Umbilical hernia natural history, complications and prognosis

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Hamid Qazi, MD, BSc [2]

Overview

Common complications of umbilical hernia include strangulation, skin color changes, and ascites.

Natural History

• Umbilical hernias are usually asymptomatic.
• Resolve on their own
• If umbilical hernia become incarcerated then the following symptoms develop in any decade of life:
  • Bilious emesis
  • Tenderness
  • Hard protruding mass
  • Thinning of the overlying skin
  • Ascites

Complications

Common complications of umbilical hernia include:

• Strangulation
• Thinning of the overlying skin
• Uncontrollable ascites

Prognosis

Most umbilical hernias get better without treatment by the time the child is 3 - 4 years old. Those that do not close may need surgery. Umbilical hernias are usually painless.