Editing Paediatric inguinal hernia (section)

== Presentation ==

* Mostly asymptomatic
* Sometimes have to rely on the word of parents/paediatrician - get them to take a photo
* Incarceration
** Surgical emergency - both bowel and testis may become ischaemic
** Highest risk in newborns and first 2 years
* Examination
** Should be able to differentiate hydrocoele and hernia as follows
*** If reducible - it's a reducible inguinal hernia
*** If irreducible and non-tender it's a hydrocoele
*** If irreducible and tender it's an incarcerated hernia
*** Should also be able to get above a hydrocoele and feel a normal spermatic cord
*** Hydrocoeles should be transillumable
*** USS can settle any ambiguities
** Make sure it's not a femoral hernia - these are possible, especially between 5-10yo girls who have a lump inferior to inguinal ligament - need to be repaired urgently