If you are trying to determine if an infant is suffering from a hydrocele, the procedure will be similar. Look for swelling in the testicles. The swelling may be on either or both sides of the testicles.
Typically, a hydrocele will not feel painful. If, when touching your scrotum, you experience pain, contact your doctor as it could indicate something more serious. If an infant has a swollen testicle, you can identify a hydrocele by gently feeling the scrotum. Inside the scrotum, you will feel the testicle, and if there is a hydrocele, you will feel a second lump that feels like a soft, fluid-filled sac. In infants, this sac could be as small as a peanut. Your doctor will do a physical examination and order an ultrasound to diagnose a hydrocele. Your doctor may also perform the flashlight test. If the mass trans-illuminates under exposure to a flashlight, then it is a hydrocele. If it doesn’t then it may be something more serious like a mass or hernia.
You might also experience this dragging sensation when you stand up after you have been lying or sitting down for a while.
If you believe you might have a hydrocele, it is best to have a doctor determine the cause of the problem. Sometimes, a hydrocele is an indication of a hernia, which needs to be treated by a doctor.
Sometimes, a hydrocele can also be formed if your tunica vaginalis (the membrane-like covering that covers your testes) collects too much fluid without being able to get rid of it. To differentiate hydrocele from other testicular pathology, such as testicular cancer or hernia, shine a flashlight on the scrotum and see if the scrotum transilluminates (allows light to pass through the mass). To do this, dim the lights and shine a bright flashlight at the scrotum. [10] X Trustworthy Source MedlinePlus Collection of medical information sourced from the US National Library of Medicine Go to source If the scrotum transilluminates, then the mass is a hydrocele.
A hernia occurs when an organ protrudes through the tissue that normally contains it. [12] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source In the case of a hydrocele, it is not uncommon for a piece of the intestine to protrude through the abdominal wall into the scrotum and is known as an inguinal hernia.
If you live in the United States and have never visited Asia, Africa, a Western Pacific Island or any part of the Caribbean or South American, then you do not need to worry about this. However, if you live in any of these places or have spent time in these areas prior to your hydrocele development, you should visit a doctor as soon as possible.
Before your appointment, write down any recent injuries around the genital area that have occurred, any symptoms you have had (e. g. pain or difficulty walking), any medications you are taking, any inflammatory conditions of the scrotum, and when the hydrocele appeared.
The processus vaginalis normally closes above the testicles, which prevents fluid from entering. If it doesn’t close properly, a hydrocele can form. Hydroceles result from a reaction to testicular torsion, epididymitis, orchitis, or trauma. These conditions are ruled out by physical examination and ultrasound.
While the sac remains open, fluid can flow back and forth from the abdomen to the scrotum which means that the size of the scrotum will get larger and smaller throughout the day.
This type of hydrocele usually disappears within the first year of a child’s life. However, in an older child, it could indicate a more serious problem, and should be seen by a doctor. If your child was born with a non-communicating hydrocele that doesn’t disappear within one year, ask your child’s doctor to check the hydrocele again.
Take note of when you first noticed the hydrocele, whether or not the child is experiencing any pain, and anything else that could be related to the hydrocele. A majority of the hydroceles resolve in newborns by one year of age. Surgical intervention is warranted in those that do not resolve after one year, those that are communicating hydroceles, and those that are idiopathic hydroceles that are symptomatic.
