Groin swelling in 12m baby-am worrying

[forgottoremember]

Now I KNOW it's crazy to ask for advice online, but surgery is closed and 111 is worse than useless - a TERRIBLE replacement for our once excellent out of hours service and NHS direct

Ds, 12 months, has been unwell for a while. Diarrhoea, not bad, and then a fever. Dr checked him on tues and cd find nothing wrong.

That eve he suddenly developed a really scary swelling in his groin - one testicle swollen and a big semi hard lump in his groin. Called go instantly, and took him to eve surgery where he had a temp but swelling vanished.

Today swelling came back in the afternoon, ,more noticeable, and harder. I couldn't work out whether it was crying that was causing the swelling - he had temp and is generally pretty miserable - or whether the swelling was causing him pain.

Is ther any reason why I can't wait till tom to take him back to the gp? Is ther anything scary I should be worried about?

I have rung 111 but they wre totally useless- just ran through their is he breathing check list and said not one single helpful thing

Is the swelling hard, is it painful, is he unsettled? If you are worried and 111 have not given you the help you feel is required then A&E to get it checked. This may be a hernia and there is a small risk of complications with these so any doubt better to be safe than sorry here. Don't feel you are wasting their time.

Yes could be hernia, which will be more pronounced when he's crying, try and feel for it when he's calm, if you can feel a lump take him to hospital

If his testicles flare up I'd treat it as an emergency. They can turn and cause pain/swelling which can go up into the groin (torsion of the testes) and is a medical emergency (A&E) as it can damamge the blood and nerve supply if not corrected.

Like everything it may well be nothing or something minor but go with your instinct. If you are worried that is enough reason to get any and all advice.

It's hard to the touch

Have called 111 again, who took me slightly more eriousy when I said that if I couldn't talk to someone I'd take him to a and e - he's still hot, after calpol, and miserable.

It must be some sort of hernia, in that it comes and goes? Main swelling is above testicles in groin, it just displaces them and makes one stick miles out.

Am in real fever about this - cant put my finger on why.

My son had a scrotal hernia and it required surgery. Take him to A & E. He needs seeing. Trust your instincts.

My son had a strangulated inguinal hernia which needed emergency surgery. I'd take him to A and E.

Needs seen esp if swelling is still there. I really hope though you are already in either A&E or an OOH surgery.

I know anyone can claim qualifications on the internet but I am a doctor and I really think you should be seen tonight.

How is he now?

Thank you so much all

I took him in to ooh, who. Sent us on to a and e.

Seems like he prob has 2 different infections, plus a hernia for which we've been referred to G O St.

Next time I will trust my instinct earlier and take him straight to a and e.

Thanks v much