Orchitis Information

Orchitis or orchiditis is a condition of the testes involving inflammation.^[1] It can also involve swelling and frequent infection.

Symptoms

Symptoms of orchitis are similar to those of testicular torsion. These can include:

• ejaculation of blood
• hematuria (blood in the urine)
• severe pain
• visible swelling of a testicle or testicles and often the inguinal lymph nodes on the affected side.

Causes

Orchitis can be related to epididymitis infection that has spread to the testicles, often caused by the sexually transmitted diseases chlamydia and gonorrhea. It can also be seen during active mumps, particularly in adolescent boys.

Ischemic orchitis may result from damage to the blood vessels of the spermatic cord during inguinal herniorrhaphy, and may in the worst event lead to testicular atrophy.^[2]

The anti-depressant drug trimipramine (Surmontil) has been known to cause orchitis.

Treatment

In most cases where orchitis is caused by epididymitis, treatment is an oral antibiotic such as cefalexin or ciprofloxacin until infection clears up.

For viral infections, antibiotics are not recommended.

In both causes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as naproxen or ibuprofen are recommended to relieve pain. Sometimes stronger pain medications in the opiate category, particularly hydrocodone, are called for and are frequently prescribed by experienced emergency room physicians.

References

1. ^ orchitis at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
2. ^ Simons MP, Aufenacker T, Bay-Nielsen M, et al. European Hernia Society guidelines on the treatment of inguinal hernia in adult patients. Hernia (2009) 13:343–403

External links

• Overview at Mayo Clinic

Categories: Inflammations | Diseases of male genital organs |

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