<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">An umbilical hernia is an outward bulging (protrusion) of the lining of the abdomen or part of the abdominal organ(s) through the area around the belly button.</span></span></p>

<h2><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><img src="https://www.zdrav.kz/images/refs3/umbh.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 480px;" /></span></span></h2>

<h2><strong><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Causes</span></span></strong></h2>

<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">An umbilical hernia in an infant occurs when the muscle through which the umbilical cord passes does not close completely after birth.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Umbilical hernias are common in infants. They occur slightly more often in African Americans. Most umbilical hernias are not related to disease. Some umbilical hernias are linked with rare conditions such as&nbsp;<a href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000997.htm">Down syndrome</a>.</span></span></p>

<p><strong><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Symptoms</span></span></strong></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">A hernia can vary in width from less than 1 centimeter (cm) to more than 5 cm.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">There is a soft swelling over the belly button that often bulges when the baby sits up, cries, or strains. The bulge may be flat when the infant lies on the back and is quiet. Umbilical hernias are usually painless.</span></span></p>

<h2><strong><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Exams and Tests</span></span></strong></h2>

<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">A hernia is usually found by the health care provider during a physical exam.</span></span></p>

<h2><strong><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Treatment</span></span></strong></h2>

<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Most hernias in children heal on their own.&nbsp;</span><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002935.htm" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Surgery</a><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">&nbsp;to repair the hernia is needed only in the following cases:</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The hernia does not heal after the child is 3 or 4 years old.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The intestine or other tissue bulges out and loses its blood supply (becomes strangulated). This is an emergency that needs surgery right away.</span></span></p>

<h2><strong><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Outlook (Prognosis)</span></span></strong></h2>

<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Most umbilical hernias get better without treatment by the time the child is 3 to 4 years old. If surgery is needed, it is usually successful.</span></span></p>

<h2><strong><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Possible Complications</span></span></strong></h2>

<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Strangulation of intestine tissue is rare, but serious, and needs surgery right away.</span></span></p>

<h2><strong><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">When to Contact a Medical Professional</span></span></strong></h2>

<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Call your health care provider or go to the emergency room if the infant is very fussy or seems to have bad abdominal pain or if the hernia becomes tender, swollen, or discolored.</span></span></p>

<h2><strong><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Prevention</span></span></strong></h2>

<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">There is no known way to prevent an umbilical hernia. Taping or strapping an umbilical hernia will not make it go away.</span></span></p>

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<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><strong>Source:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000987.htm">https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000987.htm</a></span></span></p>
