What is the difference between a hernia and a hydrocele?

Many people easily confuse hernia and hydrocele, mainly because they have some similar symptoms. Therefore, if you want to effectively reduce and lower the impact it causes, you must distinguish and understand them from different aspects. For example, hernia may cause a hemispherical mass in the groin area.

1. Both hydrocele and hernia can cause swelling of the patient's scrotum. Hydrocele is also called water egg, and hernia is also called gas egg. So what is the difference between hydrocele and hernia, and what is the difference between the symptoms of hydrocele and hernia? Hydrocele is mostly a one-sided swelling, manifested as an enlargement of the scrotum on the affected side, showing a cystic swelling. The small ones are only the size of a quail egg, but if the disease lasts for a long time, a large amount of fluid accumulates in the tunica vaginalis and becomes as big as a fist, causing the penis to retract into the skin. Usually, the scrotum will swell more significantly after activities during the day, and will gradually shrink after the baby sleeps on his back overnight.

2. Whether hernia is congenital or acquired, it manifests as a hemispherical lump in the groin when the baby is crying or standing upright. The small lump may be as big as a ginkgo nut, or as big as a duck egg. It may protrude into the scrotum, causing it to swell. However, when the baby stops crying or lies down, the swelling of the scrotum will return to the abdominal cavity. Therefore, the swelling of the scrotum will disappear and the baby can fall asleep peacefully. However, as your baby gets older, the lump will get bigger.

3. Of course, to distinguish between hydrocele and hernia, you can simply use the light transmission method to distinguish them. The method is to roll a piece of cardboard into a paper tube, cover the lower end of the paper tube on the lump, then use a flashlight to illuminate the other side of the lump, and then observe through the upper end of the paper tube. If the lump appears red and translucent, it is a hydrocele. If it is opaque, it is not a hydrocele and the most common condition is a hernia.

4. If the baby only has hydrocele and the amount of hydrocele is not too much, you can wait for it to heal naturally in the future. If it is a hernia, the mother should observe closely and seek medical attention in time if necessary to avoid adverse consequences.