Contents:
- Medical Video: Urinary Tract Infection | How To Prevent UTI (2018)
- Urethritis is inflammation of the urethra
- What are the signs or symptoms of urethritis?
- The cause of urethritis is ...
- Risk factors for urethritis
- What are the treatment options for urethritis?
Medical Video: Urinary Tract Infection | How To Prevent UTI (2018)
Pain or pain during urination or abnormal vaginal discharge? This could be a sign of urethritis. What is urethritis? Are the symptoms just that? Urethritis is inflammation and swelling of the urethra. Check out this article to get to know him more.
Urethritis is inflammation of the urethra
Urethritis is a condition in which the urethra becomes inflamed and irritated. The urethra is a channel that carries urine aka urine from the bladder outside the body. Urethritis usually causes pain when urinating and you go back and forth to urinate.
The main cause of urethritis is a bacterial infection. Some cases can also be caused by viruses or chemicals that can also be a trigger.
Urethritis is different from urinary tract infection (UTI). Urethritis is inflammation of the urethra, while UTI is a urinary tract infection where infection can occur along the urinary tract. Both may have almost the same symptoms, but require different treatment methods depending on the cause.
Urethritis can occur in anyone of all ages, both men and women. However, women have a greater chance than men. This is because the male urethra is the tip of the penis, much longer than the woman. A woman's urethra is shorter, usually 3-4 cm long so that bacteria are easier and faster to get into the urethra.
What are the signs or symptoms of urethritis?
Urethritis in men and women have slightly different symptoms. Some people may also not show clear symptoms, especially in women. While in men, the symptoms of urethritis may not be seen if urethritis is caused by chlamydia or trichomoniasis infection. For this reason, it is important to get tested if you have been infected with a sexually transmitted disease.
The following are symptoms of urethritis in women:
- Abnormal vaginal discharge
- Pelvic and abdominal pain
- Pain during intercourse
- Frequent urination
- Fever and cold
- Stomach ache
- Itchy
While in men, the symptoms of urethritis are:
- Blood in urine or semen
- Pain during ejaculation
- White discharge from the penis
- Heat sensation when making small water
- The penis swells, feels itchy, and is sensitive
- Swollen lymph nodes in the groin area
- Fever, but rarely happens
The cause of urethritis is ...
Generally, most causes of urethritis are infections from either bacteria, viruses, or parasites. However, bacteria are the most common cause.
The same bacteria can cause bladder infections and the kidneys can also infect the urethral lining. Bacteria found naturally in the genital area can also cause urethritis if it enters the urinary tract.
The bacteria that causes urethritis can be gonococcal urethritis, which is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, or non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU), which is caused by Chlamydia trachomatis or Mycoplasma genitalium.
While the most common viruses that cause urethritis are the herpes simplex virus (HSV), human papillomavirus (HPV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV).
Other causes of urethritis are:
- Reiter syndrome
- Adenovirus
- Ureaplasma urealyticum
- Trichomonas vaginalis (parasite that causes trichomoniasis)
- BacteriaEscherichia coli (E. coli)
According to the National Institutes of Health, urethritis can also be caused by injury or being sensitive to chemicals used in contraceptives, soaps, creams and spermicides.
Damage caused by friction during intercourse or masturbation can also cause inflammation in men. In addition, urethritis can be transmitted through unprotected sex. If a woman has a vaginal infection, she can spread it to male partners.
Risk factors for urethritis
People who are more likely to experience urethritis are someone who has a history of venereal disease and is involved in high-risk sexual relations (eg not using a condom, often having sex while intoxicated, or mutually changing partners).
According to a study published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, oral sex may be a risk factor for non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU). Urethritis is not always transmitted through sex, but people who often mutually sex partners are more at risk.
The American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that every patient diagnosed and suspected of urethritis be tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia. This will allow people to inform their partners, which may also need to be tested and treated. It can also encourage patients to carry out treatment appropriately.
What are the treatment options for urethritis?
Treatment for urethritis usually includes antibiotic programs or antiviral drugs. Some general treatments for urethritis include:
- azithromycin which is usually taken once
- doxycycline which is usually taken twice a day for seven days
- erythromycin which can be given orally, four times a day for seven days
- ofloxacin is taken twice a day for seven days
- levofloxacin which is usually taken once a day for seven days
If sexually transmitted diseases cause infection, it is important for all sexual partners to test for venereal disease and adhere to the recommended preventive measures of the doctor.
