Definition
Orchitis is defined as an inflammatory process, with an acute or chronic course, which involves one or both testicles and sometimes also part of the male genital apparatus.
Causes
In general, orchitis depends on sexually transmitted bacterial infections (chlamydia, gonorrhea) or viral infections (mumps or mumps). More rare, although possible, is the orchitis resulting from brucellosis, hepatitis, severe flu, mononucleosis or syphilis.
Risk factors for orchitis: advanced age, non-vaccination for mumps, surgery on the male genital tract (→ urinary infections → orchitis), unprotected sexual intercourse
Symptoms
The evident testicular swelling, associated with edema, pain and redness localized at the level of the scrotum, are lit spies of orchitis. Among the secondary symptoms associated with the pathology, we mention: chills, difficulty urinating, painful ejaculation, fever, inguinal lymph node enlargement, post-crushing urethral leakage of the glans, blood in urine and sperm.
Information on Orchitis - Drugs useful in the treatment of Orchitis are not intended to replace the direct relationship between health professional and patient. Always consult your doctor and / or specialist before taking Orchite - Useful drugs for the treatment of Orchitis.
drugs
To avoid unpleasant and dangerous complications of orchitis (alteration of spermatogenesis, testicular atrophy, inhibition of sperm formation, testicular torsion), a prompt medical check-up is always recommended at the onset of the first symptoms. Only after a thorough diagnosis, the specialist will be able to prescribe the most suitable drugs to treat orchitis.
Antibiotics:
- Ciprofloxacin (eg. Ciprofloxac, Samper, Ciproxin, Kinox), belonging to the class of quinolones. Generally, it is administered at a dosage of 500-1000 mg per day, for 7-14 days as indicated by the doctor. Useful for eliminating the bacterium responsible for testicular inflammation.
- Azithromycin (eg Azithromycin, Zitrobiotic, Rezan, Azitrocin): this macrolide is generally prescribed for the treatment of orchitis dependent on a chlamydial infection. It is recommended to take the drug at a dose of 1 gram / day: the duration of therapy should be established by the doctor.
- Ceftriaxone (eg Ceftriaxone, Pantoxon, Ragex, Deixim): belongs to the class of quinolones. The drug is indicated in case of gonorrhea orchitis, at a dose of 250 mg to be administered intramuscularly in a single dose.
Antivirals: Considering that the orchitis may depend, even indirectly, on viruses, sometimes the patient can be treated with antivirals. To report a practical example, mononucleosis - which may be responsible for the appearance of testicular inflammation - is caused by the Epistein-Barr virus (EBV), belonging to the Herpes virus strain: Aciclovir (eg Aciclovir, Xerese, Zovirax), in this case, it is particularly effective (oral intake: the dosage and duration of the therapy must be established by the attending physician).
Cortisonics : indicated in case of mumps and powerful anti-inflammatories (systemic administration). For example:
- Hydrocortisone (eg Locoidon, Colifoam): it is indicated as a powerful anti-inflammatory at a dosage of 15-240 mg a day. The duration of therapy should be determined by the doctor.
- Cortisone (eg Cortis Acet, Cortone): available in 25 mg tablets, the dosage and timing of intake should be indicated by the doctor, and vary from subject to subject depending on the severity of the orchitis.
Anti-inflammatories / painkillers : useful for inflammation and to relieve pain caused by orchitis
- Ibuprofen (eg. Brufen, Kendo, Moment): take on the palate 200 to 400 mg of active ingredient (tablets, effervescent sachets) every 4-6 hours, as needed. In some cases, the analgesic can be administered intravenously (400 to 800 mg every 6 hours, as needed)
- Naproxen (eg. Aleve, Naprorex): it is recommended to take one 550 mg capsule twice a day (every 12 hours, unless further instructions from the doctor), as needed
- Acetaminophen (or paracetamol: eg Acetamol, Buscopan compositum, Tachipirina) for very acute pains associated with alteration of body temperature. Taken orally in the form of tablets, syrup, effervescent sachets or suppositories, the drug is generally administered at a dosage of 325 - 650 mg every 4-6 hours for 6-8 consecutive days, to lower the fever associated with orchitis.
Notes: in case of severity it is advisable to inject local anesthetics directly on the inflamed area. It is recommended to apply ice to the scrotal level (cryotherapy practice), useful to help reduce the perception of pain: in this case, the ice acts as a mild anesthetic.
The application of ice, rest, taking a comfortable position and the elevation of the scrotum, associated with a targeted drug therapy, generally ensure a clear improvement in the symptomatological condition in a few days.
If you do not intervene promptly in case of orchitis, surgery may be necessary.
We recommend the vaccine for the prevention of mumps, since mumps is a possible risk factor for the appearance of orchitis.
