title: Primary hydrocoeles in infants and children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hydrocoele is an abnormal quantity of serous fluid within the tunica vaginalis. It can be primary or secondary. The primary can in turn be congenital or acquired. Objective of this study was to see the frequency of primary hydrocoeles in children presenting to Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study was conducted in Surgical 'B' Unit, Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad, from Feb 2007 to Feb 2009. All Children above 6 months age with hydrocoeles and operated were included in this study. All details were recorded on a proforma. The collected data were analysed, results calculated, and conclusions drawn.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all 186 operated cases, the maximum (58, 37%) incidence was in 2-3 years age group. Injury to the vas occurred in 1 (0.7%) case, infection rate was 0% and scrotal haematoma occurred in 18% cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children with hydrocoeles should be operated after 6 months age. Herniotomy is the only satisfactory treatment and in expert hands complications are very rare.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Zaheeruddin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Qureshi
authors.forename: Sarfaraz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Irfan Zaffar
authors.initials: IZ
authors.lastname: Haider
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D006848:Testicular Hydrocele / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery