Umbilical hernia in Bulawayo: some observations from a hospital based study

We present a retrospective study of 40 consecutive patients admitted with umbilical hemiae to Mpilo Central Hospital between January 1990 and December 1993. The majority of the patients 95 pc (38/40) were children and only 5 pc (2/40) were adults. The study included 18 males and 22 females giving a M:F ratio of 1:1,2. In children the age range was from 1 month to 13 years with 63 pc (24/38) occurring in the zero to five year age group. The commonest indication for admission was obstruction of the umbilical hernia in 37,5 pc (15/40) of cases. Other indications included: large umbilical hernia 30 pc (12/40), recurrent discomfort and peri-umbilical pain 20 pc (8/40), incidental finding in patients admitted for some other problem 7,5 pc (3/ 40), one case of recurrent hemia and one case of accidental injury