Inguinal hernia and hydrocele

How is an inguinal hernia diagnosed?

Hernias can be diagnosed by a physical examination by your child's physician. Your child will be examined to determine if the hernia can be pushed back into the abdominal cavity or not.

Your child's physician may order abdominal x-rays or an ultrasound to examine the intestine more closely, especially if the hernia cannot be pushed back into the abdominal cavity.

How is a hydrocele diagnosed?

Your son’s doctor will likely notice his swollen scrotum. Often, the testicle can’t be felt because of the fluid surrounding it.

A hydrocele can be easily diagnosed by shining a light through the scrotum. If the scrotum is full of fluid, it will light up. Your son’s doctor may then want to perform an ultrasound just to confirm the diagnosis.