Umbilical_Hernia_in_Children_Flashcards

Question 1

What is an umbilical hernia and how common is it in children?

Answer 1

An umbilical hernia is a condition found during the newborn exam where part of the intestine protrudes through the umbilical opening. It is relatively common in children.

Question 2

What is the typical outcome for an umbilical hernia in children?

Answer 2

Umbilical hernias usually resolve spontaneously by the time the child is 3 years old, typically requiring no treatment.

Question 3

What are some associations with umbilical hernias in children?

Answer 3

Umbilical hernias are more commonly associated with Afro-Caribbean infants, children with Down’s syndrome, and mucopolysaccharide storage diseases.

Question 4

summarise

Answer 4

Umbilical hernia in children

Umbilical hernia are relatively common in children and may be found during the newborn exam. Usually no treatment is required as they typically resolve by 3 years of age

Associations
Afro-Caribbean infants
Down’s syndrome
mucopolysaccharide storage diseases

Question 5

You see a 6 week-old baby boy for his routine baby check and note a small, soft, umbilical hernia on examination. What should you do?

Advise parents to tape a coin over the area
Refer for surgery
Refer for ultrasound
Watch and wait
Arrange emergency admission

Answer 5

Watch and wait

Small umbilical hernias are common in babies and tend to resolve by 12 months of age. Parents should be reassured no treatment is usually required but to be aware of the signs of obstruction or strangulation such as vomiting, pain and being unable to push the hernia in - this is rare in infants. Advise the parents to present the child at around 2 years of age if the hernia is still present to arrange referral to a surgeon. Attempts to treat the hernia by strapping or taping things over the area are not helpful and can irritate the skin.

Source: NHS Choices
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Umbilicalhernia/Pages/Whatisitpage.aspx