Sterility as Unique Symptom of Tuberculous Epididymo-orchitis

Abstract

Objective: To study the rare tuberculous epididymo-orchitis causing infertility.
Design: Surgical specimens received at a Reference Laboratory serving the Igbo ethnic group in Nigeria were analyzed as regards tuberculosis during a period of 30 years.
Results: One hundred cases involving peripheral lymph nodes, 30 cases of peritoneal disease and 24 cases affecting the genitalia were accessed during the 1970s. Thereafter, only one case was found to be due to sterility.
Conclusion: In all probability, if the sexual history can be included routinely as part of the complete medical evaluation, this symptom may be found to be commoner in Nigeria and other areas of the world where TB is a health problem.


Keywords: Tuberculosis, epididymis, testis, sterility, epidemiology.

Journal of College of Medicine Vol. 13 (2) 2008: pp. 126-127