Advice sought re: inguinal hernia
V> It appears that my 11-year old has developed an inguinal
V> hernia, possibly induced by coughing bouts from a recent URI.
V> Otherwise asynmptomatic, it is a raised lump in the groin
V> about 1.5" x 1" in area and raised about 0.5". It disappears
V> completely when recumbent.
V> We've so far gotten conflicting advice - the pulmonologist
V> who spotted it thinks it might mend; ny son's pediatrician
V> says it needs corrective surgery, pretty soon though not immediately.
Inguinal hernias are usually due to a con{*filter*} weakness in the muscles of the
stomach wall. This is probably not something that will permanently
self-correct. In other words, it's likely to recur. So the choices are: fix
it now surgically, or do so later. Seems to me the younger the patient, the
easier the fix. Plus it's nice to get it over with and not have to worry about
it any more.
