What is urethritis?

Urethritis is the most common clinical syndrome in sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in men and consists of inflammation of the cell layer that lines the urethral canal. Sexual transmission is through direct inoculation by mucous discharge infected (genital, oral and / or anorectal). Its equivalent in women is.

Symptoms caused by urethritis

Urethritis can be totally asymptomatic (in up to 3% of male cases with gonorrhea and up to 50% in C. trachomatis infections). However, the most common symptoms are:

• Pelvic pain
• Fever or chills
• Inflammation (epididymo-orchitis)
• Purulent mucous discharge
• Stinging (dysuria)
• Discomfort or pain during sexual intercourse
• Burning or pain when urinating

Most common causes

Urethritis can occur for various reasons:

• Infection caused by a bacterium called Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which is a Gram negative diplococcus.
• Various germs such as Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma genitalum, Trichomonas vaginalis, Herpes simplex virus type I and II ...
• Other germs and bacteria (not related to gonorrhea) such as Treponema pallidum which is the cause of the. Also acuminados like the virus HPV or the human papilloma.
• Non-infectious causes such as chemical irritants, neoplasms, foreign bodies, etc.

Diagnosis

Urethritis is diagnosed by obtaining a sample of urethral discharge for microscopic study and gram stain. The simple observation under the microscope of bacteria type "Gram negative diplococcus" will allow to establish the diagnosis of presumption of gonorrhea and proceed to initiate the specific treatment, that is, it will allow considering those already conclusive results, without having to wait for confirmation by the results microbiological culture). Also the presence of 10 or more polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the first urine suggests the diagnosis of urethritis.

Treatment

Treatment is recommended in all patients and its follow-up due to the possible complications that may occur in the patient and / or the repercussions on their sexual partner. Given the high frequency of coinfection by Neisseria Gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia Trachomatis, treatment is recommended empirical antibiotic ("Blind") and early against both microorganisms.