The inguinal hernia in the baby occurs when a part of the intestine protrudes through the abdominal wall, because the peritoneum-vaginal duct (present in both girls and boys) has not closed properly before birth.
According to the Spanish Association of Pediatrics, this anomaly affects between 1 and 4 babies in every 100 , with an incidence six times higher in boys than in girls. It is also more common in premature babies, since the natural closure of the duct takes place in the last stage of pregnancy.
We explain why the inguinal hernia occurs, what symptoms it presents and how this congenital defect in the baby is solved.
Why does an inguinal hernia occur?
An inguinal hernia occurs during the development of the fetus within the mother’s uterus, when a duct called the peritoneum-vaginal does not close properly , leaving an opening that runs from the belly to the inguinal canal.
In the case of males, from the seventh month of pregnancy, the testicles begin to descend from the abdomen to the scrotal bags through this duct, which ends in the scrotum. In the case of girls, this duct ends at the labia majora.
As we said at the beginning, it occurs more frequently in boys than in girls, and in the case of premature babies the incidence is between 16-25%.
What symptoms does it produce?
In general, an inguinal hernia does not produce any symptoms and is detected in the first scans of the newborn and the baby during the first months of life. However, sometimes the diagnosis can come a little later, since the inguinal hernia disappears when the baby is relaxed and appears at times when the child is making some effort (such as crying, pooping, coughing, making movements that increase the abdominal pressure …)
An inguinal hernia is perceived as a lump in one of the baby’s groins , which can extend towards the testicles in the case of boys, or towards the labia majora in the case of girls.
Associated complications
There is a complication associated with an inguinal hernia called “incarcerated hernia”, which requires urgent medical attention . This complication arises when the intestine cannot return to its place, but becomes trapped in the inguinal cavity causing the following symptoms:
- Pain to touch
- Vomiting
- Irritability
- Redness around the area around the hernia
- Large, bulging abdomen
If this situation continues for hours, necrosis of the trapped intestine (“strangulated hernia”) could occur, and other symptoms such as fever or blood in the stool may appear.
The risk of incarceration is 30% during the baby’s first three months , and gradually decreases to 14% in the first year of life. Although inguinal hernia occurs more frequently in preterm infants, this associated complication is rarely seen in these babies, who also have a higher spontaneous cure rate than in full-term infants.
How is an inguinal hernia treated?
The treatment of the inguinal hernia goes through the surgical operation ; one of the most common in children after tonsillectomy (removal of the tonsils). The procedure is quick, simple and ambulatory, and consists of separating the duct from the elements of the inguinal cord (gonadal vessels and vas deferens) and closing it with stitches.
In most cases, the postoperative period is short, and although during the first days children should avoid exercise and physical efforts, in a week they will be able to recover their normal life and the practice of their daily activities.
Photos | iStock
Vía | Healthy Children, Stanford Children’s Hospital
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