Do you need to avoid certain foods if you have epididymitis?

Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
Updated on September 19, 2024
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After being diagnosed with epididymitis, there are dietary restrictions to consider. Here are a few things to keep in mind regarding your diet:

First, it's important to eat lightly. Avoid spicy and irritating foods such as onions, ginger, garlic, and chili peppers. Try to eat these sparingly or not at all. Also, avoid drinking strong tea, coffee, and other stimulating beverages. It's necessary to quit smoking and drinking alcohol, and instead, increase your intake of fresh vegetables and fruits to boost your vitamin intake.

Beyond diet, there are also lifestyle considerations to keep in mind. Try to lie flat as much as possible and keep your scrotum elevated. This can promote local blood circulation, which is beneficial for the treatment of the condition. Avoid vigorous exercise and prolonged sitting or standing.

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Written by Wang Shuai
Urology
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Is epididymitis serious?

Whether epididymitis is severe depends on the patient's condition. If it is an early case of epididymitis, the epididymis may just be enlarged and painful, which is not very serious. Generally, using antibiotics and regular treatment, it can heal in about 1 to 2 weeks. However, if treatment is not administered in time, leading to abscesses in the epididymis and testicle, or even rupture of the abscesses, the situation is relatively severe. It requires immediate surgical intervention to drain the abscess. The prognosis thereafter is relatively poor, and it can easily lead to the possibility of testicular atrophy. Therefore, epididymitis should be treated promptly.

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Is bed rest necessary for epididymitis?

After the occurrence of epididymitis, the epididymis will enlarge to various extents, accompanied by pain, and the weight of the epididymis will significantly increase. In such cases, if the patient stands or sits for extended periods, the pain becomes more noticeable and is not conducive to treating the condition. Frequent prolonged sitting or standing, or even intense physical activity, could potentially lead to the risk of testicular torsion. Therefore, after being diagnosed with epididymitis, doctors usually advise patients to lie flat as much as possible. It is best to elevate the scrotum while lying flat, as this helps with local blood circulation and positively affects the treatment of the condition. If there is a need for special circumstances requiring some activity, it is best to use a scrotal support to lift the scrotum.

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How to treat epididymitis?

For the treatment of epididymitis, antibiotics are mainly used. Epididymitis is mostly caused by bacterial infections, such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. In such cases, it is necessary to use fluoroquinolone antibiotics and cephalosporin antibiotics promptly. If it is caused by a viral infection, antiviral medications are recommended. During treatment, it is important to eat a light diet and avoid spicy and irritating foods. Smoking and alcohol should be avoided. Patients should lie down as much as possible, rest, and elevate the scrotum, which helps the circulation of blood in the scrotum and testicles and aids in the improvement of the condition. Vigorous exercise or prolonged standing during treatment can worsen the condition. (The use of medications should be guided by a professional doctor.)

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epididymitis symptoms

The main clinical manifestations of epididymitis are significant enlargement of the epididymis accompanied by obvious pain. At the same time, the skin of the scrotum will be red and swollen, and the skin temperature will increase. If not treated promptly, the condition may further develop and possibly involve inflammation of the testis, and even lead to the possibility of testicular and epididymal abscesses. If a testicular or epididymal abscess occurs, touching the testis and epididymis will show a distinct fluctuation, and even an abscess rupture may occur, with pus visible on the skin of the scrotum and flowing out from within the scrotum. If these symptoms appear, it is necessary to promptly visit the hospital's urology department and use antibiotics for standard treatment. If an abscess has already formed, an abscess incision and drainage should be performed. (Specific medication use should be carried out under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Symptoms of epididymitis

The main symptoms of epididymitis include enlargement of the epididymis, accompanied by noticeable pain. The skin of the scrotum will appear red and swollen, and touching the scrotum will reveal an increase in local skin temperature. If not treated in time, an epididymal abscess may develop, causing a palpable fluctuation when touching the epididymis. If not addressed promptly, the abscess may rupture, leading to the leakage of pus from the scrotum. If epididymitis is diagnosed, it is important to seek timely treatment at a hospital's urology department. Diagnosis is typically confirmed via ultrasound and a local physical examination, and prompt treatment with antibiotics is necessary. If an abscess has already formed, surgical incision and drainage may be required. (Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor, and self-medication should be avoided.)