The term "urethritis" refers to an inflammatory process localized in the urethra. It begins to develop against the background of vital activity in the human body of pathogens. Most often, the first signs of urethritis appear after sexual intercourse unprotected by barrier means of contraception. In most cases, the symptoms of the disease are also a manifestation of STDs. According to statistics, women are more susceptible to pathology. This is due to the anatomical structure of their urethra. However, signs of urethritis can appear in women and men, and even in young children. Without timely treatment, the disease becomes chronic, extremely difficult to treat.
Reasons
The development of the inflammatory process starts when the latter is infected. Urethritis may be specific or non-specific.
In the firstcase, the cause is pathologies that are transmitted through sexual contact:
- gonorrhea;
- trichomoniasis;
- herpes;
- urogenital mycoplasmosis;
- chlamydia.
The causative agents of nonspecific urethritis can be staphylococci, streptococci, E. coli and other bacteria.
These forms of the disease require different treatment. The treatment regimen for specific urethritis implies an individual approach. The treatment of the non-specific form is the same in all cases.
Signs of urethritis can also appear under the influence of various provoking factors:
- Injury to the genitals, which usually occurs during sexual intercourse.
- Hypocooling of the body.
- Frequent change of sexual partners.
- Unbalanced diet.
- Long exposure to stress.
- Constant overwork.
- Deficiency of vitamins and other vital substances.
Anatomically, the urethra is in close proximity to the anus. The latter is constantly a source of pathogens that can move freely. However, not always when microbes enter the urethra, there are signs of urethritis. An important condition for the development of pathology is a significant weakening of the body's defenses.
Normally, the immune system prevents the vital activity of bacteria and microbes. Its weakening occurs under the influence of many different adversefactors. As a result, the defense system is unable to destroy pathogenic microorganisms, due to which women and men develop signs of urethritis.
Symptoms in adults
The first clinical manifestations make themselves felt a few hours or days after the onset of the inflammatory process. The symptoms and signs of urethritis vary slightly between men and women.
The following clinical manifestations are typical for the representatives of the stronger sex:
- Burning sensation during urination. At the same time, the severity of discomfort in men is stronger. This is due to anatomical features.
- Pain during urination.
- Adhesion of the edges of the external opening of the urethra. As a rule, this happens in the morning hours.
- Discharge from the urethra. They may be purulent or contain blood particles. Most often, a symptom of urethritis (a photo of the foci of pathology is schematically presented below) is a discharge of yellow or blue-green color. However, they have an extremely unpleasant odor.
Urethritis is an insidious disease. In some cases, the inflammatory process is asymptomatic. But at the same time, the disease progresses. As a result, nearby organs are involved in the pathological process. The main complications are: pyelonephritis, prostatitis, cystitis.
In females, the disease causes different symptoms. In this regard, they do not immediately understand what it is: cystitis, urethritis or signs of pregnancy. However, it is worthnote that the gestation period is normally not accompanied by such clinical manifestations.
Signs of urethritis in women:
- Discharge that differs from the usual color and smell. The shade may vary depending on the type of pathogen. Most often, the discharge is yellow-white and green. Often you can see streaks of blood in them. They also have an extremely unpleasant odor.
- Pain in the lower abdomen. They are permanent, but their severity is weak.
- Itching and burning in the area of the external opening of the urethra. In addition, it turns red in the presence of pathology.
During the period of hormonal surges (for example, during menopause), women have the same symptoms of urethritis. As a rule, the first alarming signs appear several days or even hours after infection. They most quickly occur after unprotected sexual contact.
Regardless of the severity of the symptoms, treatment of urethritis should not be delayed. This is due to the fact that ignoring the problem can lead to the fact that nearby organs will be involved in the pathological process. The most commonly diagnosed complications in women are cystitis, a violation of the vaginal microflora. The latter, in turn, is the cause of the development of various diseases.
Common signs and symptoms of urethritis:
- Pain.
- Discharges other than normal.
- Itching and burning during urination.
