Orchitis
Specialty	Urology

Orchitis is an often very painful condition of the testicles involving inflammation, swelling and frequently infection.

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

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

This condition must be diagnosed by a physician.

Orchitis can be related to epididymitis infection that has spread to the testicles. Orchitis is a not as common as epididymitis, but should not be taken lightly as loss of function (hypogonadism) can occur in the testicles.

A common cause for childhood orchitis is mumps.

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.

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.

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• Overview at Mayo Clinic