Infections, including those caused by mesh devices used to repair hernias, tend to manifest with similar symptoms.

If you’re concerned that your hernia mesh is infected, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises patients and caregivers to look for the following signs and symptoms:

• Fever (sometimes the only sign of an infection)
• Chills and sweats
• Change in cough or a new cough.
• Sore throat or new mouth sore
• Shortness of breath
• Nasal congestion
• Stiff neck
• Burning or pain with urination
• Unusual vaginal discharge or irritation
• Increased urination
• Redness, soreness, or swelling in any area
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Pain in the abdomen or rectum
• New onset of pain

A fever doesn’t have to be extremely high to be of concern. Gastrointestinal upset, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, accompanied by an increased frequency to urinate, may also indicate hernia mesh is infected.

Tell-Tale Signs That Hernia Mesh Is Infected

Pain and discomfort are a normal part of any surgery and the levels of initial post-surgical pain may vary depending upon whether your surgery was an open repair or done laparoscopically.

That said, pain should gradually decrease over a few days to a couple of weeks. Any sudden increase in pain, or new pain symptoms, should be immediately reported to your physician and monitored as potential signs of infection.

Additionally,a mesh‐related infection can occur weeks or even years after hernia repair, according to research published in the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. This possibility, the researchers note, “should be considered in any patient with fever of unknown origin, or symptoms and/or signs of inflammation of the abdominal wall following hernia repair.”

Hernia Mesh Effectiveness and Complications

A hernia exists when part of the bowel, adipose tissue (fat) or an organ pop through weakened tissue surrounding it. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there are six types of hernia:

• Ventral—happens in vicinity of the abdominal wall
• Inguinal—happens in the inner groin
• Femoral—happens in the upper thigh, outer groin
• Incisional—happens at the site of a former surgery
• Umbilical—happens at the region of the belly button
• Hiatal—happens when diaphragm becomes weakened and stomach partially pops through to esophageal region

As indicated by the FDA, more than a million people in the United States undergo hernia repair surgeries each year. And the condition often reoccurs. Since 2000, the use of hernia mesh has become increasingly popular to strengthen hernia repairs, as has the number of reported complications.

The mesh comes in both synthetic and animal-generated varieties from cows and pigs. Synthetic mesh is meant to be a permanent fixture, however defective versions have allowed a surface for bacteria to grow and made it difficult for antibiotics to reach. Biologic varieties are meant to strengthen the site temporarily, until the body takes over, at which time the mesh can be absorbed.

The FDA has recalled several defective hernia mesh products that were found to have contributed to complications such as migration and organ perforation, infection, intestinal obstruction, and adhesions, an internal gluing of tissues due to scarring which can result in an obstruction. While the recalls have removed the defective products from the market, many remain implanted in people across the country.