What is an Umbilical Hernia

It is a protrusion through the abdominal muscles in the navel area.

The hernia may contain tissue from the abdomen, part of an organ (such as the intestine), or fluid.

What increases my risk of an umbilical hernia?

Umbilical hernias usually happen because of a hole or a weak area in the abdominal wall muscles, which can appear at any age but occurs most often in women than in men. You may be more likely to have a hernia if other family members have it. You may also have a higher risk if you have any of the following conditions:

  • Overweight.
  • Ascites are fluid in the abdomen.
  • Significant growth in your gut.
  • Being pregnant at the time or if it was in the past.
  • A very long time during labor.

What are the signs and symptoms of an umbilical hernia?

The most common sign is a lump or swelling in the belly button area. You may be able to see the bow, as it may feel when you gently press your navel. The lump or mass may increase when you bend when you have a cough or when you use force or tension when you have a bowel movement; It can also become smaller and produce minor damage when lying down.

You may feel pain or burn in the abdomen. The pain may worsen when you cough, sneeze, stand up or stand for a long time. The skin on the mass can become swollen, red, gray, or blue.

How is an umbilical hernia diagnosed?

Your doctor will find the umbilical hernia during a physical examination, with which you can check if the hernia can be reduced (push it gently back into the abdomen). You may need tests, such as abdominal x-rays or an ultrasound. These tests will help doctors decide how to treat your hernia.

Treatment

If the hernia grows or there is a potential danger, surgery may be recommended. Trusses, corsets, or binders can hold the hernias in place by placing pressure on the skin and the umbilical wall, usually used in elderly or debilitated patients at increased risk of undergoing surgery.

 

Unless the defect is significant, umbilical hernias in children tend to disappear on their own during the first year of age. The surgery can be considered if the hernia is still present at 3 or 4 years or if the defect in the navel is substantial.