Acute scrotal swelling in a newborn with bacteremia

Perspective in Pediatric Pathology, Chapter 24. Testicular Inflammatory Processes in Pediatric Patients

Acute scrotal pain in children represents a major diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. An important initial differentiation should be made between epididymitis and other processes that cause acute scrotal pain, such as testicular torsion and tumor. Infectious agents disseminating through the blood flow can damage the testis by causing orchitis. On the other hand, infections ascending via spermatic pathways typically lead to epididymitis [ 1 ].

Escherichia coli Bacteremia, Epididymo-Orchitis, and Scrotal Abscess in a Neonate

Epididymo-orchitis (EO) is a rare but important cause of scrotal swelling in pediatric patients. EO is caused by bacteremia leading to hematogenous seeding or ascending infection of the urinary tract. EO can be associated with abscess, bacteremia, and other serious infections, and must be distinguished from other causes of scrotal swelling such as testicular torsion. We present a case of a 16-day-old male with EO, scrotal abscess, and bacteremia from Escherichia coli.