the first six months with proper treatment. However, if the diameter of the umbilical ring exceeds 1.5 cm after the age of two, surgical treatment is required. In any case, if the patient is over the age of five and the hernia is still present, surgery is the chosen treatment. In treating umbilical hernias, our conservative approach involves using a coin or a flat board larger than the umbilical ring, wrapping it, and securing it at the umbilical area with adhesive tape to prevent movement, which generally produces good results.

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Written by Zhang Xian Hua
Pediatrics
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Treatment methods for infant umbilical hernia

Infant umbilical hernia is caused by a congenital weak abdominal wall around the navel, leading to protrusion. It generally does not require special treatment methods. As long as care is taken to avoid the child's intense or prolonged crying, actively treat gastrointestinal diseases to prevent increased abdominal pressure that could lead to protrusion, no special treatment is usually necessary. This is because 80% of children with umbilical hernias will see their hernia rings gradually shrink or even close as they grow older, typically by the age of two. Surgical treatment might only be needed if the hernia ring is very large, such as more than two centimeters in diameter, or if the obvious umbilical hernia persists after the age of two.