Inflamed urethra (Uretritis): what is it, symptoms and treatment

Urethritis is an inflammation of the urethra that can be caused by internal or external trauma, or by infection with some type of bacteria, which can affect both men and women.

Hay of the main types of urethritis:

• Gonococcal urethritis: arises from bacterial infection Neisseria gonorrhoeae, responsible for gonorrea, existing risk of suffering;
• Gonococcal urethritis: is caused by the infection of other bacteria, as for example Chlamydia trachomatis O Escherichia Coli.

Depending on the cause, the symptoms can vary and with them, the treatment, in order to guarantee the cure. Therefore, whenever urinary symptoms occur, such as burning when urinating or an increase in urinary frequency, you should consult a gynecologist or a urologist to start the appropriate treatment.

main symptoms

the symptoms of gonococcal urethritis include:

• Greenish yellow flow in a large quantity, purulent and with a bad odor from the urethra;
• Difficulty and burning when urinating;
• Frequently urinating with a small amount of urine.

the symptoms of gonococcal urethritis include:

• Scarce blanquecino flujo, which accumulates after urinating;
• Burning when urinating
• Comession in the urethra;
• Discreet difficulty to urinate.

Generally, non-gonococcal urethritis is asymptomatic, es decir, which does not generate symptoms.

See other common causes of dolor al orinar and comezón en el pene.

Diagnosis of urethritis

The diagnosis of urethritis can be made by the urologist or gynecologist, through the observation of the symptoms and the collection of a sample of secretions, which should be sent to a laboratory for analysis.

In the majority of cases, the doctor may advise starting the treatment based on the symptoms presented, even before having the results of the laboratory tests.

How is the treatment performed?

The treatment for urethritis must be carried out with antibiotics, however, this varies according to the type of urethritis:

In the treatment of gonococcal urethritis, the following are usually used:

• azithromycin en single dose of 1 tablet of 1 g;
• Doxycycline: 100 mg orally 2 times a day for 7 days.

To treat gonococcal urethritis, the use of:

• Ceftriaxone: 250 mg, intramuscularly as a single dose.

The symptoms of urethritis can often be confused with the symptoms of another condition called urethral syndrome, which is an inflammation of the urethra, which causes symptoms such as abdominal pain, urinary urgency, pain and irritation in the mouth and sensation of pressure in the abdomen.

possible causes

The urethritis can be caused by an internal trauma, which can be produced by using a urinary catheter to extract the urinary bladder, as occurs in some cases of hospitalized people.

Furthermore, it can also be caused by bacteria such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Ureaplasma urealyticum, HSV (herpes simplex virus) or adenovirus.

Infectious urethritis is transmitted through intimate contact without protection or through the migration of bacteria that come from the intestines, in this case, women are more prone to this type of infection due to the proximity between the year and the urethra.