In men with untimely treatmenturethritis, there are signs of prostatitis. In women, the Bartholin glands are involved in the pathological process. Against the background of the course of the disease, existing chronic diseases are exacerbated.
Signs in children
It is extremely rare for urethritis to be diagnosed in babies. The cause of the disease can be the following pathological conditions:
- Allergic reactions.
- Oncology.
- Urolithiasis.
- Installation of a catheter for the purpose of any medical manipulations.
- Hyperplasia.
In addition, in children, signs of urethritis may appear against the background of insufficient hygiene, wearing tight underwear made of synthetic materials, improper washing, and general hypothermia of the body. Also, the cause is often cosmetics containing a large number of components harmful to babies.
Common symptoms of urethritis in children:
- Burning and itching in the genital area.
- Pain during urination.
- Increased body temperature (this warning sign does not appear in all cases).
- Redness at the external outlet of the urethra.
Clinical manifestations of urethritis in boys:
- Presence of blood streaks in urine.
- Frequent urge to urinate.
- Discharge from the urethra of a purulent nature.
- Changing the color of urine. Urine becomes dark and cloudy.
In girls with the development of the inflammatory process, the followingsymptoms:
- Itching of the vulva.
- Frequent urge to urinate.
- Pain in the lower abdomen.
- Rezi in the urethra.
In adolescence, the clinical manifestations are the same as in young children. However, the former are easier to tolerate the disease. Lethargy, fatigue and high body temperature in most cases disturb children only in the first years of life.
Regardless of the severity of symptoms, treatment of urethritis should not be delayed. This threatens the development of all sorts of complications. A child who experiences pain during the act of urination begins to consciously refuse to drink drinks, as well as to restrain the urge. The most harmless consequence is incontinence.
Most often, if left untreated or with improper therapy, urethritis becomes chronic in a short time. It is extremely difficult to treat and regularly reminds of itself with painful sensations and other unpleasant symptoms. Other possible complications: vaginitis, cystitis, infertility, kidney failure. In addition, against the background of the course of the inflammatory process, the sensitivity of the genitourinary system to infections further decreases.
Signs of chronic urethritis
The transition to this form is very fast. The advanced stage is characterized by the presence of a continuing pathological process in which the urethra is involved. In connection with the anatomical features, the signs of chronicurethritis in men.
The transition to the running stage occurs after about 1 month. Chronic urethritis is characterized by a constant alternation of stages of remission and relapse. In the absence of treatment, adjacent organs begin to be involved in the pathological process. As a result, a person's quality of life significantly deteriorates.
The disease in this form is insidious. In some people, the symptoms of chronic urethritis are so erased that patients begin to believe that they have recovered. In fact, the pathology continues to progress and affect other internal organs.
In men, the chronic form of the disease has the following symptoms:
- Burning and itching.
- Pain when urinating.
- First urine very cloudy.
- Isolation of mucous secretion from the urethra.
- Puffiness of tissues of a local nature.
- Redness at the external outlet of the urethra.
- Feeling of heaviness in the genitals.
- Frequent and false urge to urinate.
- Presence of blood streaks in seminal fluid.
- Pain during intercourse.
During an exacerbation, a moderate amount of mucous secretion is secreted from the urethra. Sometimes pus begins to be squeezed out. The discharge feels like glue to the touch, and therefore it often contributes to the adhesion of the walls of the urethra.
Lack of treatment leads to phimosis, balatitis, epididymitis, vesiculitis, erectile dysfunction, prostatitis, cuperitis.
Womenthe urethra is shorter and wider, and therefore the clinical manifestations in them are less pronounced than in men. In some cases, the chronic form is completely asymptomatic.
Signs of urethritis in women:
- Pain at rest.
- Purulent discharge.
- Burning, itching and pain during urination.
- Redness of the external opening of the canal.
Ignoring the problem leads to the fact that the pathological process spreads to other organs. Most often, women are diagnosed with cystitis and pyelonephritis. In advanced cases, the urethra is deformed. The most dangerous complication is the transition of urethritis to a stage at which even the most potent medicines are powerless.
