Patient's question:
My baby has been crying and fussing for the past few days without clear reason. He also has occasional dry stools and a lump in the groin. I took him to a hospital for a check-up, and they said it's hydrocele and he needs surgery. He will gradually get better after the surgery. What are the initial symptoms of hydrocele in babies?Doctor's answer:
Infants with intestinal gas may develop it a few days, months, or even years after birth. Typically, the groin may bulge when the child cries, moves vigorously, or has dry stools, sometimes extending to the scrotum or labia. The bulge often disappears on its own when the child lies flat or is pressed with the hand. Once the hernia becomes incarcerated (when the intestinal air mass cannot return), symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, loss of appetite, or crying may appear, causing restlessness.