Question
My son, who is 5 years and 4 months old, had a sudden upper respiratory infection. During this time, I accidentally noticed that his scrotum was slightly asymmetrical but not noticeable on one side. Two days later, I found that there was a significant difference in the size of both scrotums. During this period, he had been taking ceftriaxone for five days due to a low-grade fever as a complication of the upper respiratory infection. He has never shown any asymmetry of the scrotum since birth. What could be the reason for the recurrence of my son’s scrotal hygroma?
Answer
Childhood scrotal hygroma still has the possibility of resolving spontaneously after the age of two, and it does not interfere with his future reproductive and sexual function if no surgery is performed. The best time for surgery is before school age. It is a minor procedure, involving a small incision in the scrotum to open the tunica vaginalis and perform a hydrocele reduction, hence known as the hydrocele reduction surgery. As children get older, they can better cooperate, and local anesthesia is sufficient. There are no risks involved, and the success rate is 100%. This procedure can be performed at local children’s hospitals.