Lump in the Abdomen
Alternate Names : Abdominal Hernia, Abdominal Wall Defects, Hernia - Abdominal
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What to Expect at your Health Care Provider's Office
The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.
Medical history questions documenting your symptom in detail may include:
- Time pattern
- When was the hernia first noticed?
- Is it always there or does the bulge come and go?
- Location
- Where is the bulge of the hernia located?
- Quality or size
- How big is the hernia? Hint: try to measure the diameter (distance across) or compare to another object (the size of a baseball, for example).
- Aggravating factors
- Have you noticed anything that makes the hernia bulge more?
- Relieving factors
- Have you noticed anything that makes the hernia bulge less?
- Other
- What other symptoms are also present?
- Is there any pain or discomfort, discoloration of the skin, or other symptom associated with the hernia?
- Are accompanying symptoms always there or only sometimes?
The physical examination includes emphasis on examination of the hernia. Several position changes may be required, or the patient may be asked to cough or strain.
Surgery may be needed to correct incisional hernias or umbilical hernias that do not resolve by the time the child approaches school age.
Emergency surgery is needed in the case of a strangulated hernia.
After seeing your health care provider, you may want to add a diagnosis related to a lump in your abdomen to your personal medical record.
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