急性附睾炎的最常见病因为细菌感染。[9]Chan PT, Schlegel PN. Inflammatory conditions of the male excurrent ductal system: part I. J Androl. 2002;23:453-460.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/j.1939-4640.2002.tb02259.x/pdfhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12065446?tool=bestpractice.com
在>35 岁的男性中,大多数病例的病因是结核杆菌和粪肠球菌等常见尿路病原体导致的非性传播感染。[9]Chan PT, Schlegel PN. Inflammatory conditions of the male excurrent ductal system: part I. J Androl. 2002;23:453-460.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/j.1939-4640.2002.tb02259.x/pdfhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12065446?tool=bestpractice.com[10]Workowski KA, Bolan GA; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexually transmitted diseases treatment guidelines, 2015. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2015;64(RR-03):1-137.http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr6403a1.htmhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26042815?tool=bestpractice.com在该年龄组中,感染也可能与其他危险因素相关,比如膀胱出口梗阻、近期尿路器械治疗,或全身性疾病。
在<35 岁的男性中,感染通常通过性传播,病原体包括沙眼衣原体和淋球菌。[11]Berger RE. Acute epididymitis: etiology and therapy. Semin Urol. 1991;9:28-31.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2011663?tool=bestpractice.com必须指出的是,对于在肛交中属于插入方的男性,肠道病原体也可能是病原体。[12]Berger RE, Kessler D, Holmes KK. Etiology and manifestations of epididymitis in young men: correlations with sexual orientation. J Infect Dis. 1987;155:1341-1343.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3494792?tool=bestpractice.com
根据年龄划分是主观划分,病因方面存在一定程度的交叉。因此详尽了解患者病史很重要,包括性生活史。
急性附睾炎的罕见病因包括抗心律失常药物胺碘酮治疗导致的可逆的无菌性附睾炎,[2]Gabal-Shehab LL, Monga M. Recurrent bilateral amiodarone induced epididymitis. J Urol. 1999;161:921.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10022718?tool=bestpractice.com以及与贝赫切特综合征和过敏性紫癜中的脉管炎过程有关。[3]Kaklamani VG, Vaiopoulos G, Markomichelakis N, et al. Recurrent epididymo-orchitis in patients with Behçet's disease. J Urol. 2000;163:487-489.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10647662?tool=bestpractice.com[4]Lee JS, Choi SK. Acute scrotum in 7 cases of Schoenlein-Henoch syndrome. Yonsei Med J. 1998;39:73-78.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9529989?tool=bestpractice.com地方性流行区可能会发生结核性附睾炎。病毒性附睾炎在成人比较罕见,但是英国的流行性腮腺炎性附睾炎病例却有所增加,因为 2005 年该国未免疫成人曾发生腮腺炎疫情。[1]Street E, Joyce A, Wilson J; Clinical Effectiveness Group, British Association for Sexual Health and HIV. 2010 United Kingdom national guideline for the management of epididymo-orchitis. 2010. http://www.bashh.org (last accessed 13 June 2016).http://www.bashh.org/documents/3546.pdf