Testicular Torsion
Most parents know that certain symptoms can be associated with serious conditions in their children. The most common ones are as follows:
In order to prevent the testicles from twisting, they are anchored it to the side of the scrotum. Sometimes, this attachment is in the wrong place, which allows the testicle to twist 360 degrees. If this happens, the artery that supplies blood to the testicle will twist as well thereby cutting off its blood supply. Shortly after this occurs, a child will experience pain and swelling because the testicle is being deprived of oxygen. Although this is not a life-threatening condition, the testicle itself may die if the problem is not diagnosed and treated within six to eight hours.
Although doctors know about the importance of diagnosing and treating testicular torsion as soon as possible, most parents do not. Also, since adolescents may be reluctant to discuss genital symptoms with their parents, further delays can occur before a diagnosis is made. You can remedy this situation by asking your doctor to discuss the problem at your child's next checkup. If a teenager knows that testicular pain is an emergency, he will hopefully be more proactive reporting the problem to his parents.
By: Howard J. Bennett, M.D.
Testicular Torsion
OTHER RELATED INFORMATION
Most parents know that certain symptoms can be associated with serious conditions in their children. The most common ones are as follows:
- Stiff neck may mean meningitis
- Abdominal pain may mean appendicitis
- Bad cough may mean pneumonia
In order to prevent the testicles from twisting, they are anchored it to the side of the scrotum. Sometimes, this attachment is in the wrong place, which allows the testicle to twist 360 degrees. If this happens, the artery that supplies blood to the testicle will twist as well thereby cutting off its blood supply. Shortly after this occurs, a child will experience pain and swelling because the testicle is being deprived of oxygen. Although this is not a life-threatening condition, the testicle itself may die if the problem is not diagnosed and treated within six to eight hours.
Although doctors know about the importance of diagnosing and treating testicular torsion as soon as possible, most parents do not. Also, since adolescents may be reluctant to discuss genital symptoms with their parents, further delays can occur before a diagnosis is made. You can remedy this situation by asking your doctor to discuss the problem at your child's next checkup. If a teenager knows that testicular pain is an emergency, he will hopefully be more proactive reporting the problem to his parents.
By: Howard J. Bennett, M.D.
Testicular Torsion
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