Epididymitis refers to inflammation of the epididymis from both infectious and non-infectious causes. This article will focus on acute epididymitis, rather than chronic epididymitis. Although acute epididymitis is a relatively uncommon condition, it is important for GPs to recognise the typical presentation, as it presents acutely and shares some similar features with testicular torsion, which is a surgical urological emergency. This article aims to provide information to aid the diagnosis and management of acute epididymitis in the primary care setting.
CicekT.DemirC. C.CobanG.ConerA. (2014) Amiodarone induced epididymitis: A case report. Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal16(1): e13929. doi: 10.5812/ircmj.13929.
7.
CooganC. L.BensonJ. S.SteinbergR. L. (2015) Painful scrotum. In: SaclaridesT. J. (ed.) Common surgical diseases, New York: Springer, pp. 313–315.
8.
DavisN. F.McGuireB. B.MahonJ. A.SmythA. E.O’MalleyK. J.FitzpatrickJ. M. (2010) The increasing incidence of mumps orchitis: A comprehensive review. BJU International105(8): 1060–1065. doi: 10.1111/j.1464-410X.2009.09148.x.
9.
DrakeR. L.VoglA. W.MitchellA. W. (2014) Gray's anatomy for students, third edition, Philadelphia, PA: Churchill Livingstone.
10.
Ludwig, M. (2008). Diagnosis and therapy of acute prostatitis, epididymitis and orchitis. Andrologia, 40, 76–80. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0272.2007.00823.x.
Nicholson, A. R. G.-T. (2010). Management of epididymo-orchitis in primary care: Results from a large UK primary care database. The British Journal of General Practice, e407–e422. doi: 10.3399/bjgp10X532413.
RCGP. Clinical module 3.08: Sexual health. Retrieved from www.rcgp.org.uk/training- exams/gp-curriculum-overview/online-curriculum/applying-clinical-knowledge-section-1/3-08-sexual-health/3-08-knowledge-and-skills.aspx.
15.
ReynardJ.BrewsterS.BiersS. (2013) Oxford handbook of urology, Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
16.
SandellaB.HartmannB.BerksonD.HongE. (2012) Testicular conditions in athletes: Torsion, tumors, and epididymitis. Current Sports Medicine Reports11(2): 92–95. doi: 10.1249/JSR.0b013e31824c8886.
17.
SchlossbergD. (2015) Clinical infectious diseases, Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
18.
SharpV. J.KieranK. (2013) Testicular torsion: Diagnosis, evaluation, and management. American Family Physician88(12): 835–840. Retrieved from www.aafp.org/afp/2013/1215/p835.html.
Somani, B., Watson, G., and Townell, N. (2010). Testicular torsion. BMJ, 341, c3213. doi: 10.1136/bmj.c3213.
21.
SomekhE.GorensteinA.SerourF. (2004) Acute epididymitis in boys: Evidence of a post-infectious etiology. The Journal of Urology171(1): 391–394. doi: 10.1097/01.ju.0000102160.55494.1f.
22.
Street, E., Joyce, A., & Wilson, J. (2010). 2010 United Kingdom national guideline for the management of epididymo-orchitis. Retrieved from www.bashh.org/documents/3546.pdf.
23.
Taylor, S. N. (2015). Epididymitis. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 61, 770–773. doi: 10.1093/cid/civ812.
24.
Trojian, H. T., Lishnak, S. T., & Heiman, D. (2009). Epididymitis and orchitis: An overview. American Family Physician, 79, 583–587. Retrieved from www.aafp.org/afp/2009/0401/p583.html.
