What is an umbilical hernia in infants? Umbilical hernia is a hernia that protrudes from the umbilical ring. It is mostly a recurrent hernia, but it is rare to see an incarcerated hernia, which swells out of the umbilicus when crying, standing or straining. Symptoms of umbilical hernia in infants: It occurs in infants a few days and weeks after the umbilical cord has fallen off, when the epithelium has formed at the cut-off point of the umbilical cord and the surface of the hernia is therefore covered with skin. The swelling protrudes from the umbilicus and increases in size when crying, and the skin is thin and slightly bruised. The umbilicus is left with loose folds, and after the hernia content is returned with the finger, the air over water sound can often be heard and the umbilical ring with hard tissue can be touched, and the diameter of the umbilical ring can be estimated by using the finger to penetrate into the umbilical orifice, and the finger can feel the impact when the child coughs, cries or exerts himself. The diagnosis is made when there is a reversible swelling in the umbilicus that swells up when crying and disappears when quiet. Causes of umbilical hernia in infants: Due to developmental defects in the umbilicus, the umbilical ring is not closed, or the umbilical cord is detached and the root of the umbilical cord does not adhere well to the umbilical ring, the omentum or intestinal canal protrudes through the weak point of the umbilicus and forms an umbilical hernia. In infants and children, umbilical hernia is mostly caused by congenital abnormalities, including unclosed umbilical ring or weak scar tissue around the umbilical ring, which leads to umbilical hernia formation; while in adults, umbilical hernia is mostly caused by acquired factors, such as pregnancy, ascites, abdominal tumor and excessive obesity, which lead to weak tissue around the umbilicus and reduced ability to resist the rising pressure in the abdominal cavity.