What are the types of hernia in children? What are the symptoms of each type? How is it treated? Here are the details in this article. Children, especially premature and newborn babies, are vulnerable to different types of hernias. This article discusses the types of hernias in children and their treatment methods: Types of hernias in children. As for the types of hernia in children, they are as follows:
1. Inguinal hernia
An inguinal hernia appears in the thigh and is one of the types of hernias that usually occur in the right thigh more than the left thigh. This type of hernia in children affects certain groups to a greater extent, including:
Children with a family history of inguinal hernia.
Children who have other problems in the urinary and reproductive system.
Inguinal hernia is divided into two types
Direct inguinal hernia: This hernia occurs when a weak spot in the lower abdominal muscles develops and tissue pushes through.
Indirect hernia: This hernia occurs if the inguinal canal fails to close before birth. The inguinal canal is a small passage through the lower abdominal wall that may not close if the baby is born early, so this hernia is more common in babies born prematurely.
It should be noted that 80% of hernia cases in children are inguinal hernias. In boys, excess bowel tissue may enter the scrotum and cause swelling and pain, while in girls the swelling is in the labia or groin.
2. Umbilical hernia
This type of hernia appears in children around the navel and usually affects newborns and children at the age of less than 6 months. The most vulnerable group to this type of hernia in children are children who were born prematurely.
Umbilical hernia occurs when the opening in the abdominal wall fails to close from where the umbilical cord exits, and the baby''s navel appears swollen and enlarged.
Usually this hernia heals automatically when the child reaches 4-5 years, and if this hernia does not close automatically, the doctor may recommend surgery.
3. Epigastric hernias
This hernia occurs most often in boys, as there is a protrusion through the abdominal muscles between the chest and the navel, which causes swelling in that area. Surgery is the method of repairing this type of hernia in children.
4. Hiatal hernias
This type of hernia occurs in children when the upper part of the stomach bulges and protrudes through a weak opening in the diaphragm, where the esophagus meets the stomach.
Although this type of hernia in children is very common, it is often small and does not cause a problem. However, your child may suffer from heartburn, indigestion, and chest pain.
Treatment can be based on diet modification, medication, rest, and sometimes surgical treatment.
5. Incisional hernias
An incisional hernia occurs after an abdominal surgery that causes the intestines to protrude into the abdomen around the incision, and the child will need another surgery to repair this hernia.
6. Sports hernias
It is an injury in the groin area that results from twisting and rotating. This hernia may occur in adolescents who play sports such as hockey, football, and tennis.
It can be difficult to diagnose this hernia because it does not show the classic signs of a hernia, and the main symptom is pain in the groin that may extend to the scrotum and persist for several months, but without the appearance of swelling in the tissues.
Symptoms of hernia in children
Hernia occurs in males six times as often as it occurs in females, and most of the time the parents notice the bulge or the doctor discovers it during a routine examination, and the symptoms of hernia in children include the following:
Lump and swelling near the thigh.
Constant crying in children and pain.
An increase in the size of the lump when the child is stressed, such as: crying or coughing, and the lump disappears when the child is lying down or relaxed.
The appearance of strangulation symptoms if the hernia is not treated, as the risk of strangulation increases in children under the age of 6 months. Symptoms of suffocation include: nausea and vomiting, flatulence, and a mass of tissue that becomes a swollen, red, and tender to the touch.
Hernia treatment in children
The hernia may be treated surgically to avoid the risk of strangulation, which occurs as a result of part of the intestine becoming trapped in the hernia, which leads to the interruption of blood flow to it.
In the case of umbilical hernia, the hernia may close automatically without the need for surgery, and diet modification may be sufficient to treat hiatal hernia.
Finally, hernias in children are common and can be easily treated without long-term health effects.
