What is an inguinal hernia in children?
In children, an inguinal hernia is the protrusion of abdominal tissues and organs through a congenital opening in the inguinal canal. If not intervened correctly in time, it can cause organ loss and even death. About 3 out of every 100 boys develop an inguinal hernia. In girls, inguinal hernias are less common and the herniated organ in girls is usually the ovary, not the bowel. Hernias are much more common in premature babies or babies with low birth weight.
Is inguinal hernia in children different from adults?
Inguinal hernia in children differs from adults in terms of both its formation and surgical technique. Inguinal hernia in children is not related to self-exertion as in adults. Hernias in children occur due to congenital causes. It occurs as a result of the inguinal canal, which should normally close after birth, remaining open.
How does an inguinal hernia occur in children? What is hydrocele and how does it occur?
In the womb, the testicles (male eggs) of male babies are located in the abdomen close to the kidneys. As the baby develops, as they complete their development, they migrate downwards from where they were first formed and settle in the scrotum (sack), where they should be. As the male egg descends into the sac, the membrane lining the abdomen, called the peritoneum, is dragged towards the inguinal canal and a sac is formed in the inguinal canal. This canal normally ceases to function at birth.