Umbilical Hernia

What is an Umbilical Hernia?

A hernia is when an internal body organ pushes through the muscle or tissue that holds it in place. The majority of hernias are abdominal, occurring between the chest and hips. But hernias can also occur in the groin and upper thigh.

An umbilical hernia can usually be found near the navel. It will appear as a swelling, that will be soft to the touch. It is caused by the intestine pushing through the stomach muscles.

It is generally painless and not life-threatening, but if left untreated there is a risk of it becoming strangulated. This means blood supply to the protruding organ will be cut which can cause serious complications. The most common form of treatment for an umbilical hernia is surgery.

Understanding hernia-related symptoms and features

Symptoms may affect multiple parts of the body. Understanding which part of the body a symptom affects, can help us to better understand the potential underlying causes of a symptom, including a rare disease or genetic syndrome.

A hernia occurs when tissue or an organ abnormally exits through the wall of the cavity in which it can be found. There are many different types of hernias, however they usually involve the abdomen and groin.

Some hernias do not fix themselves and most require surgery. While not life-threatening in themselves, if left untreated they may eventually cause a more serious potential condition or emergency.

What should I do next?

In some instances, an umbilical hernia may be one of the features of a rare disease or genetic syndrome. To find out if someone with Umbilical Hernia, may be due to a genetic syndrome, it is important to have a consultation and evaluation with a clinical genetic specialist. Specialists may also suggest specific genetic testing or other types of tests to help reach a diagnosis. FDNA’s AI technology can help speed up the diagnostic process by analyzing facial features and other health information.