Orchitis is inflammation of one or both testicles, usually caused by bacterial or viral infections.

Causes –

1. Bacterial infections: Most commonly caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis (sexually transmitted infections).
2. Viral infections: Mumps virus is a common cause of orchitis, especially in non-immunized males.
3. Other causes: Trauma, epididymitis, and systemic infections like tuberculosis.

Pathogenesis –

1. Infection spread: Bacteria or viruses can spread to the testicles through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.
2. Inflammation: The infectious agent triggers an inflammatory response, leading to swelling, pain, and damage to the testicular tissue.

Clinical Features –

1. Pain and swelling: Sudden onset of pain and swelling in one or both testicles.
2. Fever: Elevated body temperature, usually accompanied by chills.
3. Redness and warmth: The affected testicle may become red, warm, and tender to the touch.
4. Discharge: Abnormal discharge from the penis may be present in cases of bacterial orchitis.
5. Systemic symptoms: Headache, fatigue, and muscle aches may occur in some cases.

Homoeopathic Therapeutics –

1. Hamamelis – Severe neuralgic pain in testicles, suddenly shifting to bowels , with nausea, faintness and profuse cold sweat on scrotum, < nights and during rainy weather, gonorrhoeal orchitis or epididymitis, testes exquisitely sore to touch, varicocele, circocele, from ciliary stasis , fluid blood in haematocele. Severe pain in lumbar and hypogastric region, extending down legs. Traumatic inflammations. Hemorrhages of very hard, clotted venous blood. Takes cold easily from every exposure, especially in warm.
2. Pulsatilla – Varicocele , with varicose veins on limbs or about testes, bluish red , with soreness or stinging pain. Sharp, dragging pains along the course of spermatic cord, as the swelling increases the pain is relieved and often the discharge returns. Testicles retracted, enlarged, dark-red and very sensitive to touch. Orchitis from suppressed gonorrhoea. Symptoms rise to a certain pitch, then suddenly cease. Chilliness with pains. Changing and contradictory symptoms having no head or tail to them. Thirstlessness with all complaints. Better by open air.
3. Rhododendron – Chronic orchitis, induration of testicles, tending to atrophy, and feeling in gland as if it were being crushed. Soreness extending into abdomen and thighs , induration and swelling of left testicle , after gonorrhoea Epididymis intensely painful to touch. Sensitive to windy or stormy wet weather, persons who are afraid of thunder. Hydrocele, of boys ; from birth. Rheumatic tearing in all limbs.
4. Staphysagria – Shooting in cord, right testicle feels as if compressed. Atrophy of testicles; testes inflamed, with burning, stinging and pressing- drawing pains. Aching in outer side of left testicle when walking. < from touch ; voluptuous itching of scrotum. Sexual neurasthenia. Prostatitis, pain extends from anus to urethra. Frequent urging to urinate; with scanty or profuse discharge of watery urine; urinates in thin stream or drop by drop.
5. Thuja – Sycosis. Left testicle drawn up by the cremaster; sweet smelling sweat on scrotum, checked gonorrhoea causes prostatitis and articular rheumatism. Aching in testes as if contused < walking. Flesh feels as if beaten off the bones. Balanitis. Eruptions only on covered parts, worse after scratching. Hydrogenoid constitution. Rapid exhaustion and emaciation.

Worked By – Dr. Nazia Ansari (BHMS)