Urethritis: causes, symptoms and treatment
Urethritis is a disease characterized by inflammation of the urethra. The main symptoms of urethritis are pain when urinating and discharge from the urethra. Urethritis can occur in men and women, and its causes vary.
Causes of urethritis
Urethritis can be infectious or non-infectious. Infectious urethritis occurs due to a bacterial or viral infection. Non-infectious urethritis can be caused by trauma to the urethra, an allergic reaction, or a narrowing of the urethra.
Infectious urethritis can be caused by specific and nonspecific infections. Specific infectious urethritis include gonorrheal urethritis and Gardnerella urethritis. Nonspecific urethritis can be caused by chlamydia, trichomonas, ureaplasma, mycoplasma and other pathogens.
Symptoms of urethritis
The main symptoms of urethritis are pain and burning when urinating, as well as discharge from the urethra. Discharge usually occurs in the morning, and with a bacterial infection it can be mucopurulent in nature, blue-green in color and have an unpleasant odor. Symptoms are often more severe in men than in women.
Urethritis can lead to complications such as prostatitis, epididymitis and orchitis in men, as well as disruption of the vaginal microflora and inflammation of the bladder in women. If urethritis is not treated promptly, narrowing of the urethra can occur, which can lead to decreased urine pressure when urinating.
Diagnosis and treatment of urethritis
If you have symptoms of urethritis, you should consult a urologist or venereologist. The doctor will conduct the necessary studies, such as bacteriological culture and PCR analysis for infections, to identify the causative agent of the disease. Treatment for urethritis depends on its cause. Infectious urethritis is treated with antibiotics, but non-infectious urethritis may require other treatments.
In general, urethritis is a disease that can lead to serious complications if not addressed promptly. At the first symptoms of urethritis, you must consult a doctor for diagnosis and treatment. Maintaining good personal hygiene, using a condom during sexual intercourse, and caring for the urethra can help prevent the development of urethritis.
Urethritis is an inflammatory disease of the urethra. If you have urethritis, symptoms can vary. The characteristic urethritis discharge is most often watery, but can be foamy, thick, and have a yellowish tint. The appearance of urethritis discharge may be accompanied by unpleasant sensations: itching,