Orchitis – Prevention and Remedies
Orchitis is a viral or bacterial infection, characterized by swelling of the testicles. One or both the testicles could be affected by the infection.
Causes of Orchitis
Usually the mumps virus causes orchitis. If you contract mumps after puberty, you have a high risk of developing orchitis. Viral orchitis from the mumps virus usually develops within four to six days after the symptoms of mumps develop. Sometimes bacteria that cause epididymitis or inflammation of the tube joining the testicle to the vas deferens, causes bacterial orchitis or epididymo orchitis.
Untreated bladder or urethra infection might spread to the epidydymis, causing epididymitis. Bacteria that cause sexually transmitted diseases, such as Chlamydia or gonorrhea are frequently associated with bacterial orchitis. Men with birth defects in the urinary tract have a high risk of developing orchitis from bacterial infection. If proper precaution is not taken while inserting catheter in the penis, bacterial infection might occur in the bladder, which could spread to the testicles, causing orchitis.
Orchitis Symptoms
The symptoms of orchitis include inflammation of one or both testicles, tenderness of the testicle, pain, nausea and fever. Sometimes the symptoms of the illness become intolerable, making it difficult to perform even simple activities such as sitting and walking.
Prevention and Remedies
To prevent orchitis caused by mumps virus, you should take the mumps vaccine. Practicing safe sex and avoiding sex with multiple partners could minimize the risk of developing sexually transmitted diseases, consequently lowering your chance of contracting bacterial orchitis. To reduce the inflammation and pain, you can apply cold compress to the scrotum. Your doctor might prescribe antibiotics and bed rest to cure the disease.
Maintaining proper hygiene is necessary for preventing discomfort. Folk healers recommend dandelion tea for curing the inflammation of the testicles. To treat this illness, you can drink two to three cups of dandelion tea daily, until the disease is cured.
Echinacea could also help to reduce the discomfort. To treat the symptoms of orchitis, herbalists sometimes prescribe antibacterial herbs such as Yellow Duck and Caltrop. Coccinia leaf extracts could help to treat orchitis caused by bacterial infection. You can prepare a decoction by boiling ten to twelve coccinia leaves in a glass of water for about ten to fifteen minutes. Drinking the decoction two times a day could help to cure the bacterial infection.
