Introduction
Diaphragmatic hernias can be divided into congenital and acquired forms. While the acquired diaphragmatic hernia does not show any drastic symptoms or may even go unnoticed, the congenital diaphragmatic hernia in infants is a serious clinical picture which becomes apparent immediately after birth.
What symptoms may indicate a diaphragmatic hernia?
The most common symptom complex in acquired diaphragmatic hernia in adults is heartburn after eating and excessive fullness up to stomach pain. If there are still risk factors for diaphragmatic hernia such as overweight, pregnancy or low-fiber diet, the suspicion is obvious. The diagnosis is confirmed by gastroscopy.
This can identify parts of the stomach in the chest. Diaphragmatic hernia can also be seen in an x-ray, but x-rays are seldom used to find the diagnosis. In case of a complete displacement of the stomach into the thorax, symptoms of the cardiovascular system may also occur, especially after eating. The displacement of the heart and lungs leads to rhythm disturbances, increased heart rate and shortness of breath.
The following symptoms may indicate a diaphragmatic hernia in the baby
In babies, the diaphragmatic hernia in the womb is caused by an abnormal development. Therefore, this malformation is often already detected by ultrasound during the preventive examinations during pregnancy. In the most common form of congenital hernia (Bochdalek hernia), organs have slipped out of the abdominal cavity through a gap in the posterior diaphragm and into the thorax, where they prevent the lungs from developing.
After the birth of the child, a team of specialists from pediatric surgeons is ready to take care of the newborn. If, however, a congenital diaphragmatic hernia goes unnoticed, the child will be noticed immediately after birth with symptoms of oxygen deficiency due to the underdeveloped lungs. The children have difficulty breathing and are often cyanotic (“blue tinted” due to lack of oxygen) as a sign of respiratory insufficiency.
If the diaphragmatic hernias are less large or rare, the symptoms can be very varied. Spitting immediately after food intake, crying due to pain or growth retardation may occur, but do not necessarily indicate a diaphragmatic hernia. If symptoms of this kind occur, a pediatrician should always be consulted to rule out other malformations.