Pain in the Scrotum(in boys only)

Symptoms and signs

Testicular Torsion

When a boy has acute testicular torsion, his testicle gets twisted around the cord that connects it to the rest of the body. This usually happens after some trauma, such as being hit or kicked in the groin. However, testicular torsion can happen spontaneously, as well.

This is a serious condition because it can affect the blood supply to the testicle which can lead to permanent damage. The symptoms of testicular torsion are acute pain, swelling and reddening of the scrotum, and occurs most often in boys between the ages of 7 and 14. Some boys will have nausea, vomiting and stomachaches as well. Surgery within 6 (or fewer) hours is essential to prevent permanent damage to the testicles.

Inguinal Hernia

An inguinal hernia is a non-tender swelling either in the groin or in the scrotum. It is caused when a small piece of intestine pokes into the inguinal canal or scrotum. The hernia is common in boys less than a year old and can occur on one or both sides of the scrotum. The size and consistency of an inguinal hernia may vary, but will usually feel soft and is not painful to the touch.

If the hernia is hard, painful and hot to the touch and the surrounding skin is red and irritated, your child may have a trapped or incarcerated hernia. This is a serious condition because the hernia may be reducing the blood circulation to the trapped part of the intestines. Prompt surgery may be needed to prevent permanent damage to the intestines.

Inflammation of the testicle or epididymis

Inflammation of the testicle or epididymis is caused by an infection. Infection of the epididymis (the coiled tube that collects and stores sperm) is rarely seen before puberty and symptoms include swelling of the scrotum and the presence of pus in the child's urine. This is a bacterial infection and should be treated with antibiotics.

Inflammation of the testicle used to be much more common in young boys when cases of mumps were more prevalent. However, now that children are vaccinated against mumps, inflammation of the testicles has become rare in young boys.

Boys who have inflammation of the testicle will often have other symptoms such as listlessness, fever and nausea, along with swelling in the testicle and scrotal pain. Usually the swelling will begin in one testicle, but within 1-9 days, the infection will affect the other one as well. However, in the case of mumps, the swelling will only affect one testicle in 70% of the cases.