First aid for testicular injury, diagnosis of scrotal dampness, and prostate problems caused by alcohol.

Hydrocele of the scrotum: Caused by excessive water production in the tissue between the thin membranes surrounding one or both testicles. It sometimes occurs after testicular injury or orchitis, but in most cases, no cause can be found. Clinically, it presents as a swollen, distended scrotum, sometimes reaching the size of a football, but without pain. Testicular bruising: When the testicle is injured, there will be local swelling and bruising. Because the scrotal skin is loose and blood flow to the testicles is abundant, injury easily leads to hematoma and infection. Strenuous exercise, sexual activity, or violence can cause strong contractions of the cremaster muscle, exacerbating the condition. After trauma, if the blood vessels supplying the testicles are severely damaged, they may atrophy and die, causing impotence or sexual dysfunction. If severe pain is felt after a testicular injury, use a flashlight to examine the scrotum in a dark room. If light cannot penetrate the scrotum, it indicates a hematoma.

Testicular rupture: The testicles, located within the scrotum and on the surface of the body, are the most vulnerable part of a man's body. Closed injuries are more common, such as kicks, grabs, squeezing, and straddling; open injuries, except during wartime, are less frequent, such as stab wounds and gunshot wounds. Clinical manifestations include an instinctive curling of the body; in severe cases, fainting, scrotal hematoma, and indistinct testicular outline may occur, accompanied by sweating, nausea, and dizziness. Scrotal skin injuries: scratches, abrasions, or chafing due to zippers. Scrotal skin bruising and hematoma. If the scrotum is torn, the testicles may be exposed.

Testicular torsion: Testicular torsion is not uncommon, occurring from newborns to the elderly, but it is more prevalent in children and those aged 20-25. The torsion may result in testicular necrosis and removal. The longer the delay, the greater the likelihood of testicular loss of function. Even if the testis is not removed, prolonged ischemia often leads to impaired sperm production and testicular atrophy. The underlying cause of torsion is generally congenital malformation of the reproductive organs. Stimulation of the cremaster muscle during exercise, trauma, or sleep can increase its contraction, causing the cremaster muscle fibers to spiral. Combined with the weight of the testis, this is especially common in individuals with cryptorchidism (undescended testis) where only one testis is exposed. Testicular torsion is more likely to occur at night or in the early morning. Clinical manifestations include sudden inability to move, swelling and tenderness on one side of the scrotum, severe pain radiating to the lower abdomen, groin, or thigh. In addition, nausea, vomiting, and fever may also occur.

Testicular cancer: Testicular cancer is one of the most common cancers among young men. Statistics show that the incidence rate of testicular cancer in men is 7 per 100,000, and it is increasing year by year, usually due to metastasis of malignant tumors. Before cancer develops, there are often no warning signs of pain or scrotal swelling or discomfort; most cases are discovered accidentally while bathing. If the swelling is enlarged and hard, immediate medical attention is necessary. In a few cases, acute orchitis can cause testicular redness, swelling, heat, pain, and chills.

The skin of the scrotum has abundant sweat glands, which help dissipate heat through sweating. Therefore, the feeling of dampness in the scrotum is a perfectly normal phenomenon. However, if the scrotum sweats excessively, has an odor, or even causes unbearable itching, then it is not normal. In this case, it is necessary to determine the cause of the sweating, differentiating between scrotal dampness and scrotal eczema. Scrotal dampness refers to an abnormal sensation of excessive sweating, dampness, or coldness on the surface of the scrotum, without any changes in the skin surface. Scrotal dampness is one of the typical symptoms of chronic prostatitis and is also related to prolonged sitting, working in hot environments, and varicocele. If you have prostatitis, scrotal dampness is related to prostatitis. If you are currently being treated for prostatitis, there is no need to worry, as scrotal dampness is caused by autonomic nerve dysfunction due to prostatitis. As the prostatitis improves and is cured, scrotal dampness will appear intermittently and eventually disappear. However, if prostatitis is not treated properly or thoroughly, scrotal dampness will disappear.

Scrotal dampness should be distinguished from scrotal eczema. Scrotal eczema manifests as a persistently damp and slightly itchy scrotum. The disease can be divided into three stages: acute, subacute, and chronic. During an acute attack, symptoms often include redness, itching, and papules on the scrotal skin. Excessive scratching can reveal smooth, red skin. During a subacute attack, symptoms include intense scrotal itching, loss of appetite, loose stools, dark yellow urine, sometimes with blisters and mild erosion. During a chronic attack, itching is intermittent and worsens with stress, alcohol consumption, or spicy foods. The scrotal skin feels hard and is dark red or purplish-brown in color. This condition is both a skin disease and a urological condition, and is more common in overweight men and those with excessive sweating in the affected area, with middle-aged and elderly men being the most frequently affected.

Since scrotal eczema, like eczema in other parts of the body, is related to allergies, medications used to treat allergies can also be used to treat scrotal eczema. Commonly used antihistamines include cyproheptadine 2 mg three times daily; chlorpheniramine 4 mg three times daily; chlorpheniramine 25 mg three times daily; and loratadine 10 mg once daily. Topical medications mainly consist of corticosteroid ointments, such as triamcinolone acetonide ointment, fluocinolone acetonide ointment, and hydrocortisone ointment. Scrotal eczema is a stubborn and difficult-to-cure disease, so prevention is essential. Prevention involves the following: ① Underwear should be loose and comfortable, preferably made of pure cotton. Avoid wearing tight underwear. Change underwear frequently, especially after exercise. ② In terms of diet, eat more fresh vegetables and fruits, and avoid or minimize spicy foods. ③ If scrotal itching occurs, seek treatment actively. Avoid excessive scratching and hot washing, especially with soapy water.

This condition is related to emotions; maintaining a cheerful mood, getting sufficient rest, and having confidence in overcoming the illness are also crucial. Dietary restrictions include avoiding spicy and irritating foods such as onions, ginger, and garlic. Because this is not a fungal infection, it should not be treated as such. Scratching, rubbing, friction, and hot water washing are strictly prohibited. Hot water, soap, salt water, and alkaline water should all be avoided, as should topical iodine and antifungal medications. Many patients experience rapid improvement by avoiding scratching and other skin irritations.

Mr. Chen once attended a banquet and, in his excitement, drank a few too many glasses of wine. Around midnight, he woke up needing to urinate. He got up to go to the bathroom, but couldn't urinate. His lower abdomen felt painfully bloated, and he also felt a dragging sensation in his perineum and testicles. After a hospital examination, he learned that he had "drunk" his prostate, resulting in urinary retention. When a person drinks alcohol, the alcohol is slowly absorbed and enters the bloodstream, flowing to various parts of the body. The prostate is a very sensitive organ to alcohol. When stimulated by alcohol, the prostate becomes excited, causing rapid dilation and congestion of local capillaries, increasing fluid exudation between cells and causing cell edema. The higher the blood alcohol concentration, the more severe the prostate swelling. Patients with chronic prostatitis or benign prostatic hyperplasia often experience urethral compression, such as a slowed and thinned urine stream or a forked urine stream. A "drunk" prostate will further encroach on the urethral space, undoubtedly exacerbating the problem and causing difficulty urinating. When the pressure is severe, acute urinary retention can occur, resulting in the inability to urinate.

After urinary retention occurs, it generally takes three to five days for the enlarged prostate gland to shrink back down. The treatment is actually quite simple: warm sitz baths. Soak twice a day for about half an hour each time. This helps absorb local exudate and speeds up the reduction of swelling. In addition, taking appropriate amounts of heat-clearing, anti-inflammatory, and diuretic medications can alleviate discomfort.