Masoomeh Sofian - Tuberculosis and Pediatric Infectious Research Center, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
Arezoo Aghakhani - Clinical Research Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
Mohammad Banifazl - Iranian Society for Support of Patients with Infectious Disease, Tehran, Iran
Ali Eslamifar - Clinical Research Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
Fatemeh Zolfaghari - Tuberculosis and Pediatric Infectious Research Center, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
Hossein Sarmadian - Tuberculosis and Pediatric Infectious Research Center, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
Amitis Ramezani - Clinical Research Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran

Distinction between brucellar epididymo-orchitis (BEO) and nonspecific epididymo-orchitis (EO) is an important medical issue. This study was conducted to compare demographic, clinical and laboratory features, treatment and outcome of patients with BEO and nonspecific EO in Arak city, Markazi Province, Iran. We compared the clinical and laboratory characteristics of ۴۰ BEO and ۴۰ non-specific EO patients. The diagnosis of brucellosis was based on the symptoms, compatible clinical findings and standard tube agglutination test. Epididymo-orchitis was diagnosed by swelling and tenderness of scrotal skin, testis and epididymis, which was confirmed by sonography. BEO can be distinguished from nonspecific EO based on having a history of living in rural areas, contact with domestic animals, and consumption of unpasteurized dairy products. Other criteria include seasonal pattern, gradual onset (P<۰.۰۵), sweating (P<۰.۰۰۱), arthralgia (P=۰.۰۲), associated lower urinary tract symptoms (P=۰.۰۰۴) and lower rate of leukocytosis and abnormal urine analysis (P=۰.۰۰۲). Our results showed that brucellosis should be considered as a cause of EO in endemic areas like Iran. Combination antibiotic therapy to manage BEO is usually effective and all patients in this study responded quite satisfactory to the treatment.

Brucellar epididymo-orchitis, Nonspecific epididymo-orchitis, Iran