[Inguinal hernia, and hydrocele--special features in infants and children].

Inguinal hernia, undescended testicle and hydrocele are typical and frequent diseases in infants and children. The paediatric inguinal hernia is a congenital defect and the hernial sac usually passes the inguinal canal. In order to diagnose the inguinal hernia in infants the physician is frequently dependent on the accurate observation of the parents. Although laparoscopic herniotomia is increasingly being discussed, it cannot be recommended yet as a standard operation because of a recurrence rate of 4%. Undescended testicle is classified into several subtypes with specific diagnostics and therapies. The role of hormonal therapy is currently controversial again, but the literature seems to point to a positive role for fertility in adulthood. The appropriate therapy should be performed by the end of the first year of life. A hydrocele is no acute reason for operative therapy; normally one can wait until the 2nd-4th year of life for spontaneous regression except for very large forms.