Urethral syndrome

Urethral syndrome is a set of symptoms that may suggest a lower urinary tract infection. However, urethral syndrome is different since there is no significant presence bacteriuria with a conventional pathogen.^[1] Typically, the syndrome can be linked to non-infective causes such as trauma, allergies, anatomical features such as diverticula, and post-surgical scarring.

Presentation

Signs indicative of urethral syndrome include a history of chronic recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI) in the absence of both conventional bacterial growth,^[2] and pyuria (more than 5 white blood cells per High Power Field). Episodes are often related to sexual intercourse.

Some physicians believe that urethral syndrome may be due to a low grade infection of the Skene's glands on the sides and bottom of the urethra.^{[citation needed]} The Skene's glands are embryologically related to the prostate gland in the male, thus urethral syndrome may share a comparable etiology with chronic prostatitis.^{[citation needed]}

Treatment

Treatment of acute urethral syndrome involves antibiotics.^{[citation needed]} For chronic urethral syndrome, a long term, low-dose antibiotic treatment is given on a continuous basis or after intercourse each time if intercourse appears to trigger symptoms.^{[citation needed]}

As a hormonal imbalance may also be considered a source for urethral syndrome, hormone replacement therapy, and oral contraceptive pill (birth-control pills) are also used to treat the symptoms of this condition.^[3]

See also

• Interstitial cystitis
• Prostatitis

References

External links

• patient.co.uk
• medicine.med.nyu.edu
• Nfmcpa