Urethritis

In medicine, urethritis is "inflammation involving the urethra. Similar to cystitis, clinical symptoms range from vague discomfort to painful urination (dysuria), urethral discharge, or both."

Cause and etiology

Common causes are Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis. Other causes are called "nonchlamydial, nongonoccocal urethritis" and may include Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma genitalium, Trichomonas vaginalis, herpes simplex virus, and adenovirus.

Diagnosis

Urethritis is diagnosed if:

• "Mucopurulent or purulent discharge."
• "Gram stain of urethral secretions demonstrating >5 WBC per oil immersion field. The Gram stain is the preferred rapid diagnostic test for evaluating urethritis. It is highly sensitive and specific for documenting both urethritis and the presence or absence of gonococcal infection. Gonococcal infection is established by documenting the presence of WBC containing GNID (Gram-negative intracellular diplococci)"
• "Positive leukocyte esterase test on first-void urine or microscopic examination of first-void urine sediment demonstrating >10 WBC per high power field."

Treatment

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have published clinical practice guidelines for treatment.