Clinical profile of patients with inguinal hernia

Abstract

There exists a familial tendency to groin herniation. A study of 280 families with congenital indirect inguinal hernias in China indicated that transmission was autosomal dominant with incomplete penetrance of a preferential paternal factor. The hernia usually occurred on right side, consistent with later descent of testes on that side. Such herniation which is more common with prematurity has been ascribed to a delay in maturation. This study was conducted from the patients admitted with the diagnosis of unilateral primary inguinal hernia in General Hospital and Hospital attached to Medical College. The diagnosis of unilateral primary inguinal hernia was made on basis of history of reducible groin swelling and essentially on clinical examination. The most common factor associated with inguinal hernia in both the groups was smoking accounting for 24% of them. A majority of patients in both groups presented with duration of swelling for 1 – 6 months.