Inguinal Hernia in Babies & Children: Symptoms & Treatment
We understand how worrisome it can be to find out that your child has a hernia. However, you have to keep in mind that a Pediatric hernia is not the same as an Adult hernia.
Inguinal hernias occur when tissues, such as the intestine, protrude through weakened abdominal muscles. Most babies and children are at risk of developing hernias. In contrast to adult hernia, which are often caused by muscle strain, child hernias are often congenital.
In this article, we will uncover everything about inguinal hernias
Concerned About Your Child's Urinary Health?
I am here to assist you with your child's urinary concerns.
What Is Inguinal Hernias In Babies?
Infants with inguinal hernias suffer from hernias that occur in the groin area. The word inguinal means “of the groin”. To simplify things even further, let’s define the groin. The groin is the area between your child’s belly (abdomen) and the thighs.
Inguinal hernia is a condition that causes parts of your child’s intestine to push through a hole in the abdominal wall through the opening in the inguinal canal. Inguinal canal is a passage in your body that connects the abdomen to your child’s genital area.
Types Of Inguinal Hernia
1. Direct Inguinal Hernia
A direct inguinal hernia occurs when the part of the abdomen mainly the intestines bulges through the weak wall of the abdomen. It is usually rare in pediatric patients. These hernias occur in Hesselbach’s triangle, an area of natural weakness in the abdominal wall. The direct inguinal hernia can be seen around the groin area with visible or palpable bulges. The bulges can appear more prominently when an infant cries, strains or stands up.
2. Indirect Inguinal Hernia
A common issue called indirect inguinal hernia can arise due to a small opening in the abdominal wall called the Processus vaginalis. This often can be seen as a groin or scrotal swelling. Surgery is usually necessary to prevent complications like the hernia getting trapped (incarceration) or the blood supply being cut off (strangulation). In this process, the hernia sac is tied off to stop the hernia from protruding further. After surgery, pain management and close monitoring for any issues are crucial. While it is hard to prevent indirect inguinal hernias, being aware of risk factors and ensuring timely surgical treatment can greatly improve outcomes.
What Causes Inguinal Hernia?
An inguinal hernia occurs when the lower belly wall develops abnormally. You have to keep away from sources that might suggest that coughing, crying, or straining causes hernia. Tactions do not cause hernias. However, they can make existing hernia noticeable by increasing pressure in your child’s belly.
Hernias of the inguinal canal may occur at any age, but they are more common in young children, particularly those born prematurely. Inguinal Hernia Complications are more common in boys than in girls. It is common for the inguinal canal to remain partially open at birth, resulting in an inguinal hernia. As a result, an indirect hernia occurs when a portion of the intestine slides through.
There is the possibility that the intrusion in the boy’s groin can cause swelling, and it may extend into the area around the scrotum. While Inguinal hernia is rare in girls, it can occur in the girl’s groin and can extend to the labia.
What Risks Are Associated With Inguinal Hernias?
- Incarcerated hernia
A simple surgery will treat the inguinal hernia to prevent the spread of infection. Without surgical treatment, your child may develop the following complications:
- Strangulated hernia
In strangulated hernia, a section of your child’s small intestine will push through weakened abdominal muscles. The muscles surrounding this area will clamp down on that section of the small intestine. This cuts off the blood supply to the small intestine and may lead to issues such as intestinal perforation, shock or even death.
Child Inguinal Hernia Symptoms
Parents need to be careful with the hernia symptoms their child experiences as early as possible to avoid more serious complications. Listed below are a few signs and symptoms of an inguinal hernia that should be looked out for as soon as possible:
- The sensation of a smooth lump in the groin, scrotum, or labia area that might appear and disappear periodically
- Bulges and swellings that are more apparent when your baby cries or strains
- Older children may have swelling when standing but disappear when lying down.
- It is usually painless or mildly uncomfortable, but strenuous exercise can occur in older children and cause discomfort and swelling.
How Is An Inguinal Hernia Diagnosed?
During the examination, your child’s inguinal hernia surgeon will look for bumps in your abdomen and groin. The provider may manually attempt to reduce the hernia, depending on the situation. An operator will manually reduce the hernia by applying firm, steady pressure with their hands. Providers will continue to treat the patient until the hernia has disappeared.
The doctor might suggest that your child undergo one or more of the following :
- Testing urine or blood may be done to determine whether kidney function is healthy or whether there are signs of infection.
- X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, or MRI images can view the tissues or organs within the hernia. There are also times when a mammogram may reveal that the organ doesn't receive enough blood flow, that the intestines are blocked, or that there is a hole in the intestines. Your child may be given a contrast liquid so that the organs appear more clearly in the photographs. Do not hesitate to tell the healthcare provider if your child has ever had an allergy to contrast liquid.
How To Treat Inguinal Hernia?
The treatment for your child’s inguinal hernia highly depends on the severity of their condition. If it isn’t bothering them or causing them any discomfort or pain, it’s possible to live with inguinal hernia. However, many would rather get rid of the issues since it could get worse in the future.
However, Immediate Surgery might be required if :
- The hernia moves into your child's abdominal wall
- The hernia prevents blood flow to the intestines.
- There’s a hole in your child's intestines that prevents them from having bowel movements.
What Type Of Surgery Is Done To Repair The Hernia?
There are three main types of surgery to repair the hernia, open repair, laparoscopic and robotic repair. Although, robotic pediatric surgery is one of the most advanced and new technologies that repair the podiatry hernia in a minimally invasive manner. During the surgical procedure, your pediatric surgeon administers a small incision using a surgical instrument console (robotic). The main advantage of this robotic surgery is viewing the 3-D imaging of the abdomen’s insides.
This advanced surgical procedure uses a scope to view and repair your child’s hernia with precise movement of robotic arms. It is renowned for its fast recovery process compared to traditional hernia surgery. The minimal incision offers relatively less pain to your child while rebuilding your weak abdominal wall.
When should you consult a healthcare provider?
You should reach out to the healthcare provider if the following occurs:
- Your child gets a high fever
- Your child starts vomiting
- Your child isn’t having any bowel movements
Keep in mind, you do not have to panic. Inguinal hernia is curable and can be treated by an expert. So, if you suspect your child has hernia, you can consult with inguinal hernia repair specialists immediately. If you are worried that your child might be frightened of the procedure, you can refer to our guide: Preparing Your Child For Surgery
Frequently Asked Questions
Can An Inguinal Hernia Be Healed Without Surgery?
How long does it take to recover from inguinal hernia repair surgery?
Can an inguinal hernia come back after treatment?
What does the maximum surgery cost?
Will my child be in pain after the Hernia operation?
