Can mumps orchitis be treated?

Everyone is very familiar with common orchitis. In contrast, many people do not understand acute mumps orchitis. The main cause of this disease is viral infection. Usually, patients with this disease have a history of mumps. It is because of orchitis caused by mumps that patients will experience symptoms such as enlarged testicles and testicular pain. The following introduces the treatment methods of this disease.

First, treatment of acute mumps orchitis

1. Antibiotics are ineffective for this disease, and symptomatic treatment is the main treatment. Bed rest, local cold or hot compress, testicle elevation to reduce discomfort, analgesics and antipyretics can be used according to the situation.

2. The use of adrenal cortex hormone and injection of serum from patients in the recovery period have clear therapeutic effects.

3. Lidocaine seals the low spermatic cord, improves testicular blood flow, and protects spermatogenesis.

4. Interferon has a good therapeutic effect on acute mumps and viral orchitis. In addition, interferon inhibits viral replication and improves immune function through antiviral activity and immunomodulatory effects. α-2b interferon is effective in treating mumps combined with orchitis and can prevent testicular atrophy or infertility in the future.

Second, complications

About 30% of patients with orchitis caused by mumps will have irreversible damage to their sperm. The affected testicles are highly atrophied. If it is bilateral orchitis, it will lead to male infertility, but the androgen level is generally normal.

Third, differential diagnosis

1. Testicular torsion

The symptoms are sudden scrotal swelling, pain and obvious tenderness, but there is no history of mumps. The pain does not decrease when the scrotum is lifted, but worsens. There is no fever. Color Doppler B-ultrasound shows decreased or absent testicular blood perfusion.

2. Acute epididymitis

There may be sudden scrotal swelling, pain and obvious tenderness. However, initially only the epididymis is enlarged, and the testicles may be normal or slightly hard. When epididymitis spreads to the testicles, the boundary between the testicles and epididymis is unclear and both are tender.

3. Acute purulent orchitis

It may also present as sudden scrotal pain and swelling without a history of mumps. Usually the testicles and epididymis are enlarged and have unclear boundaries, and antibiotics are effective in treatment.

4. Incarcerated indirect hernia

It may also present as sudden scrotal pain and swelling. A history of inguinal oblique hernia may cause abdominal distension and vomiting after incarceration. Physical examination may reveal a mass in the scrotum and normal testicles.