Epidemiology
Hernias are a common disease among young children, mostly occurring in males. Due to an unclosed congenital canal in male groins, about 27% of men will suffer from hernias. Women have a lower risk of suffering from this disease, at a rate of about 3%.
What are Hernias?
Hernias occur when there is a gap in the abdominal muscle layer, allowing internal organs (usually the small intestine) to protrude. In most cases, because it’s a structural disease, hernias do not heal on their own and cannot be treated with medication; surgery is the only definitive solution. The protruding organ is most commonly the small intestine. If not treated, the hernia can grow larger, and if the protruding organ becomes "strangled," it can block the intestine and affect its blood supply, potentially leading to severe complications such as bowel obstruction or intestinal necrosis/ gangrene. This is call strangulated hernia.
There are many types of hernia, depend on its location, like umbilical hernia, inguinal hernia, femoral hernia, diaphragmatic hernia. The commonest type is inguinal hernia.