Patient's question:
The symptoms reappeared 2 years later: lower abdominal pain, high fever, nausea, one testicle larger than the other, fatigue, swollen parotid glands, varicocele, and testicular drooping. The doctor said it was orchitis. How is orchitis caused?Doctor's answer:
Chronic orchitis is often caused by incomplete treatment of non-specific acute orchitis, or can be triggered by infections such as molds, spirochetes, and parasites, such as syphilis of the testes. Individuals with a history of testicular trauma may experience recurrent granulomatous orchitis. Local or systemic radioactive phosphorus irradiation can also lead to orchitis, destroying testicular tissue. Macroscopically, the testes appear highly swollen and purplish-blue, with seminiferous tubules unable to discharge. Upon close observation, edema and vascular expansion are visible. Orchitis can be resolved, but the treatment period is generally long, and the condition is prone to recurrence after treatment.