Urethritis and dysuria

This chapter highlights urethritis. The term urethritis refers to inflammation of the urethra, which can be attributed both to infectious and noninfectious processes. The urethral canal essentially represents the first site of the body to be exposed to a variety of sexually transmitted pathogens, and the interaction of these pathogens with the epithelial cells of the urethra gives rise to the syndrome’s symptoms. Dysuria refers to the experience of pain or burning sensation or discomfort in urination, and is a subjective symptom related to varying pathology of the urinary tract. The urethra being the terminal pathway of urine flow, its inflammation most often accounts for experience of dysuria. Antibiotic treatment of urethritis should always follow the diagnosis to prevent complications and further transmission of the pathogen.