AEMCA Practice Exam

Which condition is characterized by nausea and vomiting accompanied by sudden scrotal pain?

1. Renal colic

2. Testicular torsion

3. Hernia

4. Vascular obstruction

The correct answer is: Testicular torsion

Testicular torsion is a medical emergency characterized by the twisting of the spermatic cord, which can cut off the blood supply to the testicle. The sudden onset of severe pain in the scrotum is typically accompanied by nausea and vomiting. This is due to the body's response to acute pain, which can activate the vagus nerve, leading to gastrointestinal symptoms. Immediate intervention is necessary to salvage the affected testicle and prevent long-term complications such as infertility or loss of the testicle. Other conditions may also present with pain or discomfort in the scrotal area, but the specific combination of sudden, severe scrotal pain alongside nausea and vomiting is most indicative of testicular torsion. Vascular obstruction or hernia may lead to pain, but they do not usually cause the same immediate acute symptoms. Renal colic could cause severe abdominal pain and sometimes refer pain to the groin, but it does not typically present with direct scrotal pain or gastrointestinal symptoms in the same acute context as testicular torsion.