Symptoms of acute epididymitis

Many men are reluctant to admit their diseases, thinking it is a very embarrassing thing, but if you want to truly prevent andrological diseases, you must pay attention to the cleanliness of your private parts in your daily life. Many men want to know the symptoms of epididymitis, which is a very common infectious disease. After the onset of the disease, the pain is more obvious and it is accompanied by the appearance of prostatitis.

Acute epididymitis is a non-specific infection of the epididymis and is the most common infectious disease in the scrotum. It is mostly caused by retrograde infection along the vas deferens due to posterior urethritis, prostatitis and seminal vesiculitis, and bloodstream infection is rare. The most common pathogens are Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, which are common in young and middle-aged people. Urethral stenosis, improper use of intraurethral instruments, and indwelling catheters after bladder and prostate surgery often cause epididymitis. The second most common route is lymphatic infection, and bloodstream infection is the rarest.

Clinical manifestations

Acute epididymitis often occurs after heavy physical exertion, such as after lifting heavy objects, or after strong sexual excitement. Injuries caused by transurethral instrumentation can lead to epididymitis, and acute epididymitis can also occur after prostatectomy. Acute epididymitis often follows prostatitis. Pain in the scrotum often occurs suddenly and can radiate along the spermatic cord to the inguinal area and lumbosacral region. The pain is usually severe, and the pain is obviously resistant to pressure. The swelling progresses rapidly, and the epididymis can double in size within 3 to 4 hours. The body temperature can reach about 40°C, and secretions may appear in the urethra. At this time, it may be accompanied by cystitis and turbid urine.

Systemic symptoms are obvious, including chills, sudden high fever, obvious swelling of the scrotum on the affected side, redness and fever of the scrotal skin, pain radiating along the spermatic cord, lower abdomen and perineum, enlargement or thickening of the epididymis, and enlargement of the testicles and spermatic cord, with unclear boundaries between the head and tail of the epididymis, aggravated pain when dropping, and may be accompanied by bladder irritation symptoms, increased white blood cells and neutrophils. Generally, acute symptoms can gradually subside after one week.

Changes in urination and urethral secretions. Frequent urination, urgency, pain during urination, urethral discomfort or burning during urination. White secretions often flow out of the urethra after urination and defecation, commonly known as "white dripping" from the urethra. When combined with seminal vesiculitis, there may be blood in the semen. Painful perineum, dull pain and discomfort in the lower abdomen, sometimes soreness and swelling in the lumbar sacral area, pubic bone, groin area, etc.

Sexual dysfunction may include impotence, premature ejaculation, spermatorrhea or painful ejaculation. Mental and neurological symptoms include dizziness, bloating, weakness, fatigue, insomnia, depression, anxiety, etc. Complications may include allergic reactions such as iritis, arthritis, neuritis, myositis, infertility, etc.

There is tenderness in the groin area, scrotal enlargement, local skin redness and swelling, and if abscesses are formed, the skin becomes dry and thin and easy to fall off. Abscesses can also rupture on their own. If the doctor is seen in time, the boundary between the enlarged and hardened epididymis and the testis is clear, but after a few hours, the testis and epididymis become a hard lump, the spermatic cord becomes thicker due to edema, and secondary hydrocele appears after a few days. There may be secretions in the urethra.