Ever heard of a disease called hydrocele? For those of you who are not familiar with the term, a hydrocele is a fluid buildup that occurs in one or both testicles. Although generally not painful, hydroceles, which are more common in newborns, can be quite uncomfortable. Fortunately, most cases of hydrocele resolve on its own. In adults, a hydrocele can result from an injury or other scrotal inflammation. However, there is no need to worry because generally hydrocele disease is not life threatening. Want to know the symptoms in more detail? Come on, read this article!
Step
Method 1 of 3: Recognizing the Symptoms of a Hydrocele
Step 1. Find the swelling
Stand in front of the mirror and observe your scrotum. If you have a hydrocele, at least one side of your scrotum will appear larger than usual.
To diagnose a hydrocele in a baby, the procedure is not much different. The key is to find swelling in one or both testicles
Step 2. Feel for the hydrocele
Often, a hydrocele feels like a fluid-filled pocket in the scrotum. To feel it, you'll need to feel the slowly swollen testicles, and identify the presence or absence of a balloon-like pouch in the scrotum.
- Usually, hydroceles are not painful. If pain occurs when the scrotum is touched, contact your doctor immediately because chances are, the problem you are experiencing is actually more serious.
- If your baby has swelling of the testicles, you can identify the presence of a hydrocele by gently feeling the scrotum. Inside the scrotum, you will feel the presence of testicles and if your baby has a hydrocele, you will feel another lump that feels soft because it is filled with fluid. In infants, the bag of fluid may be as small as a peanut.
- The doctor will perform a physical examination and an ultrasound procedure to diagnose a hydrocele. In addition, the doctor may also shine a flashlight on the scrotal area. If the mass in your scrotum glows when exposed to a flashlight, it means you have a hydrocele. If not, it's likely that your problem is more serious than a hydrocele, such as an abnormal mass or hernia.
Step 3. Watch out for walking difficulties
The more intense the swelling in the scrotum, the more difficult it will be to walk. Men with hydroceles describe this symptom as a "pulling" sensation, as if there was a heavy weight on their testicles. In fact, the sensation occurs not because the earth's gravity is pulling your scrotum down, but because there is a pocket of fluid that is quite heavy and shouldn't exist.
You may also feel this sensation when you stand up after sitting or lying down for too long
Step 4. Monitor the intensity of the swelling over time
If a hydrocele is left untreated, your scrotum will continue to swell. As a result, you may also find it difficult to wear pants that you wear everyday. To avoid putting too much pressure on the swollen scrotum, try wearing looser pants.
If you think you have a hydrocele, you should see a doctor for a proper diagnosis. Sometimes, a hydrocele indicates a hernia problem that should be treated by a doctor
Step 5. Be aware of pain that occurs when urinating
Generally, pain will not appear even if you have a hydrocele. However, if the hydrocele is caused by an infection of the testicles and epididymis (known as epididymal orchitis), you are more likely to experience pain when you urinate. Immediately consult a doctor if you experience it!
Method 2 of 3: Understanding Hydroceles in Adults
Step 1. Understand the causes of hydrocele in adult men
Basically, men can develop a hydrocele for a variety of reasons. However, the three strongest reasons are inflammation, infection (such as a sexually transmitted disease), or injury to one or both testicles. In addition, a hydrocele can also be caused by injury or infection to the epididymis (the tube that attaches to the back of the testicle and serves to mature, store, and transport sperm).
- Sometimes, a hydrocele can also form if the tunica vaginalis (the membrane-like layer that covers the testicle) absorbs too much fluid but has difficulty draining it.
- To differentiate a hydrocele from other testicular pathologies, such as testicular cancer or a hernia, try shining a light on the scrotum with a dim flashlight. If the light is able to penetrate the mass in the scrotum, it means the mass is a hydrocele.
Step 2. Understand that hernias can also cause hydroceles
However, the type of hydrocele caused by a hernia is generally a swelling in the upper scrotal area. In particular, the swelling that occurs generally has a diameter of 2-4 cm and occurs from the base of the scrotum.
