DID YOU KNOW THAT THE SWELLING ON YOUR ABDOMEN COULD BE A HERNIA

What is a hernia also known as locally as ania or aniya

A hernia is a defect or a hole in the linings or covering layers of your abdomen beneath the skin.

Areas where most found

1. In the groins in both females and males
2. The scrotum in males
3. At the umbilicus
4. Above the umbilicus and between the epigastrium
5. At the angle between the back and the last ribs

At what age can you get it?

1 . At birth especially in male babies born with one or both testes swollen.

2.  At any age after birth

3. During pregnancy

4. After a long illness like bronchial asthma, Tuberculosis and after abdominal trauma

What causes a hernia

The cause of the hernia if not at birth is by any condition or disease that persistently causes increased abdominal pressure. 

The causes here include:

1. Chronic cough as in Tuberculosis or asthma,
2. Constipation,
3. Straining in passing urine especially in the elderly,
4. Manual labour like digging and lifting heavy objects,
5. Poor feeding like lack of food in cases of wars and famine
6. Repeated pregnancies
7. Trauma to the abdomen: gun shots, penetrating wounds due to fights with sharp objects etc
8. After surgery on the abdomen

Complications of a hernia if not medically attended to

1. Obstruction of the faecal matter to move down to the anus leading to painful swelling of the abdomen
2. Intestinal rotting and causing severe body infection ( Septicaemia)
3. Intestinal death called gangrene
4. Death of the victim

What should one do when such a swelling is seen

Don’t cut to apply there local medicines but go to the nearest health facility for consultation

Written by DR BUSINGYE AMOS WARUGABA