The short answer
A swelling in a baby's groin or scrotum that comes and goes, especially when crying, is usually an inguinal hernia. Unlike a belly-button hernia, it does not close on its own and can trap bowel, a risk that is highest in the first year, so a paediatric surgeon usually repairs it soon after diagnosis. Go to an emergency department immediately if the lump becomes hard, tender or will not go back, especially with vomiting or a swollen tummy.
Childhood hernia repair, from ₦450,000Medically reviewed by Dr Debo Odulana, Founder and Chief Executive, Mezo. Last reviewed . This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Care is decided with you after an examination.
Groin or belly button?
A bulge at the belly button is an umbilical hernia, common in Nigerian babies, and most close by about age four or five. A bulge in the groin or scrotum is different: it comes through a channel left open from before birth and needs an operation. Fluid around the testicle (a hydrocele) uses the same channel and is often watched for a year first.
Emergency signs
Go to an emergency department now if:
- The lump is hard, red or tender and will not go back
- Your baby is vomiting, especially green vomit
- The tummy is swollen or your baby is inconsolable
The operation
A herniotomy is done under general anaesthetic through a small cut in a groin crease, with no mesh. Most children go home the same day once feeding and passing urine. Babies born early may stay one night for breathing monitoring after the anaesthetic.
What it costs on Mezo
Day case for most children.
Common questions
How much is hernia surgery for a child in Lagos?
Childhood hernia repair on Mezo is from ₦450,000 all-in for one side as a day case, agreed in writing after the surgeon examines your child.
Can a belt or coin fix it?
No. Neither closes a hernia, and strapping can harm the skin.
Will both sides need repair?
Only if there is a hernia on both sides. The surgeon checks at the examination.
The procedures
Related health guides
More patient guides
Sources and further reading
The guidelines and patient information this page is checked against. Care in Nigeria follows the same evidence; what differs is the price and where it is done.
- Inguinal hernia repair. NHS. Patient information.
Links last checked 22 October 2026.
Medical disclaimer: This guide is general information and does not replace advice from your own doctor. Where your centre's instructions differ from this guide, follow theirs.