Clinical features of mumps orchitis in vaccinated postpubertal males: a single-center series of 62 patients.

PURPOSE: Although the measles-mumps-rubella vaccination covers most children against mumps in Korea, the development of mumps has been reported. However, the clinical manifestations of mumps orchitis in postpubertal vaccinated patients have never been investigated. Herein we report the clinical features of mumps orchitis in postpubertal vaccinated patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included a total of 62 postpubertal males who developed acute mumps orchitis from 2005 to 2010. The clinical manifestations such as the incubation period, febrile duration, and the mean duration of orchitis were retrospectively investigated. The laboratory and sonographic findings were also reviewed and compared with the features of previously reported cases of unvaccinated postpubertal mumps orchitis.

RESULTS: The mean age of the 62 patients was 17.56 years (range, 15 to 29 years). All patients were serologically confirmed with acute mumps infection (positive immunoglobulin [Ig] M and negative or positive IgG). The mean incubation period was 5.39 days (range, 0 to 23 days), with a febrile duration of 1.8 days (range, 0.5 to 3 days), and a mean duration of orchitis of 4.96 days (range, 0 to 17 days). Sonography revealed unilateral orchitis in 58 patients (93.6%) and bilateral orchitis in only 6 (6.4%).

CONCLUSIONS: In our study, mumps orchitis in postpubertal vaccinated patients showed a relatively shorter febrile duration. In addition, less scrotal swelling and a lower incidence of bilaterality were found upon physical examination and ultrasonography. In the future, additional long-term follow-up is needed to determine the features of mumps orchitis in postpubertal vaccinated males, and an additional booster vaccination should be considered.