Inguinal hernias and genital abnormalities in young Jordanian males

This study was carried out to document the prevalence of inguinal hernia, hypospadias, undescended testis and varicocele in 3057 male applicants to the military wing of Mu'ta University in the south of Jordan. Age range was 17-20 years. A total of 250 men had one of the 4 conditions: 93 [3.0%] had inguinal hernia; 15 [0.5%] had undescended testis [26.7% bilateral]; 59 [1.9%] had hypospadias; 83 [2.7%] had varicocele [98.79% on the left side]. Prevalence of inguinal hernia and undescended testis were comparable with international prevalence rates, while the rate for hypospadias was higher and that for varicocele lower. A birth defects registration system would help in planning preventive and treatment strategies

Genital abnormalities and groin hernias in elementary-school children in Aqaba: an epidemiological study

The prevalence of groin hernias and genital abnormalities in children in southern Jordan was investigated. A total of 1748 boys aged 6-12 years underwent clinical examinations of the groin. Abnormalities were detected in 320 children [18.31%]. Of these, 235 had indirect inguinal hernia, 37 undescended testes, 22 retractile testes, 13 hypospadias, 8 left varicocele, 4 hydrocele and 1 ambiguous genitalia. Herniotomies were noted in 56 children with failure in 2 cases. Of 4 children who had undergone orchiopexy, 2 had failed. No child had had surgery for hypospadias or varicocele. Education of the public and medical staff about these abnormalities is needed to improve the outcome