The hernia is noticed as a soft swelling beneath the skin that often protrudes when the infant is upright or with crying or straining. Depending on the severity, the area of the defect can varys from 1 to 5 centimeters in diameter. Small hernias usually close spontaneously without treatment by age 1 or 2.
Umbilical hernias are usually painless.
Umbilical hernias are common in infants. The exact incidence is unknown. Umbilical hernias occur slightly more frequently in infants of African American descent. The vast majority of umbilical hernias are not related to any disease condition. There is no known prevention.