My 4 year old got out of the shower last night screaming in pain...doubled over and holding his hands over his private area saying it hurt. My husband worked in the medical world in the military for 21 years and said he was swollen in that area and we were headed to the ER immediately. He took our son and when my dad (God love him) came over to sit with the other two (it was after 9pm and they were in bed) I met them.
The ER was packed and they put him immediately into a room. They think he had a hernia pop out and when he laid down it went back in - but there is no way to know for sure. Just based on the symptoms and where he was in pain, they said they are 99% sure that's what it is.
I had NO idea kids as young as 4 could get that. Did you?
He is fine now - and was even once he was at the ER...but so weird! Does anyone know if that also means he may have trouble with that as he gets older? I know we mom's aren't doctors - but maybe someone else had this same issue so I'm just checking.
Dawn B now you've got me freaking out!! They said as of now he doesn't need surgery!!
My older son (6) had an undescended testicle and he had surgery at Children's National Medical Center in July 2007. They said he did not have any hernia's. This is son #2...and he has had no issues at all with that region.
So with the experience you all have had he should need surgery?
OOOOHHH MY GOSH RACHEL!!!
My boys did not get hernias per se...Nicky had a herniated belly button but we didn't have to do anything about it.
They happen in young ones from strenuous bowel movements...did he had a hard one? They can do an sonogram to see if the muscle is split and if it is, they can do a laproscopic repair and put a mesh guard to help it heal.
Hope all is well!!
My son had an undescended testical and when they went in to retrieve it found a hernia. The surgeon said it is pretty common even for children boys who don't have the first issue because of how they develop in the womb. It was probably something that was never an issue, but as your little guy grows, so did his muscles and created a larger opening.
Results of my kiddos surgery was that he shouldn't have any more issues with the hernia once repaired.
OH NO, so scary!! Just keep an eye on him and make sure he's drinking plenty of fluids, getting plenty of fiber, and voiding urine and having BMs. Another thought, and not sure exactly where he was holding, would be his appendix. If he does it again and won't put his right foot down/straighten out his right leg, take him back to the ER immediately! Poor baby! I hope he feels better soon!!
ETA: oh sh!t, the other responses have me all nervous now about MY son when he hits that age, LOL!!
My son just had surgery a few months ago for a hernia in his groin. Yes it is very common in boys that young.
It can be common in boys due to how the testicles descend and the route they take does not always close up like it should.
Some boys/men never have a problem with it.
Some men don't have problems till they are older.
Does anyone in the family remember grandfather/uncles having any trouble with it (sometimes it runs in family's)?
Since you have an idea what it was, keep an eye on him and look up appendicitis symptoms just to be informed.
See what your doctor has to say about it.
My five year old cousin just got out of surgery for a hernia a few hours ago. I know a mom who had a two year old who needed his second hernia surgery recently. And a kid in my son's preschool also had to have the surgery. I never thought of it, but I suppose it may be rather common.
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My son had an Inguinal Hernia, which is what it sounds like your son might have. It is a hernia that shows up in the private area, and distends when the child is upright and active, but when they lay down or sit, it can actually go back in..... a good thing, but makes it hard to notice.
My son was actually only about 18 months old, and I noticed and knew what it was (how, I don't know), but took him to the dr. and of course it had gone away. When the dr. said he couldn't feel anything and went to send me away, I parked my butt in the waiting room and let him run around for awhile in just a diaper, and when it was showing again, showed the dr.
He did end up having surgery to repair the hole or whatever it is. Wasn't really a big deal, but of course, I was so upset at the time.
No complications, and he doesn't even have a scar now.
Keep an eye on it.
Good luck,
KATIE
Just make sure they diagnose it correctly. Someone on Mamapedia had a story about a boy with a twisted testicle that wasn't properly diagnosed.
My husband had a hernia when he was born and they had to operate on him right after to fix it. He has no problems related to that, but does have a varicocele which I'm unsure if the two are related.
My friend's son had one operated on last year. He was 6. It had to be done and he's a trooper - he was told to lay down all day after but that kid couldn't sit still. He was even jumping on the couch.
So yes, it happens in young boys. It also happens in all people of all ages.
Best of luck.
