Inguinal hernias are the most common hernias that are not caused by an incision in the abdominal wall.
In children
- The risk of developing hernias is higher for infants born prematurely or with low birth weight than it is for other babies.
- Out of 100 full-term infants, 3 to 5 will have hernias.1
- Inguinal hernias are more common on the right side (about 60%) than on the left side (about 30%). About 10% of children with hernias have them on both sides.1
In adults
- About 3% to 5% of men older than 45 develop inguinal hernias.2
- About 65% to 70% of groin hernias in men and women result because the opening to the inguinal canal does not close before birth (indirect hernia).2
- About 30% of hernias in men occur from normal aging and wear and tear (direct hernias), and about 1% to 2% are hernias of the upper thigh (femoral). The reverse is true for women—30% have femoral hernias and 1% to 2% have direct hernias.2
References
Citations
Aiken JJ (2004). Inguinal hernias. In RE Behrman et al., eds., Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 17th ed., pp. 1293–1297. Philadelphia: Saunders.
Jeyarajah R, Harford WV (2006). Inguinal and femoral hernias (groin hernias) section of Abdominal hernias and gastric volvulus. In M Feldman et al., eds., Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, 8th ed., vol. 1, pp. 483–487. Philadelphia: Saunders/Elsevier.
Credits
| Author | Monica Rhodes |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman, MATC |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Jerome B. Simon, MD, FRCPC, FACP - Gastroenterology |
| Last Updated | May 16, 2007 |
Author:Monica Rhodes
Last Updated: 05/16/2007
