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Epididimitis - Overview

Definición:

Es la hinchazón (inflamación) del epidídimo, el conducto que conecta el testículo con los vasos deferentes.

Causas, incidencia y factores de riesgo:

La epididimitis es más frecuente en hombres jóvenes de 19 a 35 años de edad y es una causa importante de admisiones hospitalarias en las fuerzas militares.

La epididimitis generalmente es causada por la diseminación de una infección bacteriana desde la uretra o la vejiga. Las infecciones más comunes que causan esta afección en hombres jóvenes heterosexuales son gonorrea y clamidia. En los niños y en hombres de mayor edad, la E. coli e infecciones similares son mucho más comunes. Esto también es cierto en hombres homosexuales.

El Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) puede ocurrir como epididimitis. Otras bacterias, como ureaplasma, también pueden provocar la afección.

Otra causa de epididimitis es el consumo de un medicamento llamado amiodarona que previene los ritmos cardíacos anormales.

Los siguientes factores incrementan el riesgo de epididimitis:

  • Ser incircunciso
  • Cirugía reciente o antecedentes de problemas estructurales en las vías urinarias
  • Uso regular de un catéter uretral
  • Relaciones sexuales con más de una pareja y no usar condones
  • Reviewed last on: 8/13/2010
  • David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Referencias

Nickel JC. Inflammatory Conditions of the Male Genitourinary Tract: Prostatitis, and Related Conditions, Orchitis, Epididymitis. In: Wein AJ, ed. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 9.

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