Hernia in Children

A hernia is one of the most common conditions in children, in which there is a noticeable swelling on the front wall of the abdomen, in the groin area or the scrotum. Its underlying cause is most often congenital. Rarely, an acquired hernia occurs at a relatively older age and is mainly the result of physical exertion. The disease occurs in children of both sexes, although it is fairly common in boys.

A distinction is made between an umbilical hernia, a hernia of the white line or epigastric hernia and an inguinal hernia. The latter is the most common type of hernia.

An indirect inguinal hernia - a loop of intestine, omentum or ovary (in girls) bulges into the inguinal canal and sometimes descends into the scrotum (in boys). This always occurs because of a congenital defect and is ultimately the result of non-closure of the vaginal process of the peritoneum.

An inguinal hernia (indirect) is the most common condition in children, so surgery is often performed. A small swelling begins in the inguinal area and sometimes reaches the scrotum. The condition is mostly diagnosed before the age of one year. If an infant cries a lot and becomes fussy, a hernia strangulation should be ruled out in addition to other causes of crying. Since an inguinal hernia has a high risk of strangulation with subsequent complications, the current approach is to treat it surgically as soon as it is diagnosed, regardless of the child's age.

When a hernia is strangulated, the following recommendations should be considered: warm bath, and warmth in the area of the hernia. The child should be taken to an appropriate medical facility as soon as possible.

An umbilical hernia is a swelling in the navel area. An umbilical hernia periodically causes pain and discomfort in children. It is negatively affected by constipation, flatulence, crying and coughing. Many newborns have an umbilical hernia at birth, but as they grow, up to three or four years old, more often up to a year old, the umbilical ring closes and heals itself. An umbilical hernia can vary in size. The doctor determines its size by palpation. The hernia is most noticeable when the baby cries, coughs and stands up due to the increased pressure in the abdomen.

An umbilical hernia does not usually require medical intervention. Parents should pay attention to the swelling, which should diminish with age, and check it regularly, especially when bathing the infant. The umbilical hernia should not grow and thicken. It is not advisable to cover the umbilicus and stick objects (e.g. small coins) to it, as this is ineffective and irritates the umbilicus and surrounding skin. Surgery is required if the hernia does not close in a child under the age of three or four.

Hernia of the white line - The white line is a tight band created by the tendons of the muscles on the front wall of the abdomen. A bulge appears above the umbilicus, which, unlike an umbilical hernia, does not heal on its own. A white line hernia is mainly formed at the age of 2-3 years and is thought to be acquired, although it is possible that we are dealing with a later discovery of the defect at birth. Surgical treatment of umbilical hernia and white line hernia consists of closure of the aponeurotic defect in the anterior peritoneal wall and its suturing.

What Kind of Preparation Is Needed for The Operation?

In children, all these types of operations are carried out under general anesthesia, so the preparation for the procedure includes preparation for anesthesia. 10-14 days before the operation, the child should not have any infectious diseases, and the results of general blood and urine tests should be normal.

What Are the Postoperative Recommendations?

The postoperative period for a hernia practically requires no restrictions, and the child can go home the same or the next day. In the case of a strangulated hernia, the postoperative period is relatively complicated - several days of observation are required after surgery to determine how viable the strangulated inverted organ is.

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