When to Escalate
Fluid Around the Testis, with a Diagnostic Safety Check
A hydrocele is a collection of fluid in the scrotum without an obvious inguinal hernia; a similar collection can also form along the spermatic cord.
NCLEX-RN
NCLEX-RN
A hydrocele is a collection of fluid in the scrotum without an obvious inguinal hernia; a similar collection can also form along the spermatic cord. It is typically a condition of infants. The swelling is usually soft, nontender and fluctuant, the examiner can get above it, it transilluminates brightly, and fever is unusual. Most infant hydroceles resolve on their own by about 2 years of age; one still present after 2 years is considered for surgical referral. The closely related condition is the pediatric inguinal hernia, which occurs in 1% to 4% of all infants and in up to 30% of premature infants, depending on gestational age at birth. The nursing task is to characterize the swelling, assess the whole child or adult, and recognize a pattern that needs urgent evaluation. A new painful episode, vomiting, systemic illness or a testis that cannot be clearly examined is never dismissed because a hydrocele has been diagnosed before.
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