Urinary tract infection
PATHOLOGIES
Urinary tract infection
Urinary infections are any type of infection that affects a system belonging to the urinary system, therefore the kidneys, ureter, bladder, urethra and external genitalia.
CYSTITIS
It is a bladder infection, the most common type of infection in women.
It is classically manifested by burning on urination, suprapubic pain, need to urinate frequently with the emission of small quantities of urine.
It is diagnosed by evaluating the clinic and, in some cases, requesting a chemical-physical examination of the urine and a urine culture.
Antibiotic treatment is administered empirically and possibly modified according to urine culture results.
PROSTATITIS
It is the most common male urinary tract infection.
Acute prostatitis is manifested by urinary symptoms similar to those of cystitis and pelvic pain, sometimes associated with fever.
It is diagnosed by evaluating the clinic and, in some cases, requesting a urinalysis and urine culture.
The therapy is antibiotics.
When prostatitis persists for more than 3 months, it is called “chronic prostatitis”. It too needs antibiotic treatment.
URETHRITIS
It is an infection of the urethra which is distinguished as gonococcal, if caused by the bacterium N. Gonorrheae, and non-gonococcal, if caused by other germs. The infection is often transmitted sexually.
It can cause discomfort in urinating, itching and abnormal secretions from the urethral meatus.
Diagnosis involves urine and semen tests to identify the responsible germ.
The antibiotic treatment is adapted according to the results of the aforementioned tests.
PYELONEPHRITIS
It is a kidney infection, which can be very serious. It often originates from a lower urinary tract infection that travels back to the kidney.
Symptoms include fever with shivering, flank pain, nausea, and/or vomiting.
The diagnosis is made with the clinic, urine tests and possibly imaging tests if complicated forms are suspected.
The treatment is antibiotics and, especially in hospitalized subjects, it is adapted to the results of the tests.
ORCHIDEPIDIDYMITIS
Testicular infection (orchitis) often involving the epididymis (orchiepididymitis).
It is manifested by testicular pain, increase in scrotal volume and temperature.
Also in this case the diagnosis involves carrying out urine and possibly sperm tests. The therapy is antibiotics.
NB: in case of acute pain in the testicle it is important to go to the Emergency Department so that testicular torsion is excluded, a condition to be treated surgically as soon as possible.
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