A hernia is the protrusion of an organ or other internal tissue through a hole or weakened area in the muscle wall. Because development of the muscles may not completely finish in the womb, many infants can develop hernias in these places. Premature babies are more prone to developing hernias, since their muscle development is often incomplete. Hernias in infants are typically treatable with surgery that pushes the protruding organ back into the body and closes up the hole in the associated muscle, according to Babies Today.
Groin Bulge
A bulge or bump in the groin area is the main symptom of an inguinal hernia. In boys this lump may appear in the scrotum. It may also be found anywhere in the groin area in babies of either gender. The bulge may remain visible all the time or may retract back into the body and reappear intermittently. A doctor may be able to physically push on the hernia and cause it to retract back into the body. The symptoms of this kind of hernia appear most often in boys and occur more frequently on the right side than on the left, according to the KidsHealth website.
Abdominal Bulge
An umbilical hernia presents itself as a bulge or bump in the abdomen near the belly button. This type of hernia is caused by an incomplete closure of the abdominal muscles during development. The bulge may be more obvious when the baby cries, screams, coughs or strains. In some cases, the bulge may only be apparent during these times and may retract back into the body the rest of the time. Because umbilical hernias often spontaneously heal on their own, the symptoms may be only temporary.
Pain and Irritability
Most hernias in babies are painless, but if the infant is evincing pain when touched in the area of the bulge, this may be a sign of an incarcerated hernia. An incarcerated hernia is more serious than other hernias in babies since it involves a portion of the intestines becoming trapped in the bulging area. Some babies may not be able to express ongoing pain and may simply appear irritable or cry inconsolably. In the case of an incarcerated hernia, the bulge may remain in place and not reduce or disappear when the child is at rest.
Other Symptoms
Sometimes other symptoms accompany an incarcerated hernia in addition to the visible bulge and expressions of pain or irritability. These can include fever, vomiting, redness in the affected area and a full or round abdomen, according to Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. The bulge may also feel hard to the touch instead of soft and pliable.
