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An inguinal hernia is a swelling that appears in the groin areas (right and left of the genitals, in the lower abdomen), usually at the time of crying, coughing or straining or simply when the child is standing. The characteristic is that this swelling is not permanent, but appears and disappears depending on the condition in which the child is.

In advanced cases, it descends downwards, towards the scrotum. Then it is called an scrotal inguinal hernia.

The content of this hernia is most commonly intestine. In girls, it can be ovaries.

An inguinal hernia is 10 times more common in boys than in girls. It affects 5% of newborns, while in premature babies the frequency of inguinal hernia is significantly increased and reaches 30%. A percentage of 10% also has a hernia on the other side, either simultaneously or later.

Inguinal hernia in children is a congenital condition, that is, it is present from birth.

Its first appearance can be even in the first hours of life or at any other time in childhood.

Usually the diagnosis is made by the parents themselves during a diaper change, who notice a swelling low and sideways in the abdomen, or by the pediatrician during a routine clinical examination.

Myth or truth: we do not let the child cry because it prevents the appearance of a hernia?

Myth, crying is the cause.

The cause of the hernia pre-exists and all that remains is the cause. And the reason if it is not crying, it will be constipation, coughing, later significant effort or a simple squeeze.

The treatment of inguinal hernia is only surgical, in a one-day surgery (the child returns home in the afternoon). Under general anesthesia, the correction is done with a small incision in the groin.

The operation for inguinal hernia should be scheduled as soon as possible, after diagnosis.

The most common risk of inguinal hernia is the constriction, that is, the strangulation of the organ that projects into the inguinal canal, which cannot return to the abdomen. The content of the hernial sac, usually an intestinal loop, does not have a good blood supply and can die. Also, in boys, because the vessels of the testicle pass through the same point, they may affect its blood supply. In this case, within a maximum time limit of 6 hours, the inguinal hernia should be reduced with special manipulations by the pediatric surgeon, that is, the contents of the hernial sac should return to the abdomen. If this is not achieved, emergency surgery is needed.

The main fear of parents is anesthesia.

Anesthesia nowadays is a safe procedure, as long as it is administered by specialized personnel in a properly organized environment. The probability of a serious adverse event from anesthesia in a child, without a serious health problem, is particularly small, in the order of 1/50,000 – 100,000. Many daily activities have a clearly higher risk.

General anesthesia is like flying: it’s the safest way, but because someone else is at the helm, we all worry!