Orchitis in children

The main cause of orchitis in childhood is trauma and epidemic parotitis. According to medical statistics, in 20% of cases parotitis is complicated by inflammation of the testicles and in 8% of cases bilateral inflammation develops. The main age of boys susceptible to the disease is 10-12 years.

[ 1 ], [ 2 ], [ 3 ], [ 4 ], [ 5 ], [ 6 ]

Causes orchitis in a child

The main cause of the disease is an infectious lesion of organ tissues or their trauma. Infection occurs hematogenously, usually due to the causative agent of mumps, chickenpox or scarlet fever.

Another possible cause of orchitis in a teenager is sexually transmitted infections: ureaplasma, trichomonas, chlamydia. The painful condition develops after surgeries, congenital anomalies and systemic diseases. Often, inflammation is combined with damage to the urethra and prostate gland.

[ 7 ], [ 8 ], [ 9 ], [ 10 ]

Symptoms orchitis in a child

Symptoms of the pathology make themselves known 7-10 days after the first signs of mumps appear:

• A sharp rise in body temperature to 39-40 °C, which lasts for several days.
• Sharp pain in the scrotum area.
• Deterioration of general health: headaches, nausea, general weakness.
• The skin of the scrotum is edematous and hyperemic.
• Pain when urinating.

Orchitis in children can go away on its own within 7-10 days. But if the inflammation has not subsided and the temperature remains elevated, this may indicate the addition of a secondary infection. In this case, the pathological process will last until the organ parenchyma dies completely.

Orchitis in a teenager

Inflammation of the testicle and its appendage is most often diagnosed in adult men and adolescents aged 15-18 years.

Signs of orchitis:

• Change in the shape of the testicle, redness and swelling.
• Discomfort and pain in the scrotum area, which intensifies when walking.
• Pain in the lumbar region and lower abdomen.
• General intoxication of the body.
• Elevated body temperature.

The disease occurs in several stages. If the painful symptoms are left without medical assistance, the pathology will become chronic. The danger of advanced inflammation is that orchitis is complicated by purulent processes and abscess formation.

Diagnostics orchitis in a child

For diagnostics, the teenager is prescribed a set of laboratory and instrumental studies. A smear from the urethra is taken without fail to determine the pathogen and an ultrasound to detect traumatic injuries, tumors or anomalies in the structure of the organ.

[ 11 ], [ 12 ], [ 13 ], [ 14 ]

Treatment orchitis in a child

The success of the treatment depends on the early diagnosis of the disease. For treatment, the patient is prescribed broad-spectrum antibiotics, as well as immunomodulators, painkillers and antispasmodics. In the presence of abscesses, surgical treatment is performed. In case of purulent lesions, atrophy or gangrene of the testicle, orchiectomy is indicated, that is, complete removal of the organ.

To relieve acute pain in the scrotum, cold is applied, and rectal suppositories may also be prescribed. During treatment, patients should follow a diet. At the recovery stage, thermal physiotherapy procedures are prescribed. In particularly severe cases, surgical treatment is performed with opening the abscess and draining the wound.

Read also:

• How to treat orchitis at home?
• Medical and surgical treatment of orchitis