Who is affected by umbilical hernia

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Who is affected by umbilical hernia

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 10% 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	Amy Fackler, MA
Editor	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor	Michele Cronen
Primary Medical Reviewer	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Brad W. Warner, MD - Pediatric Surgery
Last Updated	February 15, 2006

Last updated:	February 15, 2006
Author:	Amy Fackler, MA
Reviewed By:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics, Brad W. Warner, MD - Pediatric Surgery
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Michele Cronen

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