Classification
Depending on the mechanism of development, the disease can be primary or secondary. In other words, the disease occurs directly in the urethra, or pathogenic microorganisms enter it from a focus of pathology located in another organ.
The inflammatory process can be localized on one wall. In such situations, doctors divide it into anterior and posterior. If the entire urethra is affected by inflammation, it is customary to talk about total urethritis.
A specific form of the disease can have the following types: herpetic, gonorrheal, trichomonas, candida, chlamydia.
Diagnosis
When the first alarming symptoms appear, it is necessaryconsult a urologist or gynecologist. The first evaluates the severity of signs of urethritis in men. This specialist is also engaged in his treatment. The gynecologist also prescribes a comprehensive examination for women. Based on their results, the doctor draws up the most effective treatment regimen.
Diagnosis of urethritis includes the following tests:
- Bacteriological smear culture. With the help of this laboratory analysis, it is possible to identify the pathogen and assess the degree of its sensitivity to antibiotics.
- PCR. The biomaterial is also a urological smear. PCR is a modern diagnostic method that allows you to accurately and quickly determine the type of pathogenic microorganism.
- Urine analysis. With the help of this study, it is possible to assess the degree of canal damage.
- Smear microscopy. In the process of analysis, biological material is studied at the cellular level.
- Ureteroscopy. This is an instrumental diagnostic method, the essence of which is to examine the walls of the canal under magnification. The study is not carried out in the acute period of the disease.
- Ultrasound. Using this method, the doctor can assess the severity of the inflammatory process and assess the degree of its negative impact on nearby organs.
- Urethrography. This term refers to X-ray examination. A series of images are taken after a contrast agent is injected into the urethra.
Based on the results of the diagnosis, the doctor draws up the most effective treatment regimen.
Treatment
All activities aimed at getting rid of the disease are carried out at home. Hospitalization is indicated only for seriously ill patients.
General principles for the treatment of urethritis:
- Temporarily withholding sexual contact.
- Taking medication.
- Stop drinking alcohol.
- Exclude from the diet food that irritates the urethra (spicy and spicy dishes).
- Intake of immunomodulators (if necessary).
- Topical treatment.
Regardless of the severity of the symptoms, the treatment of urethritis in women and men necessarily involves taking antibiotics. The choice of the drug is carried out by the doctor based on the results of laboratory diagnostics. An incorrectly selected remedy can provoke the development of complications. In addition, taking it will not lead to a positive result.
Antibiotics can be used in any form (rectal and vaginal suppositories, injections, tablets). It depends on the severity of the disease and the symptoms present. Drugs for the treatment of urethritis:
- "Doxycycline".
- Ceftriaxone.
- Erythromycin.
- Clarithromycin.
- Tetracycline.
- Preparations of the group of sulfonamides and fluoroquinolones.
Specific urethritis requires an individual approach to therapy. Most often, doctors prescribe the following antibiotics to treat this type of ailment:
- Oletetrin.
- Spiramycin.
- Cefodisim.
- "Doxycycline".
- Erythromycin.
- Ceftriaxone.
- Cefotaxime.
- Cefoxitin.
- Rifampicin.
- "Spectinomycin".
The following remedies are effective for gonorrheal urethritis:
- Miramistin.
- "Tsidipol".
- "Nitazol".
- Metronidazole.
- Furazolidone.
- "Tinidazole".
- "Natamycin".
- Chlorhexidine.
The following drugs are prescribed for the treatment of candidal urethritis:
- "Amphotericin".
- "Levorin.
- Nystatin.
- Clotrimazole.
- "Natamycin".
The disease caused by chlamydia is treated with Doxycycline, Levomycetin and fluoroquinolones. The presence of mycoplasma requires the use of "Tetracycline". Urethritis caused by herpes is treated with Penciclovir, Aciclovir, Ganciclovir and Ribavirin.
Therapy of urethritis in children also begins with determining the type of pathogen. Prior to its discovery and identification, the child is prescribed the Monural reception and the introduction of Hexicon suppositories. This is necessary to prevent the development of microbial infection.
