Urethral syndrome
| Urethral syndrome | |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Urology  |
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2007) |
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.[vague][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
References
- ^ Hamilton-Miller JM (1994). "The urethral syndrome and its management". J. Antimicrob. Chemother. 33. Suppl A: 63–73. PMID 7928838.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Brumfitt W, Hamilton-Miller JM, Gillespie WA (1991). "The mysterious "urethral syndrome"". BMJ. 303 (6793): 1–2. doi:10.1136/bmj.303.6793.1. PMC 1670265. PMID 1859947.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Terris, Martha K. "Urethral Syndrome". eMedicine. Retrieved 2008-09-25.