A bulging of an organ or tissue through an abnormal opening.
Common
More than 200,000 US cases per year
Treatable by a medical professional
Usually self-diagnosable
Lab tests or imaging rarely required
Medium-term: resolves within months
Typically, a hernia involves the stomach or intestine.
Symptoms include a bulge, swelling, or pain. In some cases, there are no symptoms.
Treatment includes monitoring the condition. If needed, surgery can return tissue to its normal location and close the opening.
Ages affected
| 0-2 |
Common
|
| 3-5 |
Rare
|
| 6-13 |
Rare
|
| 14-18 |
Common
|
| 19-40 |
Common
|
| 41-60 |
Very common
|
| 60+ |
Very common
|
Genders affected
| Males |
Very common
|
| Females |
Common
|
Matthew Johnson MD, FACS 