Umbilical hernia or outie?

[RainbowRiver]

Background first:

Last 2/3 weeks my DS (aged 4y7m) has had a chesty cough, sneezing and snotty. I had hoped he would get over it, so avoided seeing a dr.

On Monday when he returned from his dads, that night he started complaining his penis hurt. Wouldn't show me, but let DH look, who said it looked red.

Tuesday he didn't say anything.

Last night he kept having melt downs and every time he peed, an even bigger melt down followed. He said his penis hurt badly and even more so to wee.

Off I went to the dr. Checks him over, borderline respiratory infection + borderline urinary tract infection. Strong AB will fix it..

NOW: dr asked about his belly button, it sticks out. I'd previously asked my dr (who I trust with my life), if it was an outie or something to worry about. She assured me it was gone and nothing of concern. However, this dr last night informs me it's an umbilical hernia and will need surgery by the time he starts school next year

Im going to get another opinion as I'm not sure who to believe now. Xdh is taking him back to this dr next week to see what he says (dr said to cone back in 6 days). He is all for surgery, but I'm not going to do something unless its really needed.

DS says it doesn't hurt to touch or anything. He's had it since birth, everyone has always commented on his 'outie' but never that it's a hernia!

[*Efjay*]

Can you feel a hole in his belly button or slightly off side (so still with in his belly button but not directly in the middle)? My 2 yr old has a slight hernia but it is closing over. But I can (could) feel the separation in the muscle & even push the tissue that poked out back in. If you can do that then yes, its a hernia. But it really depends on the individual as to whether they are repaired. Deft get your second opinion

[AnyDream]

The reasoning behind fixing it before a certain age is that there is a higher risk of emergencies in adolescence, something to do with growing and tissue being pushed through the hole.

Surely you could get a definitive yes/no answer (is it a hernia?) with an ultrasound. Getting that done sooner rather than later will remove the uncertainty factor. If it turns out it is a hernia they might just review it in a couple of years time and then if it hasn't closed over they might recommend surgery at that point.