$Unique_ID{PAR00099}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Medical Advice:  Hernia}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{
Editors of Consumer Guide
Chasnoff, Ira J}
$Subject{Hernia bulge bulges above below groin crease navel strangulated
swelling severe pain nausea vomiting weakness collapse Trusses belt
belts umbilical hernia rupture ruptures protrusion protrusions indirect
inguinal hernia scrotum labia majora peritoneum membrane femoral
ventral umbilicus simple sac incarcerated hernias
herniated intestine loop bladder}
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Your Child:  A Medical Guide


Hernia


     Quick Reference

     SYMPTOM
     - A bulge just above or below the crease of the groin, just above or
       below the navel, or at the navel

     HOME CARE
     - If you suspect a hernia, take your child to the doctor.

     PRECAUTIONS
     - A strangulated hernia is a medical emergency that must be surgically
       corrected immediately (within hours).  Signs that a hernia has become
       strangulated are swelling, severe pain, nausea, vomiting, and severe
       weakness or collapse.  If these symptoms appear, take your child to the
       emergency room immediately.  Never attempt home care for a strangulated
       hernia.
     - Trusses or belts used to reduce a hernia are useless and may be harmful
       or dangerous.
     - Doctors do not consider it beneficial to strap an umbilical hernia.


     A hernia (or rupture) is a protrusion of tissue through the wall of a
body cavity.  It might be compared to the protrusion of an inner tube through
a hole in a bicycle tire.
     The most common hernia in a child is an indirect inguinal hernia, which
is present at birth but may or may not be recognized immediately.  In fact,
this type of hernia is not usually noticed until later.  The hernia begins as
a bulge just above the midpoint of the crease of the groin.  It then enlarges
toward the middle of the body until it reaches and enters the scrotum (the
pouch containing the testes) of a boy or the labia majora (the outer folds of
the external genitalia) of a girl.  The bulge is actually a pouch-like sac
underneath the skin made of peritoneum (the membrane that lines the abdominal
cavity).  The sac usually contains either a portion of the veil-like apron
that overlies the intestines or a loop of the small intestine.  Less often, it
contains a loop of the large intestine, part of the urinary bladder, or an
ovary.
     More rarely seen in children is a femoral hernia, which appears below the
crease of the groin, near where the pulse of the main artery to the leg can be
felt.
     Occasionally, a ventral hernia appears in the midline of the abdomen,
above or below the navel.
     In infants, an umbilical hernia often appears at the umbilicus (the
navel).  This is not a true hernia, however, because it contains no sac.  An
umbilical hernia usually disappears without treatment before the child reaches
five years of age.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

     The key sign of a hernia is a bulge in one of the typical locations:
just above or below the crease of the groin, at the navel, just above or below
the navel, in the scrotum of a boy, or in the labia majora of a girl.
     A hernia in any of these locations is called a simple hernia if the
contents of the sac can be reduced (pushed gently back into the abdominal
cavity).  If a hernia cannot be reduced, it is called an incarcerated hernia.
Simple and incarcerated hernias often produce no discomfort or pain; they may
merely cause a sense of heaviness.  If the blood supply to the contents of the
hernia is cut off, it is said to be a strangulated hernia.  Such a hernia
causes intense pain and swelling.

HOME CARE

     If there is any sign of a hernia, see your doctor.
     A simple hernia can be temporarily reduced by gentle pressure while the
child is relaxed--in a tub of warm water if necessary.  Trusses and belts to
keep a hernia reduced are useless and may be harmful or even dangerous.
Strapping an umbilical hernia is of no benefit.

PRECAUTIONS

  -  A strangulated hernia is a medical emergency that requires immediate
     (within hours) surgical correction.  Signs that a hernia has become
     strangulated are swelling, severe pain, and sometimes nausea, vomiting,
     and extreme weakness or collapse.  If any signs of a strangulated hernia
     appear, take your child to a doctor or emergency room immediately.
  -  Never attempt to reduce a strangulated hernia.

MEDICAL TREATMENT

     Surgical repair is required for all except umbilical hernias.  An
umbilical hernia usually cures itself.  Since inguinal hernias often appear on
both sides, the surgeon may correct both sides even though only one side is
visibly herniated.

RELATED TOPICS:  Testis, torsion of; Testis, undescended