Chronic urethritis

Alternative names:

urethral syndrome

Definition:

An inflammation and irritation of the urethra that may continue for weeks to months.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Chronic urethritis is usually caused either by a bacterial infection or structural problem (narrowing of the urethra). It may also be associated with a variety of systemic diseases, including emotional disorders. Urethritis may occur in either women or men. The major symptoms of urethritis, painful urination and urinary frequency, are quite common and account for 5 to 10% of all outpatient health care visits. Among the people experiencing such symptoms, 50 to 75% have either a first-time or recurrent bacterial infection of the urethra or bladder (cystitis), up to 10% are women with vaginitis, and the remainder are either men or women with urethral syndrome (symptoms present without any evidence of bacterial infection). Organisms that cause a variety of sexually-transmitted diseases are included among the group of possible causative agents.