Pediatric hernia is, medically speaking, primarily a congenital hiatal hernia. Because the boy’s testicles descend through the inguinal canal to the scrotum just before birth, the consequent downward migration of the peritoneum forms the sheathing process. If the sheath is not atretic after birth, it becomes a larger cavity from which the abdominal contents protrude to the surface, forming a hiatal hernia. Because the right testicle descends slightly later than the left and the sphincter atresizes later, there are more inguinal hernias on the right side. Of course, girls can also form hiatal hernias due to weakness of the abdominal wall, but the incidence is very low.
Symptoms of pediatric hernia:
1. Usually, when a child cries, exercises vigorously, or has dry stools, there is a protruding mass in the groin, sometimes extending to the scrotum or labia; when lying down or pressing with the hand, the intestine returns to the abdominal cavity through the sheath, and the mass thus disappears on its own.
2. Once the hernia mass becomes embedded (the hernia mass becomes too large to return to the abdominal cavity through the smaller sheath due to twisting, etc.), intestinal obstruction will occur, manifested by abdominal pain, crying, vomiting, abdominal distention, fever, irritability, and even dehydration and shock.
3. If the swelling is embedded and cannot be returned to the abdominal cavity, an oval-shaped swelling with hard texture and obvious tenderness can be seen in the groin or scrotum; if the swelling is embedded for a long time, the skin can be red and swollen, and if the intestine cannot be returned for a long time, serious complications such as ischemic necrosis of the intestine may occur. Treatment of pediatric hernia Since the abdominal muscles of infants can gradually become stronger with the growth of the body and the hernia may disappear on its own, infants under one year of age can be suspended from surgery, and changes in the condition can be observed at any time, and when the hernia mass protrudes, it can be returned in time, or the inner ring of the inguinal canal can be pressed with a cotton thread bundle or bandage under the guidance of the doctor, which not only prevents the hernia mass from protruding again, but also gives the developing abdominal muscles a chance to strengthen the abdominal wall and often prevents surgery. surgical treatment is often avoided. If the hernia does not heal spontaneously beyond one year of age, and at most until three years of age, surgical treatment is required. This is because the hernia mass becomes larger with age and if it is retracted in time, it is not a big problem, but if it appears with a little force or even when standing, it often affects normal life.
Pediatric hernia is a common pediatric condition, especially in male babies who are most likely to get it. Although it is not a serious condition, it can cause serious diseases such as intestinal obstruction and intestinal necrosis if left untreated, so prevention of pediatric hernia is an essential task for mothers and fathers in the childcare stage.
How to prevent your baby from getting a hernia.
1, some adults are afraid that the child’s stomach will get cold, will wrap up the baby’s stomach, but do not wrap too tightly, so as not to increase the pressure in the baby’s abdomen.
Don’t let your baby stand too early, especially for a long time, because this will make your baby’s intestines fall due to gravity, which will easily lead to inguinal hernia.
3. Don’t let your baby cry for a long time, because crying can lead to an increase in abdominal pressure and cause a hernia.
4. If your baby is sick and coughing, you should also treat your baby in time to avoid coughing loudly for a long time, which can lead to an increase in abdominal pressure and cause a hernia. Pediatric hernia usually occurs within one year of birth, so parents of babies at this stage should always observe whether their babies have lumps in the groin or scrotum, or repeatedly cry for no reason.
So what should I do if my baby has a hernia?
Some parents may say that their baby is still young and they don’t want him to go to the hospital to suffer, so they hope to wait and see if the condition will be relieved, but the fact is that most pediatric hernias do not heal on their own and early treatment has an important impact on the baby’s recovery
The biggest danger of pediatric hernia is that when the baby cries violently or exerts himself suddenly, the intra-abdominal pressure suddenly increases and the abdominal intestinal canal protrudes too much, or some children apply the hernia belt for a long time so that the neck of the hernia sac is often rubbed and becomes thick and tough, making the contents of the hernia unable to be returned to the hospital. If the hernia is embedded for a long time, serious complications such as necrosis of the intestinal canal can form, and then emergency surgery is performed, which is much riskier. Therefore, when mothers and fathers find out that their baby has a hernia, they should take their baby to a regular hospital immediately. Children within three years of age may not have surgery for the time being, but they need to be closely observed; children over three years of age should choose surgery if the hernia mass gradually increases in size or if they have a history of entrapment. In conclusion, mothers and fathers should have a correct understanding of pediatric hernia and should not blindly listen to the words of others and delay the surgery, which will affect the healthy growth of their babies.
Treatment.
1.Medication therapy: It can relieve the symptoms of abdominal distension, abdominal pain and constipation caused by hernia, thus making the hernia reduce.
2. Hernia belt therapy: It can quickly stop the protrusion of the hernia, thus effectively stopping the development of the hernia and relieving the symptoms of abdominal distension, abdominal pain and constipation caused by the hernia. The disadvantage is that it is inconvenient to use and cannot cure the hernia. 3. Radical treatment: hernia repair, hernia patch repair, hernia laparoscopic repair and hernia medical adhesive injection anastomosis. Hernia repair: the hernia ring is repaired by stripping part of the external oblique muscle of the abdomen. Hernia patch repair: A patch material is used to repair the hernia orifice instead of stripping part of the external abdominal oblique muscle. Hernia laparoscopic repair: Hernia repair or hernia patch repair is done through laparoscopic repair. Hernia medical adhesive injection anastomosis: an anastomosis similar to and fully compatible with human tissue is injected directly into the hernia duct to close the hernia duct and the hernia ring opening, achieving exactly the same result as repairing the hernia ring opening by stripping part of the external oblique muscle or repairing the hernia ring opening with patch material. These are the prevention and treatment methods of pediatric hernia. If mothers and fathers find that their babies have hernia, they must have early treatment to avoid delaying the condition.
Post-operative care
1. Pay attention to protecting the wound after treatment, especially for infants and young children, do not let the child scratch off the gauze covering the wound; moreover, do not contaminate the wound by soiling the gauze surface with urine or stool, causing the wound to become infected and septic.
2. As the scrotum may have different degrees of swelling after surgery, it will generally subside in 2 to 3 days. If the swelling does not subside and hardens, there may be bruising, so ask the doctor to check. If the swelling and hardness do not develop anymore, the bruising will be absorbed slowly.
3.Because the wound will be painful in different degrees after the anesthesia wears off, the child should be coaxed or distracted to avoid crying and fussing as much as possible.
4, after surgery to let the child sleep on his side, with a soft cotton diaper folded into a long strip clamped in the perineum, if the right side of the surgery, the child should be allowed to lie on the left side, once urinated, will not urinate on the gauze and contaminated wounds. If a diaper must be worn, the gauze at the wound should be left exposed outside the diaper.
With the exception of a few infantile hernias, most inguinal hernias do not heal on their own. As the condition is delayed, the hernia mass gradually increases in size, which can make treatment difficult and, moreover, the inguinal hernia is prone to impaction (hernia mass is stuck and cannot be retracted) and strangulation, even endangering the patient’s life! Therefore, except for a few special cases, pediatric hernias should receive thorough treatment as early as possible.