Inguinal hernia signs and symptoms include:  A bulge in the area on either side of your pubic bone, which becomes more obvious when you're upright, especially if you cough or strain A burning or aching sensation at the bulge Pain or discomfort in your groin, especially when bending over, coughing or lifting A heavy or dragging sensation in your groin Weakness or pressure in your groin Occasionally, pain and swelling around the testicles when the protruding intestine descends into the scrotum  Signs and symptoms in children Inguinal hernias in newborns and children result from a weakness in the abdominal wall that's present at birth. Sometimes the hernia will be visible only when an infant is crying, coughing or straining during a bowel movement. He or she might be irritable and have less appetite than usual. In an older child, a hernia is likely to be more apparent when the child coughs, strains during a bowel movement or stands for a long period. Signs of trouble If you aren't able to push the hernia in, the contents of the hernia may be trapped (incarcerated) in the abdominal wall. An incarcerated hernia can become strangulated, which cuts off the blood flow to the tissue that's trapped. A strangulated hernia can be life-threatening if it isn't treated. Signs and symptoms of a strangulated hernia include:  Nausea, vomiting or both Fever Sudden pain that quickly intensifies A hernia bulge that turns red, purple or dark Inability to move your bowels or pass gas 
inguinal hernia signs symptoms include:  bulge area side pubic bone  obvious you're upright  especially cough strain burning aching sensation bulge pain discomfort groin  especially bending over  coughing lifting heavy dragging sensation groin weakness pressure groin occasionally  pain swelling testicles protruding intestine descends scrotum  signs symptoms children inguinal hernias newborns children result weakness abdominal wall that's present birth  hernia will visible only infant crying  coughing straining bowel movement  irritable appetite usual  older child  hernia likely apparent child coughs  strains bowel movement stands long period  signs trouble aren't able push hernia in  contents hernia may trapped (incarcerated) abdominal wall  incarcerated hernia can strangulated  cuts blood flow tissue that's trapped  strangulated hernia can life-threatening isn't treated  signs symptoms strangulated hernia include:  nausea  vomiting fever sudden pain quickly intensifies hernia bulge turns red  purple dark inability move bowels pass gas 
inguinal hernia