Urethritis

Abstract

Urethritis describes an inflammation of the urethra, which can be either infectious or noninfectious. The most common symptoms are dysuria, urethral discharge and urethral pruritus. Infectious urethritis is divided into gonococcal and nongonococcal urethritis (NGU). NGU can be caused by Chlamydia trachomatis (most common), Mycoplasma genitalium, Candida, herpes, Trichomonas or common bacteria, for example, E. coli. Infectious urethritis is most likely spread by sexual contact. Reasons for noninfectious urethritis can be, for example, allergic or mechanical. Risk factors are young age (.25 years), promiscuity and unprotected sexual contact.