A hernia occurs when an organ or tissue protrudes abnormally. In the case of a hydrocele, a piece of bowel commonly protrudes from the abdominal wall into the scrotum and causes an inguinal hernia
Step 3. Understand that filariasis can cause certain types of hydrocele
Filariasis is a tropical disease caused by the entry of filarial worms into a person's lymphatic vessels. The worm is actually also the cause of elephantiasis disease, you know! Instead of accumulating abdominal fluid, the worms can trigger the appearance of a hydrocele filled with cholesterol, a condition commonly referred to as a chylocele.
For those of you who live in (or have visited) Asia, Africa, the Western Pacific Islands, or any area in the Caribbean and South Africa, and have a hydrocele, see a doctor immediately
Step 4. Check with a doctor
If you think you have a hydrocele, you should immediately see a doctor because this condition may indicate a more serious health problem.
Before seeing your doctor, write down any recent injuries to the genital area and their symptoms (such as pain or difficulty walking), medications you are taking, inflammatory conditions in the scrotum, and the onset of the hydrocele
Method 3 of 3: Understanding Hydroceles in Newborns
Step 1. Understand the normal stages of development of the baby's testicles
To understand the condition experienced by a baby, you first need to understand its normal developmental stages. Generally, testicles will form on the baby's abdomen, near the kidneys, which will then descend into the scrotum through a channel called the inguinal canal. When it begins to descend, the testicle will be preceded by a pouch that forms on the abdominal wall (known as the processus vaginalis).
- Generally, the processus vaginalis will close over the testicle and prevent fluid from entering it. If the processus vaginalis is not completely closed, a hydrocele may form.
- The appearance of a hydrocele may be due to testicular torsion, epididymitis, orchitis, or physical trauma. That is why, it is important for you to have a physical examination and an ultrasound procedure to rule out these possibilities.
Step 2. Be aware of the possibility your child has a communicating hydrocele
Communicating hydrocele occurs when the pouch around the testicle (processus vaginalis) is not completely closed. As a result, the fluid in it will enter the scrotum and cause a hydrocele.
While the pouch is open, fluid can flow from the abdomen to the scrotum or vice versa. As a result, the size of the scrotum will continue to grow and shrink throughout the day
Step 3. Understand that your child may also have a noncommunicating hydrocele
Basically, a noncommunicating hydrocele forms when the testicle descends into the scrotum as it should with the processus vaginalis closing around it. However, the body is not able to absorb the remaining fluid that is formed. As a result, fluid will be trapped in the scrotum and cause a hydrocele.
This type of hydrocele will generally disappear on its own within a maximum of one year. However, in older children, a hydrocele that does not go away can indicate a more serious health problem that should be checked by a doctor. If your child has a communicating hydrocele that doesn't go away after a year, ask your pediatrician for a re-examination
Step 4. Consult your general practitioner or pediatrician
Although generally nothing to worry about, hydroceles in babies who have not been treated by a doctor still need to go through a medical examination, especially if the baby is over one year old because it may indicate a more serious health problem.
- Do this as soon as you have symptoms of a hydrocele or other indicators related to a hydrocele, regardless of whether or not your child is experiencing pain.
- Most hydroceles will heal on their own in children one year of age and under. If the hydrocele does not go away after a year, develops into a communicating hydrocele, or the cause of its appearance is unknown so that it does not cause symptoms, an operative procedure must be carried out immediately to treat it.
Tips
- The doctor may perform a simple examination to detect the presence of a hydrocele. The trick, the doctor will irradiate the area behind your scrotum. If there is a buildup of fluid in the area, then your scrotum will glow.
- Recently had hernia removal surgery? Be grateful that this situation can reduce your risk of developing a hydrocele, even though there have been conflicting cases in the past.
- Usually, hydroceles don't go away on their own in adults or children over one year of age. That is why, this condition should be checked by a doctor.
Warning
- Hydroceles that are not treated immediately can harden like stones.
- Although generally not painful, you should still see a doctor to eliminate the cause of a hydrocele which is actually dangerous.
- Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can also trigger a hydrocele. Therefore, if you experience a hydrocele after unprotected sexual intercourse, don't forget to consider this possibility.
