Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment of Orchitis

Orchitis is an inflammation of the testicle - the male paired sex organ. The disease develops, as a rule, again, against the background of existing pathologies and is fraught with complications, the most dangerous of which is infertility.

Orchitis is called testicular inflammation. Often, orchitis is observed with epididymitis - an inflammation of the epididymis.

Causes of

The causes of inflammation of the testicle are infections .Depending on the causative agent, orchitis may be specific( caused by pathogens of tuberculosis, syphilis), or nonspecific( caused by any other infection).

Also cause this disease can be typhoid, flu, gonorrhea. Sometimes orchitis develops after the trauma. Separately isolated granulomatous orchitis, the causes of which have not yet been reliably established.

In the case of acute or chronic urethritis and prostatitis, infection with descending hematogenous and lymphogenous pathway enters the testicle, developing inflammation. When mildew mechanism of the disease is somewhat different, is associated with the formation of specific antibodies, which, in turn, having an affinity for testicular tissue, are deposited on them, and cause damage to testicular tissues.

Symptoms of orchitis

There are two forms of orchitis - acute and chronic.

Acute form of

It differs by violent symptoms, it lasts from two weeks to a month.

In acute form, swelling and pain of the scrotum can be observed. There is an increase in body temperature.

In acute orchitis, the disease begins with the pain and swelling of the testicles, which quickly grow. Eggs, when palpated, becomes dense, acquires a sharp soreness and bluish tint, increases in size. There may be a purulent fluctuation( purulent pockets).There are general symptoms of inflammation - the body temperature rises to 38-39 degrees, headache, general weakness, sweating. Often, orchitis is accompanied by inflammation of the epididymis - epididymitis, where there is also edema and soreness. The development of acute orchitis is possible in three directions:

1. The process after 2-4 weeks acquires a chronic sluggish character.
2. An abscess develops( formation of purulent cavities).
3. There is a reverse development of inflammation with complete recovery( with proper treatment).

Chronic form

Continues for more than a month, it proceeds more smoothly, periodically recurs and is difficult to treat. With chronic orchitis, the symptoms of the disease are very poor. Often the only manifestation can be moderate pain in the testicle when palpating, walking, or running.

Diagnostics

For correct diagnosis of acute orchitis, it is sometimes enough to see a doctor who reveals a clear clinical picture. Additionally, the diagnosis is confirmed by laboratory and instrumental methods.

MRI is the most accurate diagnostic method.

• Blood test. In a general blood test, in the case of bacterial infection, there is leukocytosis with a shift of the leukocyte formula to the left, an increase in ESR.If the cause of orchitis is viruses, then lymphocytosis develops, with fungal infection, eosinophilia is detected.
• Urinalysis. In the general analysis of urine, the presence of leukocytes( pyuria), erythrocytes( hematuria), cylindrical cells( depleted epithelium) is noted. In the analysis of seminal fluid, it is possible to identify the presence of the pathogen( bacteria), leukocytes, affected spermatozoa.
• ultrasound. The ultrasound-diagnostic method allows to determine the prevalence of lesions and the presence of fluid.
• MRI. The most detailed picture of the inflammation of the testicle is visible with magnetic resonance imaging, which allows you to determine the stage of the disease and the smallest foci of purulent infiltration. Its value increases with the chronic form of orchitis, when the clinical picture and changes in laboratory indicators will be "erased".

Treatment of orchitis

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  The main treatment for orchitis is the intake of appropriate antibiotics.

  In the treatment of orchitis, it is most important to suppress the activity of the pathogen as soon as possible. To do this, prescribe antibacterial drugs. Antibiotics of the cephalosporin series( Cefazalin, Cefotaxime), macrolides( Azithromycin) and fluoroquinolones( Ciprofloxacin, Ofloxacin) are preferred.

• To stop the active inflammation used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - Diclofenac, Ibuprofen.
• Analgesics( analgin, ketorolac) are used for analgesia.

In acute orchitis must appoint bed rest for several days. In the event of an increase in the purulent process of the patient, purulent foci are hospitalized and uncovered. In extremely severe cases, testicular amputation is used.

In complex treatment of orchitis, vitamins, restorative preparations, venotonics and angioprotectors are used. At the stage of stifling of the acute process and in chronic orchitis, physiotherapy( UHF, magnetotherapy) is used. Necessarily sanitize the accompanying foci of inflammation( in the urethra, prostate gland, etc.), which can be a provoking factor in the development of orchitis.

Prognosis and prevention of

How the disease will proceed and how it will end depends largely on correct and timely treatment.

• Acute uncomplicated orchites can completely stop, leaving no consequences.
• With the development of abscesses and suppuration, there is a danger of purulent melting of the testicles and septicemia, which requires immediate surgical operation.
• With a two-way running process, the probability of infertility is high( up to 50%).
• Acute fast-developing orchitis can result in atrophy( desiccation) of the testicle. In this case, his hormonal function( testosterone production) suffers, which can lead to impotence.
• One of the frequent complications is chronic epididymitis( inflammation of the epididymis).
• Sclerotic processes, against the background of scarring of inflammation, can lead to obturation( obstruction) of the appendages and, especially in the bilateral process, to infertility.

To prevent orchitis, it is necessary to observe sexual hygiene, to avoid accidental sexual contact. In the presence of any acute and chronic infections in the body, they need to be identified and treated in a timely manner. It is important to carry out anti-epidemiological prevention in the centers of development of typhoid and mumps. Those who have suffered acute orchitis should avoid hypothermia and physical overload to prevent relapse of the disease.

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