Inguinal Hernia In Children

What is an inguinal hernia?

A hernia (HER-nee-ah) is when tissue or part of an organ bulges out of its normal place in the body. An inguinal (ING-gwih-nal) hernia, or "groin" hernia, is when something from the abdomen (belly) slips out of place. It is often a loop of intestine (bowel) that falls out of place and makes the hernia. Sometimes the hernia contains part of another organ, or other tissue from the abdomen (such as fat). Inguinal hernias happen most often in boys, but girls can have them also.

Why do inguinal hernias happen?

• Inguinal hernias usually happen because of a hole or a weak area in the muscles of your child's abdominal wall. They may also happen when part of an organ, intestine or tissue from the abdomen falls into the inguinal canal. The inguinal canal is a tube-shaped passage that goes through the wall of the lower abdomen. In boys, this passage allows the testicles to drop into the scrotum before birth. Girls have an inguinal canal also. If this passage does not close right, a hernia can happen.
  
  
• Hernias are more common in premature infants (babies who were born too early). A child has a greater chance of having a hernia if someone in his family had one. Certain health problems, such as cystic fibrosis or undescended testicles, increase the chance of your child having a hernia.

What are the signs and symptoms of an inguinal hernia?

• The most common sign of an inguinal hernia is a bulge or lump in the groin or lower abdominal area. The groin area is where the top of the leg meets the abdomen. The lump of a hernia may get bigger when your child cries, coughs, or strains to have a BM. The hernia lump may get smaller or go away when your child is relaxed. Boys may have a lump in the scrotum, and sometimes scrotal swelling. The scrotum is the sack that holds the testicles.
  
  
• Sometimes, a loop of intestine may become stuck or trapped in the hernia. This can be very serious, even life threatening. If your child has the following symptoms, call your child's caregiver right away:
  
  
  • Constant crying, or he seems like he is in pain.
    
    
  • Your child's abdomen seems larger, rounder, or more "full" than normal.
    
    
  • The skin over the hernia becomes swollen or red.
    
    
  • Your child has a fever.
    
    
  • Your child has vomiting (throwing up).
    
    
  • Your child has trouble passing a BM, or stops having BMs.
    
    
  • You see blood in your child's BM.

How is an inguinal hernia diagnosed?

Your child's caregiver can usually tell if he has a hernia during an exam. The caregiver may check to see if the hernia can be reduced (gently pushed back into the abdomen). Your child may need tests such as x-rays of the abdomen or an ultrasound. These tests will help caregivers decide how to treat your child's hernia, and to check for other problems.

How is an inguinal hernia treated?

How your child's hernia is treated will depend on the kind of hernia he has. Your child's treatment may also depend on how old he is, and his general health. Inguinal hernias often need to be fixed with surgery. Without surgery, hernias often get worse over time. Most of the time you can schedule your child's surgery at a time that is good for you. Your child may need surgery right away if a loop of intestine has become trapped in the hernia.

What are the risks of an inguinal hernia?

Serious problems can happen if your child's hernia is not treated. A loop of intestine could become stuck in the hernia. This can cause your child's intestines to become blocked. The blood flow to the loop of intestine in the hernia could become cut off. This could cause that part of the intestine to die. This is serious, and can be life-threatening.

For more information:

Contact the following to learn more about hernias and their treatment:

• National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC)
  2 Information Way
  Bethesda , MD 20892-3570
  Phone: 1- 800 - 8915389
  Web Address: www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov
  

• American College of Surgeons
  633 N. Saint Clair St.
  Chicago , IL 606113211
  Phone: 1- 312 - 2025000
  Phone: 1- 800 - 6214111
  Web Address: http://www.facs.org
  

Care Agreement

You have the right to help plan your child's care. Learn about your child's health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your child's caregivers to decide what care you want for your child.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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