swelling around childrens groin?

Question

my nephew is 8 years old. he is autistic with speech and learning problems. he is able to communicate and understands when spoke to on a level that is suitable for him.

lately he has had a swelling around his privates, my sister noticed when changing him - he is night time incontinent. it was just above and around his penis. he says its not sore when pressed etc and has not complained of any pain urinating etc. the swelling has been coming and going - its not there all the time.

she took him to the drs and it was not swollen when the dr examined him, the dr said said he could not find anything wrong and while pressing where it was swollen my nephew just laughed and said it tickled.

anyone have any idea about this or know of someone who had it?

serious answers only please. thanks.

Answer 1

Sounds like he may have a hydrocele that is caused by a small herniation in his abdominal wall. It isn't painful, and tends to be more pronounced when the child is warm(like when they first wake up) One sure fire way to check youself (I know it sounds weird) is to shine a flashlight on it. If the area "glows" when it is "swollen" then it is fluid on his pelvis from a hernia. I would explain the findings to his ped.

Answer 2

for one you definately need a 2nd opinion! for 2 the same thing was going on with my friends little boy (3yrs old at the time). his was caused by lymph nodes being swollen... but the hernia is also a very probable answer....
please look at the sites i have here... very informative...
about lymph glands....When should you be concerned?

When examining your child, your physician will pay attention to several important signs:


Location -- enlarged lymph nodes just above the collar bone often indicate serious disease.
Character -- nodes that are hard, non-tender, and irregular are very suspicious. Normal nodes are mobile beneath the skin. Fixed nodes, those that are firmly attached either to the skin or to deeper tissues, are often malignant. Nodes that are tender, inflamed, or rubbery in consistency usually represent an infection.
Growth -- enlarged nodes that continue to enlarge rapidly should be evaluated rapidly.
Associated symptoms -- fever, night sweats, or weight loss accompanying enlarged lymph nodes should be investigated thoroughly.
Size -- size does matter! The definition of an enlarged lymph node is size larger than one centimeter (0.4 inch) in diameter. Pea-size lymph nodes are not enlarged, even if you didn't feel them there before. Any node that is larger than 1cm in diameter should be followed closely by a physician. It should shrink noticeably within 4-6 weeks, and should be less than one centimeter within 8-12 weeks. High-risk enlarged nodes are those larger than 3cm (more than an inch) in diameter.

http://www.pediatricweb.com/tchDenver/bartarticle.asp?tArticleID=737

http://www.drgreene.com/21_783.html

http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/cat_scratch.html

http://www.childrenshospital.org/views/april06/images/PV0406.pdf

Good luck! i hope your nephew starts feeling better!!!

Answer 3

Second opinion is needed here. It may be a hernia. This is one of the locations it occurs in boys. Depending on what hes been doing, it shows up or hides. It is probably going to cure itself as he grows. But it has to be kept a eye on.

Answer 4

I would most definately get a 2nd opinion cause your dr sounds like he does not care . I would definately take him to another pediatrician . He should have run a blood panel if nothing else just to rule out some things . Please get a 2nd dr to look at him . good luck .