In medical circles, the term «epididymitis» refers to the inflammatory process of the epididymis. There are several forms of the disease, classified according to the severity and etiological factor.
Acute bacterial epididymitis is a typical complication of bacterial prostatitis, urethritis and bacteriuria. It can be single-sided or double-sided. On palpation of the scrotum, swelling of the appendages, soreness, often accompanied by erythema, are noted.
If acute epididymitis is not treated or treated not properly, the disease flows into a chronic form. . It is important to note that chronic epididymitis can sometimes occur even after the corrective therapeutic measures have been taken to treat acute epididymitis, since the anatomical structures of the genitals become more sensitive and fragile.
There is a form of epididymitis in which the testicle, known as orthoepididymitis is also involved in the inflammatory process. Orheoepididymitis - is one of the most common complications of urinary tract infections associated with urethritis or prostatitis.
There is also non-bacterial epididymitis, in which case the etiology is unknown, although many experts believe that the reason is the retrograde spread of infected fluids through the vas deferens.
Chemical epididymitis is characterized by urinary reflux into the vas deferens, resulting from the administration of certain drugs (e.g., amiodarone), or excessive physical stress. .
Symptoms of epididymitis
Symptoms of epididymitis vary depending on the severity of the condition. Often the patient complains of a slight increase in body temperature, which often flows into a real fever. In general, among the most common symptoms associated with epididymitis are:
- painful ejaculation;
- pain during intercourse (dyspareunia);
- redness and swelling of the scrotum;
- swollen lymph nodes in the groin;
- pain in the lower abdomenа.
As soon as you have the first symptoms of epididymitis, you should immediately contact the urologist of the Bogoliuby Medical Center.
Diagnosis of epididymitis
A urologist will begin to examine and palpate a testicle to establish a diagnosis, and then perform a digital rectal examination. As a rule, the urologist also prescribes blood and urine tests for the diagnosis (to confirm the presence of bacterial infiltration) .If the clinical picture is not yet clear, the doctor may recommend an ultrasound of the testicles.
Treatment of epididymitis
Therapy aimed at treating acute forms of epididymitis involves mainly the administration of antibiotics. It is useful to apply a few simple rules for the prophylactic pain relief. The patient with epididymitis should be in bed, in a supine position, thereby reducing tissue tension, apply ice to the scrotum.
Full abstinence from sexual relations is recommended. In most cases, epididymitis is an easily treatable disease with antibiotics if timely diagnosis by a qualified specialist is performed. Self-medication is dangerous and inappropriate. The disease should be taken with full responsibility, since the consequences can be very serious for a man's reproductive health. Awareness of patients regarding risk factors as well as proper sex education plays an important role in disease prevention.
