Emergency Cases
Salamanca Guanajuato
464 116 2012
San Miguel de Allende
415 111 6819
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Inguinal Hernia
An inguinal hernia occurs when a piece of tissue, such as some part of the intestine is pushed out through a weakened place in the abdominal muscles, giving way to the development of a bugle, which can be painful, especially when coughing, bend over or lift a heavy object.
However, many hernias may also not cause pain.
Your doctor will likely recommend surgery to repair the painful or enlarged inguinal hernia in these cases. Repair of an inguinal hernia is a common and not so invasive surgical procedure.
Factors that could cause hernias to develop fall into two categories:
- Congenital defects
- Acquired defects
In the first case, the persistence of the duct through which the descent of the testicle is made in the male sex from the abdominal cavity to the scrotum or the round ligament in the female sex, due to lack of closure of the same, could cause the herniation of loops of intestine from the abdominal cavity at this level.
Today approximately 5 out of every 100 children may have inguinal hernias.
Inguinal hernias in newborns and children are caused by weakness in the abdominal wall that is present at birth.
Sometimes the hernia may be visible only when a newborn baby cries, coughs, or strains during a bowel movement and the baby may become irritable and have lees appetite than usual.
In the second case, making great efforts when going to the bathroom, coughing, lifting heavy objects, etc, could cause trauma and weakening of the inguinal wall and therefore the formation of hernias.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
People who may have any of the following risk factors are more likely to develop a hernia: family history of hernias, cystic fibrosis, cryptorchidism, being overweight, chronic constipation, straining bowel movements, enlarged prostate.
- A lump in the area on either side of the pubis
- Burning sensation or pain in the area of the lump
- Pain or discomfort in the groin, especially when bending over, coughing or lifting weights
- Feeling of heaviness or drag in the groin.
- Weakness or pressure in the groin
- Occasionally pain and swelling around the testicles
