Umbilical hernia - baby
and Martina Feichter, medical editor and biologistDr. med. Mira Seidel is a freelance writer for the medical team.
More about the expertsMartina Feichter studied biology with an elective subject pharmacy in Innsbruck and also immersed herself in the world of medicinal plants. From there it was not far to other medical topics that still captivate her to this day. She trained as a journalist at the Axel Springer Academy in Hamburg and has been working for since 2007 - first as an editor and since 2012 as a freelance writer.
More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.
An umbilical hernia - the visible, soft swelling in the area of the umbilicus - is quite common in babies. It is usually harmless and usually heals on its own. You can read everything you need to know about the umbilical hernia in babies here.
ICD codes for this disease: ICD codes are internationally recognized codes for medical diagnoses. They can be found, for example, in doctor's letters or on certificates of incapacity for work. K42
Umbilical hernia - baby: description
The umbilical hernia in babies is a visible, soft swelling in the umbilical area. It usually comes out when screaming or pressing and can be pushed back by the doctor. About 20 percent of babies have an umbilical hernia. In premature babies with a birth weight of less than 1500 grams, two thirds are affected, girls more than boys.
Umbilical hernia - baby: cause
The umbilical hernia in babies can have two causes. In the congenital form, the natural (physiological) umbilical hernia that occurs during the development of the embryo is retained. In the acquired form, the umbilical hernia occurs even before an umbilical scar can form, due to increased pressure in the abdomen.
Physiological and congenital umbilical hernia
During the development of the child in the womb, a natural (physiological) umbilical hernia occurs. From the 32nd day of pregnancy onwards, the child's intestine expands into the umbilical cord skin and forms an umbilical loop. This grows, rotates and continues to expand. Eventually it is pushed out of the abdominal cavity. The physiological umbilical hernia persists until about the ninth week of pregnancy and then recedes. If not, the child will be born with the umbilical hernia. This is then a congenital umbilical hernia.
Acquired umbilical hernia
After the birth, after the umbilical cord has been removed, the navel forms: the umbilical ring - the original passage point for the umbilical cord (or its vessels) - is scarred. If this does not happen, doctors speak of an acquired umbilical hernia. Through the gap in the abdominal wall, parts of the abdominal organs such as loops of the small intestine or large intestine can be pushed outwards. The umbilical hernia usually affects premature babies with lung infections, in which frequent coughing or screaming increases the pressure in the abdomen. In addition, the acquired umbilical hernia often occurs in connection with metabolic diseases such as mucopolysaccharidoses or hypothyroidism as well as certain hereditary diseases (trisomies).
In the case of a particularly severe malformation of the abdominal wall (omphalocele), the intestinal loops are visible and lie within the umbilical cord skin (navel zolöm). The bowel loops no longer return to the stomach. In contrast to the omphalocele, the umbilical hernia is always covered with skin.
Umbilical hernia - baby: symptoms
The doctor recognizes the umbilical hernia by the bulging of the umbilicus and can easily feel the existing gap. An umbilical hernia with a diameter of up to 1.5 centimeters hardly causes any discomfort. Organ parts, such as a bowel loop, are seldom pinched in the hernia. This causes severe pain and often vomiting.
Caution: A pinched umbilical hernia is an emergency that must be treated immediately by a doctor - it can be life-threatening!
Umbilical hernia - baby: treatment
An umbilical hernia in babies is usually harmless, but affected parents should consult a pediatrician with the child. If the umbilical hernia does not cause any symptoms, the doctor will first push it back, which is usually possible without any problems. The umbilical hernia usually regresses as the ring muscles become stronger and does not require an operation.
Umbilical hernia surgery
If the diameter of the umbilical hernia is more than one centimeter or the symptoms increase, the doctor can recommend an operation - usually in the second year of life. With large umbilical hernias, the overlying skin is often very thin and vulnerable. In such cases, surgery can be performed in the first six months of life.
Umbilical hernia - baby: prognosis
If the umbilical hernia occurs in infancy, it usually closes by itself until the age of two. Parents should first wait. From the age of two to three, the umbilical hernia rarely closes on its own. Therefore, a small umbilical hernia should definitely be operated on before entering school.
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