Last updated on August 4, 2020
Question:
Should a boy’s scrotum be hot?
Answer:
Normally the scrotum should be about the same temperature as the rest of your body. In actuality it is one to four degrees cooler than the rest of your body, but the difference is too subtle to detect without a thermometer.
When any area of the body feels hotter, it is generally an indication that an infection has set in. Doctors break down the types of infections by the parts of the body which become infected.
Orchitis are infections of the testicles. The most prevalent orchitis is caused by the mumps virus. We usually think of mumps infecting the saliva glands, causing the cheeks to swell, but it can also cause swelling in one or both testicles. When this happens in a male who is past puberty, he ought to see a physician as the swelling can potentially damage the testicles. Symptoms of orchitis are:
- Pain in the scrotum, which is especially severe when walking. This is because walking bounces the testicles.
- The scrotum may become hot and swollen
- Fever
The symptoms usually last about a week with mumps.
Epididymitis are infections of the epididymis, located on the back of the testicles. The two most common causes are gonorrhea and chlamydia; both are sexually transmitted bacterial diseases. Symptoms of epididymitis usually appear suddenly and may include:
- Fever which is accompanied by chills
- A sore and swollen epididymis
- The skin of the scrotum is hot and reddish in color
- Occasionally the person becomes nauseated and may vomit
These same bacteria may also attack the urinary tract, causing a burning pain when peeing and a feeling that you need to urinate frequently. In acute cases the testicles will also be infected which is very painful.
Both gonorrhea and chlamydia can cause severe damage to the body and must be treated with antibiotics to stop the progress of the disease. With antibiotics, it will take about eight to ten days to wipe out the infection, but it may be up to six weeks before the scrotum begins to feel normal again.