Genito-urinary complications of brucellosis

Twelve cases of genito-urinary complications of brucellosis are presented. Ten patients had epididymo-orchitis, 1 presented with right hydronephrosis and 1 with haematuria and dysuria. The 10 cases of epididymo-orchitis were compared with 15 cases of acute non-specific epididymo-orchitis. The former were of longer duration and were not associated with lower urinary tract symptoms; almost all of these patients had ingested unpasteurised milk. Non-specific epididymo-orchitis had a more acute onset, shorter duration and was associated more frequently with pyuria, lower urinary tract symptoms, higher leucocyte counts and insignificant brucella titres. The distinction between these two types of epididymo-orchitis is essential, since the treatments are entirely different.