Surgery for Undescended Testicle in Children: What to Expect at Home

Let your child rest in bed for a few days. Sleeping will help him recover.

Have your baby or toddler avoid doing any tumbling for a few days. Have your child avoid doing straddling activities, such as riding a tricycle or using a sit-on toy, for 3 to 4 weeks.

Do not let your child do intense exercise, such as sports, running, or physical education at school, for 4 to 6 weeks.

Your child may shower or have a sponge bath the day after surgery. Do not let him swim or have a bath for 5 to 7 days.

Your child should be able to go back to school or day care in 2 or 3 days.

Have your child drink plenty of fluids for the first 24 hours to avoid becoming dehydrated. Use clear fluids, such as water, apple juice, and flavored ice pops. Avoid hot drinks, soda pop, and citrus juices such as orange juice. These may cause more pain.

When your child is ready to eat, start with foods that are easy to swallow. These include soft noodles, pudding, and dairy foods such as yogurt and ice cream. Canned or cooked fruit, scrambled eggs, and mashed potatoes are also good choices. Avoid giving your child steamy, hot, spicy, or hard and crunchy foods, such as chips or waffles.

You may notice a change in your child's bowel habits right after surgery. This is common. If your child has not had a bowel movement after a couple of days, call your doctor.

Your doctor will tell you if and when your child can restart his or her medicines. The doctor will also give you instructions about your child taking any new medicines.

Have your child take medicines exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor if you think your child is having a problem with his medicine.

• If the doctor gave your child a prescription medicine for pain, see that your child takes it as prescribed.

• If your child is not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if you can give him an over-the-counter medicine.

If you think the pain medicine is making your child sick to his stomach:

• Give him medicine after meals (unless your doctor has told you not to).

• Ask your doctor for a different pain medicine.

If your doctor prescribed antibiotics, be sure your child takes them as directed. Your child should not stop taking them just because he feels better. Your child needs to take the full course of antibiotics.

Always wash your hands before touching the incision area.

If your child has strips of tape on the incision, leave the tape on for a week or until it falls off.

Wash the area daily with warm, soapy water and pat it dry. Don't use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, which can slow healing. You may cover the area with a gauze bandage if it weeps or rubs against clothing. Change the bandage every day.

Keep the area clean and dry.

Your child passes out (loses consciousness).

Your child has severe trouble breathing.

Your child has pain that does not get better after he takes pain medicine.

Your child has a fever.

Your child has loose stitches, or his incision comes open.

You find a spot of bleeding larger than a 2-inch circle from an incision.

Your child has signs of infection, such as:

• Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness.

• Red streaks leading from the incision.

• Pus draining from the incision.

• A fever.

Your child's bruising is not getting better after 2 to 3 weeks.

Your child has not returned to normal activities after 3 to 5 days.