TB epididymitis is not uncommon incident

ABSTRACT

100 cases of epididymitis were randomly chosen provided that they didn't receive antibiotics in the last 48 hours. We categorized the patients into two groups those presenting with acute painfull scrotal swelling and fever into group A [5 6 patient] and those presenting with painless scrotal lumb of more than 3 months duration into group B [44 patients]. - Full clinical assessment including careful history taking and clinical examination was done to all patients. - Urine smears stained with Z.N. -staining were examined for alcohol and acid fast bacilli for all patients, and similar semen smears for group [B] patients were also done. - Urine culturing on Lowenstein-Jensen medium was done for all patients. - Semenogram was done for group [B] patients. - Semen of group [B] patients was cultured also on Lewenstein-Jensen medium. Abdominal ultrasound together with chest x-ray and plain x-ray abdomen had been performed to all cases. In Group [B] patients, I V.U was routinely done. It is clear that chronic epedidymitis is highly suspecious for T.B. It had been found that semen culturing or smearing by Z-N-Stain gave a better chance-than urine to isolate the T-B bacillus [semen smearing and culturing proved that 15.9% and 29% of patients respectively were positive for T.B. bacilli compared to 13.6% and 25% of patients in case of urine]. Semen parameters had been variably affected in tuberculous involvement of the epididymitis specially in bilateral cases [all bilateral cases and 3 out of 8 unilateral involvement were infertile]. In conclusion, T.B. bacillus is a relatively common causative organism in cases of chronic epididymitis [13% of total cases of epididymitis and 29% of chronic cases]