Definition
An inguinal hernia is a hernia that manifests itself in the region of the groin. However, it is not a hernia in the true sense of the word, since no bones are involved. Rather, increased pressure in the abdominal cavity (such as coughing) causes viscera to prolapse through the body’s own unclosed openings or weak points in the tissue. Optically, the inguinal hernia can then be recognized by a palpable protrusion, which can cause almost all symptoms from pushable to extremely painful.
Causes of inguinal hernia
The most common cause of an inguinal hernia in babies is a gap in the peritoneum that has remained open due to development. This can be easily explained by the development of the testicles in boys. The testicles first develop in the abdominal cavity and then descend into the scrotum as the baby grows.
The peritoneum thus migrates down with the baby as its protective cover. Normally, the opening of the peritoneum above the inguinal canal closes itself before birth until a short time afterwards. If it does not close, organs and especially parts of the intestines can also leave the peritoneal cavity, pass through the groin and into the scrotum.
This explains the term hernia or inguinal hernia. The migration down of intestinal parts is favored by increased pressure in the abdominal cavity. Examples are coughing, sneezing or strong pressing during bowel movement.
The earlier the baby is born, the higher the risk of an inguinal hernia. If the baby does not remain in the womb for the normal developmental period, not all the maturation processes and thus also the closure of the peritoneum above the groin can be completed. Very unusual in babies is the tearing of tissue at weak points in the body, as is often the case in adults in the groin area. However, babies do not physically strain themselves like adults and do not lift heavy loads, so this cause is a rarity.
