Do we really know the symptoms of inguinal hernia?
OBJECTIVE
Although there is a high incidence of inguinal hernia in developed countries, few studies have been conducted to describe the symptoms, and these few only address the local symptoms, not those presenting at other levels. The aim of the present study is to conduct a detailed review of the symptoms, both inguinal and otherwise, of patients with inguinal hernia.


METHODS
A case-control study was designed to compare the symptoms presented by 231 patients diagnosed with inguinal hernia with those of a second group of 231 randomly-selected subjects. In the hernia group, the symptoms were also evaluated according to the location of the hernia (right, left, bilateral).


RESULTS
Significant differences (more symptomatology in patients with hernia) were found for the following items: groin pain, genital pain, urinary symptoms, abdominal pain, increased peristalsis and tenesmus. On the contrary, the control patients presented greater symptomatology with respect to back pain and diaphragm pain.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with inguinal hernia present a wide variety of symptoms, and these are not restricted to the inguinal area. It is important to be aware of this fact to convey accurate information to the patient, especially with regard to postoperative expectations.
Service of Surgery, Hospital de Antequera. Secretaría de Cirugía (3° planta), Avenida Poeta Muñoz Rojas s/n, Málaga, Antequera, 29200, Spain. javinewyork@hotmail.com.
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Pérez Lara
Hospital de Antequera, Málaga, Spain.
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Del Rey Moreno
Hospital de Antequera, Málaga, Spain.
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Oliva Muñoz
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006119:Groin; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D059685:Herniorrhaphy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D063189:Symptom Assessment; D061665:Time-to-Treatment; D055815:Young Adult
Abdominal pain; Additional tests; Extraintestinal; Inguinal hernia; Symptoms; Urinary symptoms