Most umbilical hernias in children older than 3 years that are greater than how many centimeters in diameter are likely to continue enlarging?

• A. 1.0
• B. 2.0
• C. 2.5
• D. 1.5

Answer: (D)

Spontaneous closure of pediatric umbilical hernias is common when the defect is small, especially by age 3–4 years. As the defect size increases, the chance of natural closure decreases. If a child older than 3 has an umbilical hernia that is larger than about 1.5 cm in diameter, it is unlikely to close on its own and tends to enlarge as the child grows. Therefore, such a hernia is more likely to require surgical repair rather than observation.