Non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) is an inflammation of the urethra which is not caused by gonorrheal infection.[1]
For treatment purposes, doctors usually classify infectious urethritis in two categories: gonococcocal urethritis, caused by gonorrhea; and non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU).[2]
Causes
There are many causes of NGU.[3] This is in part due to the large variety of organisms living in the urinary tract. Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma genitalium are some of the culprits.
Bacterial
The most common bacterial cause of NGU is chlamydia trachomatis, but it can also be caused by Ureaplasma urealyticum, Haemophilus vaginalis, and Mycoplasma genitalium.
Viral
Herpes simplex virus (rare), Adenovirus,
Parasitic
Parasitic causes include Trichomonas vaginalis (rare).
Noninfectious
Urethritis can be caused by mechanical injury (from a urinary catheter or a cystoscope), by an irritating chemical (antiseptics or some spermicides).
Symptoms
The symptoms of urethritis can include pain or a burning sensation upon urination (dysuria), a white/cloudy discharge and a feeling that one needs to pass urine frequently. For men the signs and symptoms are discharge from the penis, burning or pain when urinating, itching, irritation, or tenderness, and underwear stain. In women the signs and symptoms are discharge from vagina, burning or pain when urinating, anal or oral infections, abdominal pain or abnormal vaginal bleeding may be an indication that the infection has progressed to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. However, men are frequently, and women are occasionally, asymptomatic.[citation needed]
Diagnosis
Historically, it has been easy to test for the presence of gonorrhea by viewing a Gram's stain of the urethral discharge under a microscope: the causative organism is distinctive in appearance; however, this only works with men because other non-pathogenic gram-negative microbes are present as normal flora of the vagina in women. Thus, one of the major causes of urethritis can be identified (in men) by a simple common test, and the distinction between gonococcal and non-gonococcal urethritis arose historically for this reason.
Non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) is diagnosed if a person with urethritis has no signs of gonorrhea bacteria on laboratory tests. The most frequent cause of NGU (23%-55% of cases) is chlamydia.
Non-specific urethritis
In the United Kingdom, NGU is more often called non-specific urethritis;[4][5][6] "non-specific" is a medical term meaning "specific cause has not been identified", and in this case refers to urethritis having been detected, and gonorrhea having been tested for but found negative. In this sense, the most likely cause of NSU is a chlamydia infection.
However, the term NSU is sometimes distinguished and used to mean that both gonorrhea and chlamydia have been ruled out.[7] Thus, depending on the sense, chlamydia can either be the most likely cause or have been ruled out.
Treatment
Treatment is based on the prescription and use of the proper antibiotics depending on the strain of the ureaplasma.[8]
Because of its multi-causative nature, initial treatment strategies involve using a broad range antibiotic that is effective against chlamydia (such as doxycycline). It is imperative that both the patient and any sexual contacts are treated. Women who are infected with the organisms that cause NGU may develop pelvic inflammatory disease. If symptoms persist, follow-up with a urologist may be necessary to identify the cause.
A completed "November 19, 2009" Phase II Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Double-Blind 4-Arm Trial for the Treatment of Non-Gonococcal Urethritis (NGU): Doxycycline (Plus or Minus Tinidazole) Versus Azithromycin (Plus or Minus Tinidazole). Purpose of the study was to look at the safety, effectiveness, and tolerability of combination medications for the initial treatment of non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU). This study compared the 2 currently recommended NGU treatments, doxycycline and azithromycin, taken with tinidazole (another medication to treat certain sexually transmitted infections)[9]. Tinidazole used with doxycycline or azithromycin may cure NGU better than when doxycycline or azithromycin is used alone. [10]
If left untreated, complications include epididymitis and infertility. Consistent and correct use of latex condoms during sexual activity greatly reduces the likelihood of infection.
See also
References
- ^ "Nongonococcal Urethritis and Chlamydial Cervicitis: Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD): Merck Manual Home Edition". http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec17/ch200/ch200d.html. Retrieved 2008-01-01.
- ^ Burstein GR, Zenilman JM (January 1999). "Nongonococcal urethritis--a new paradigm". Clin. Infect. Dis. 28 Suppl 1: S66–73. doi:10.1086/514728. PMID 10028111. http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/514728?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%3dncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
- ^ Bradshaw CS, Tabrizi SN, Read TR, et al (February 2006). "Etiologies of nongonococcal urethritis: bacteria, viruses, and the association with orogenital exposure". J. Infect. Dis. 193 (3): 336–45. doi:10.1086/499434. PMID 16388480. http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/resolve?JID35045.
- ^ Non-specific urethritis, NHS
- ^ Non-specific Urethritis (NSU), NHS, Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM)
- ^ NSU (non-specific urethritis), BBC
- ^ Non-specific urethritis (NSU) and Cervicitis
- ^ "Nongonococcal Urethritis (NGU) - BC HealthFile #08b". http://www.bchealthguide.org/healthfiles/hfile08b.stm#05. Retrieved 2008-01-01.
- ^ http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00322465
- ^ United States of America's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00322465
