Asafoetida application causing ulceration of umbilical hernia with resultant rupture and bowel evisceration

Umbilical hernia is a very commonly encountered condition. Conservative management suffices in most of the cases. However, the complications such as incarceration, rupture with evisceration are extremely rare and warrants emergency surgery. We present the rare case of a 40-day-old female infant with ruptured umbilical hernia following ulceration due to the local application of Asafoetida paste. While many medicinal uses of Asafoetida have been reported in the past literature, there has been no mention of any complication due to its local application. Our patient was successfully managed with emergency mini-laparotomy and resection of approximately 40 cm of gangrenous small bowel with primary anastomosis. The patient has been attaining normal growth patterns on follow-up.