Umbilical hernias are a common variation of normal development of the abdominal wall and umbilical ring.
- Umbilical hernias occur in about 15% of all children.1 Some studies show between 2% and 12% of all children have an umbilical hernia at 1 year of age.2
- They are more common in African-American infants.2
- Umbilical hernias are very common in premature babies.
The vast majority of umbilical hernias are not related to any disease condition. But in some cases an umbilical hernia is associated with Down syndrome, certain metabolic disorders such as hypothyroidism, and certain rare conditions, such as Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome.
References
Citations
Papagrigoriadis S, et al. (1998). Incarceration of umbilical hernias in children: A rare but important complication. Pediatric Surgery International, 14(3): 231–232.
Marion RW (2001). Umbilical hernia section of Umbilical anomalies. In RA Hoekelman et al., eds., Primary Pediatric Care, 4th ed., p. 1891. St. Louis: Mosby.
Credits
| Author | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman, MATC |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Brad W. Warner, MD - Pediatric Surgery |
| Last Updated | January 23, 2008 |
Author:Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Last Updated: 01/23/2008
