Can viral infections cause orchitis?

Viral infection may lead to orchitis. Viral infection is an important cause of orchitis, among which the mumps virus is one of the most common viruses causing this condition. This virus primarily affects the salivary glands in children, but it also has a tendency to invade the testes; therefore, viral orchitis often develops shortly after the onset of mumps. In addition, other viruses such as influenza virus and varicella-zoster virus may also infect the testes through various routes and trigger inflammation. The mechanism by which viral infections cause orchitis involves the virus entering the body and reaching the testicular tissue via the bloodstream or direct infection, resulting in symptoms such as testicular swelling and pain. Thus, for orchitis caused by viral infection, treatment should target the specific underlying cause, using antiviral medications and other appropriate therapeutic approaches.