An antibiotic for the treatment of specific urethritis is selected by a doctor strictly based on the results of the diagnosis. Therapy of a non-specific form in most cases involves taking Monural and using Miramistin. The first is a broad-spectrum antibiotic.
"Monural" is available in the form of a powder, before taking it must be diluted in water according to the attached instructions. The tool showed a high degree of effectiveness against both gram-positive and gram-negative pathogenic microorganisms. The active components of the drug are absorbed in the intestines, then they enter the urethra through the kidneys unchanged. Thanks to this, the remedy has a good therapeutic effect.
"Miramistin" is an antiseptic. The tool is sold in the form of a ready-made solution. It can be used to douche or soak tampons in it.
Folk methods
Regardless of the severity of the symptoms, treatment of urethritis in women and men should not be delayed. Non-traditional methods can be used, but their use does not exclude the need to seek qualified medical help. In addition, it is impossible to completely get rid of the disease using folk methods. The use of prescriptions can only reduce the intensity of clinical manifestations and slightly improve the quality of life.
The most effective folk methods:
- Grind oak bark. Take 10 g of the product and pour 200 ml of boiling water over it. Close the container tightly, wrap it with a towel and let it brew for 1 hour. After the specified time, pour the product into a saucepan. Then the infusion must be brought to a boil. After that, you need to reduce the heat to a minimum and leave the product to languish for 15 minutes. Then the broth must be filtered. The resulting product can be used as lotions or added to the bath.
- Grind chamomile flowers. Take 10 gplants, pour it with 1 liter of boiling water. The container with the resulting liquid must be placed in a water bath for 10 minutes. After this time, the broth must be filtered and then poured into a basin. Next, the product must be diluted with warm water. Take sitz baths for 20 minutes. Not only chamomile has an anti-inflammatory effect. Similar baths can be made on the basis of a decoction of nettle, willow, oak bark, celandine, burnet.
- Chop the sage leaves. Take 2 tbsp. l. raw materials and pour them with 200 ml of boiling water. Let the product brew for 3 hours. After this, the product must be filtered. The infusion should be used as a lotion.
- Chop the grass woodlice. Take 3 tbsp. l. raw materials and pour them with 200 ml of boiling water. Let it brew for 1 hour. Take a sterile napkin or gauze cut. Fold the product in several layers and soak it with the resulting infusion. Apply to the external opening of the urethra for 30 minutes.
- Pour boiling water over a few lingonberry leaves. Let it brew for a few minutes. The resulting remedy should be taken orally instead of tea. Lingonberry leaves are an effective remedy for the treatment of chronic urethritis. Healing tea should be drunk even after the onset of a period of remission in order to prevent relapse episodes.
When using alternative methods, it is important to inform the attending physician about this. This is necessary in order to exclude the possibility of a decrease in the effectiveness of medications.
Prevention
Any disease is easier to prevent. In order to reduce the risk of developing an inflammatory process, you must follow some recommendations:
- Be responsible for personal hygiene.
- Avoid casual sexual contact. If they occur, use a barrier contraceptive. Compliance with this rule will help prevent not only urethritis, but also genital infections.
- Make adjustments to your diet. It is recommended to follow the principles of proper nutrition. First of all, you need to give up fried, sour, spicy, s alty and smoked dishes. In addition, alcohol-containing drinks should not be abused. It is better to refuse them altogether.
- Avoid hypothermia.
- Treat identified diseases in a timely manner.
It is important to constantly support the immune system. To do this, it is important to lead a he althy lifestyle, which includes proper nutrition and regular exercise. The latter, however, should not be high-intensity. As a rule, in persons whose body suffers from physical overstrain, the defenses are weakened.
In closing
Urethritis is an inflammatory process that affects the urethra. The disease can be diagnosed in both adults and children. Pathology has several types, each of which is characterized by certain clinical manifestations.
If you experience alarming symptoms, you should consult a urologist or gynecologist. The doctor will carry out diagnostic measures and, on the basis ofthe results of the studies will form a treatment regimen.
