How can I know if it's non-gonococcal urethritis?
Nov 25, 2024
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Cao Zhiqiang
Introduction
In general, non-gonococcal urethritis can be diagnosed through methods such as medical history inquiry, clinical manifestations, urethral discharge examination, nucleic acid testing, and pathological examination. The specific details are as follows: 1. Medical history inquiry: The physician or the patient himself/herself needs to review whether there has been any history of unprotected sexual contact, as well as the onset time and characteristics of urethritis symptoms.
Generally, non-gonococcal urethritis can be diagnosed through medical history review, clinical manifestations, urethral discharge examination, nucleic acid testing, and pathological analysis. The specific diagnostic methods are as follows:
1. Medical History Review: Doctors or patients themselves should review any history of unsafe sexual contact, as well as the onset time and characteristics of urethritis symptoms. This information helps in the preliminary assessment of the risk of non-gonococcal urethritis.
2. Clinical Manifestations: The main clinical symptoms of non-gonococcal urethritis include urethral pain, frequent urination, urgency, painful urination, urethral itching or burning sensations, and lower abdominal discomfort or pain. Female patients may also experience cervicitis symptoms such as increased vaginal discharge, cervical congestion or swelling, erosion, and vaginal or vulvar itching. However, these symptoms are not specific and may overlap with other diseases, so diagnosis cannot be made based on symptoms alone.
3. Urethral Discharge Examination: Patients with non-gonococcal urethritis often have increased urethral discharge, which is usually thin, white or pale yellow, and sometimes transparent. Doctors can observe the appearance of the discharge and perform laboratory tests such as white blood cell count and bacterial culture to rule out gonococcal infection and identify other causative pathogens such as Chlamydia and Mycoplasma.
4. Nucleic Acid Testing: Nucleic acid testing is a highly sensitive and specific diagnostic method that can rapidly and accurately detect pathogen DNA or RNA in urethral discharge. This test can confirm the presence of pathogens causing non-gonococcal urethritis, such as Chlamydia and Mycoplasma, providing crucial evidence for diagnosis.
5. Pathological Examination: For patients with suspected non-gonococcal urethritis but atypical clinical presentations, histopathological examination may be performed. This involves taking a small sample of urethral tissue for microscopic analysis to identify pathological features characteristic of non-gonococcal urethritis, such as parakeratosis, marked thickening of the spinous layer, and papillomatous hyperplasia.
If symptoms or signs of suspected non-gonococcal urethritis occur, it is recommended to seek timely medical attention for professional diagnosis and treatment. Additionally, maintaining personal hygiene and avoiding unsafe sexual practices can help reduce the risk of infection.
