脐疝是婴幼儿时期最常见的外科疾病之一。但是，真实的总发病率尚未知，因为许多脐疝会自发消退且未进行精确检查。大部分脐疝都是在健康婴儿身上单独发生的，男女婴发病率相等。早产儿和非裔婴儿中的发病率显著性升高。研究发现，体重小于 1500 g 的婴儿中高达 75% 的婴儿会发生脐疝。[1]Vohr BR, Rosenfield AG, Oh W. Umbilical hernia in the low-birth-weight infant (less than 1,500 gm). J Pediatr. 1977;90:807-808.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/853341?tool=bestpractice.com大量研究证明非洲和非洲裔美国婴儿中的发病率较高。[2]Crump EP. Umbilical hernia. 1. Occurrence of the infantile type in Negro infants and children. J Pediatr. 1952;40:214-223.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14908823?tool=bestpractice.com[3]Evans AG. The comparative incidence of umbilical hernias in colored and white infants. J Natl Med Assoc. 1941;33:158-160.[4]Walker SH. The natural history of umbilical hernia: a six-year follow up of 314 Negro children with this defect. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 1967;6:29-32.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6016190?tool=bestpractice.com[5]Meier DE, OlaOlorun DA, Omodele RA, et al. Incidence of umbilical hernia in African children: redefinition of "normal" and reevaluation of indications for repair. World J Surg. 2001;25:645-648.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11369993?tool=bestpractice.com
