S.H.
My daughter is 7. She had an "inguinal hernia" for which she had surgery for. It was general anesthesia.
The Surgeon she saw is a Pediatric surgeon who specializes in this. He says it is not uncommon in children. His own son had a hernia as well.
The team who did the surgery are all pediatric specialists, including the Anesthesiologist... and they know exactly how to handle children.
If you do not get the surgery... then you will need to watch it and worry about it... all the time. Making sure that she does not lift anything heavy.
A "hernia" is a hole... in which the internal organs sticks out of, or falls out of. The hole can vary in size or get bigger or close up on its own. But not commonly. If the hole closes up on its own... what can happen is called "strangulation"... and strangulation means that the internal organs sticking out will get stuck sticking out of that hole and then get "stranguled" and then that portion of the internal organ can get gangrene and cause an emergency and life threatening situation.
Commonly what is sticking out of a hernia (at least for the Inguinal Hernia type), is the intestines or male or female organs. For my daughter's type of hernia, it can be the Ovary that is sticking out... or in boys, the scrotum etc.
Yes, it is wiser to get it operated on. My Daughter's Hernia was done Laproscopically. A small incision. Then sutured up.
Her recovery time, after surgery was for 6 weeks... and during that time she had to have restricted activities... so that they incision and suture does not split open. It has to heal completely and well, post-operation. AND I told her school/Teachers... explicitly. So that they do not push her into activities unknowingly, nor have her lift anything, even her desk chair. Not even jumping rope etc., while she was healing.
My daughter's surgery was 1 hour. Then the child goes into the recovery room. And she could leave when SHE felt better enough to go home, and until then the nurses/Doctor monitored her.
My daughter, handled the whole process and surgery and post-surgery like a Champ. She even told us she is glad her "bump" is gone... and that she doesn't have to be careful of everything she does now.
We were at the hospital from 5:30 in the morning and didn't leave until about 12:30 later that day. A lot of the time is spent waiting and prepping the child.
Just make sure, she is operated on by a Pediatric Surgeon who does this procedure routinely.
There are many different kinds of Hernias. But they can all strangulate and have the potential to. It is not predictable if it strangulates.
If she does not get the surgery... at some point, she may have to have it done anyway... or if it strangulates. Then that will be a super emergency situation. And life threatening.
Make sure, she does not lift anything, nor anything heavy. And pushing and pulling type movements either. This all affects the abdominal wall... where the hernia is.
A Hernia... comes and goes. This is why some people think it goes away. But it does not... unless the hole closes up COMPLETELY and self-resolves. But, by nature, a Hernia recurs... and with more activity or strenuous activity, it may pop out more etc.
Again, our Surgeon's own son had a hernia... but in his son's case... it strangulated. He got a phone call saying his son was in Emergency... because it had strangulated. Luckily, he was operated on and his son survived. Our Surgeon says, that IF a Hernia strangulates.... (and gangrene can set in), that there is about 1 hour... in which the then emergency surgery has to be done by.
I would, thoughtfully consider the surgery. We do not regret at all... that we had our daughter's surgery. AND she is glad she had it done too.
After my Daughter's surgery, she could go back to school in about 4 days... and per her comfort level. She did not require any pain meds after the surgery. The Doc only suggested Motrin, if need be.
All the best,
Susan