Patient's question:
Doctor, when I had epididymitis, my testicles swelled, and I received a week of intravenous drips, and the symptoms improved. But a few days later, I suddenly noticed a small hard lump under my testicle. This lump is only on one side and doesn't cause any sensation. How come it's still getting bigger gradually? What should I do?Doctor's answer:
Pathogenic bacteria rarely spread through the bloodstream and lymphatic system; they are most often secondary to prostatitis, seminal vesiculitis, or urethritis. The inflammation is usually unilateral. It needs to be differentiated from epididymal tuberculosis and filariasis of the epididymis. In the former, early inflammation is localized to the tail of the epididymis, and later the boundary between the epididymis and testis disappears, the skin often adheres to the epididymis, and even sinus tracts may recur. In the latter, the scrotal skin thickens, and microfilariae can be detected in blood samples taken at night. The treatment of this condition is often not effective with simple anti-inflammatory therapy alone, so it is generally recommended to use antibiotic iontophoresis locally and seminal vesiculoplasty.