Case history
Case history #1
A 21-year-old man presents with a 3-day history of worsening left-sided scrotal pain and swelling. He reports noticing a white urethral discharge over the last 24 hours. He is otherwise fit and well, and takes no regular medicine. He is heterosexual and has a single female partner, with whom he has unprotected intercourse. Examination reveals a tender, erythematous, swollen left hemiscrotum with a palpably thickened epididymis.
Case history #2
A 74-year-old man with a known history of benign prostatic enlargement and insulin-requiring type 2 diabetes presents with a 7-day history of worsening right-sided scrotal pain and swelling. Initial symptoms of dysuria and frequency have resolved since his family doctor prescribed a course of antibiotics 4 days ago. Examination reveals a tender, swollen right epididymis with an associated hydrocele.
Other presentations
Non-infectious acute epididymitis also presents with scrotal pain, swelling, and tenderness. Clinical evaluation will reveal an underlying cause, such as a history of amiodarone use or symptoms of vasculitis (e.g., a rash). Infective signs such as fever are absent.
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