If the twist is not reversed, the blood is not able to reach the testis, which can die as a result. These twists occur for no particular reason, but are more common in people who have had a twisted cord before. Infection of the testis with bacteria causes swelling and redness, which is again very painful. The bacteria are usually the same ones that cause infections of the urine and they reach the testes by travelling up through the penis. This type of infection may be confused with a twisted cord, as both look swollen and red.
Hernias can occur in children and can cause swelling in the scrotum.
A hernia occurs when the bowel pushes its way through the muscles of the abdomen to produce a lump. However, if the bowel pushes its way through the hole that the testes use to reach the scrotum during the baby's development, the piece of intestine becomes a lump in the scrotum. These can be large but are usually not painful. Sometimes, fluid can collect in the scrotum, to produce a large swelling called a 'hydrocoele', which is usually painless. In most cases the reason why the fluid collects is not known.