Difference between epididymitis and varicocele

Men may suffer from reproductive system diseases due to various reasons. For example, epididymitis and varicocele are two common men's diseases. Of course, although both diseases have a greater impact on men, their symptoms and effects are also different. Below, we will give you a detailed introduction to the relevant knowledge about varicocele and epididymitis!

1. Symptoms and signs of epididymitis

1. Clinical manifestations of acute epididymitis:

The onset is sudden, with high fever, elevated white blood cell count, distension and pain in the affected scrotum, a feeling of heaviness, and referred pain in the lower abdomen and groin, which is aggravated when standing or walking. The affected epididymis is swollen and there is obvious tenderness. When the inflammation covers a large area, both the epididymis and testicle are swollen, and the boundary between the two is unclear. This is called epididymo-testitis. The spermatic cord on the affected side is thickened and tender. Generally, the acute symptoms will gradually subside after a week.

2. Clinical manifestations of chronic epididymitis:

Chronic epididymitis is more common. Some patients become chronic because the acute phase cannot be completely cured, but most patients do not have a clear acute phase. The inflammation is often secondary to chronic prostatitis or injury. Patients often feel dull pain and distension in the scrotum on the affected side. The pain often involves the lower abdomen and ipsilateral groin, and is sometimes accompanied by secondary hydrocele. During examination, the epididymis often has varying degrees of enlargement and hardening, with mild tenderness, and the ipsilateral vas deferens may be thickened.

2. Clinical manifestations of varicocele

Patients often fail to receive timely diagnosis and treatment due to the lack of conscious symptoms, which ultimately leads to impaired spermatogenesis in some patients. A small number of patients may experience scrotal swelling when standing, and local continuous or intermittent pain, dull pain and heaviness in the scrotum, which may radiate to the lower abdomen, groin area or lower back. The symptoms worsen after fatigue, standing for a long time or walking, and are alleviated or disappear after lying down and resting.

3. The difference between varicose veins of the testicle and epididymitis

There is a difference between varicose testicles and epididymitis. It is not a difficult problem to distinguish them. Patients with varicose veins can feel the varicose veins like clumps of earthworms when they stand or hold their breath. In severe cases, the skin of the scrotum and the superficial veins on the inner thighs will dilate. If you lie flat or lift your testicles, the varicose veins will shrink or disappear immediately.