Dysuria: Treatment, Cost and Side Effects

Dysuria is a urinary tract infection that causes pain, discomfort when urinating. It can occur in both men and women of any age but it is more common in women than men. However, men aged 50 years above having a weak bladder can also have dysuria.

The main cause of dysuria is urinary tract infection which is caused by an infection of the urinary tract. Infections in the urinary tract can occur in the kidneys or ureters (the tube that carries the urine from kidney to the bladder) or bladder or urethra (tube from the bladder that carries the urine from the bladder and out of the body) or prostate (prostatitis). Sometimes painful urination can also be caused by yeast infection in the vagina which is often accompanied by vaginal discharge and odour. Dysuria can also be caused due to sexually transmitted disease like genital herpes, chlamydia and gonorrhea. This sexually transmitted disease is associated with itching, burning, blisters or sores and abnormal discharge. Other causes of dysuria include stones in the urinary tract, irritation of the urethra from sexual activity, interstitial cystitis (a condition caused by bladder inflammation), vaginal dryness due to menopause, activities such as horseback riding or bicycling, vaginal sensitivity due to the use of scented soaps, toilet paper or other products like douches and spermicides, side effects from certain medications and supplements and tumour in the urinary tract.

The treatment for dysuria begins with a proper diagnosis of the condition by your doctor. In a usual scenario, a description of your symptoms and analysis of your urine samples are enough to prescribe medications by your doctor. Additional tests may include urine culture and blood test for identifying the bacteria that is causing the infection. However, if your dysuria is caused by STD or other urinary tract infection, your doctor might tell you to undergo additional tests.

The treatment of dysuria will depend its cause whether it is a urinary tract infection or a sexually transmitted disease. If the cause of dysuria is either cystitis (bladder infection) or pyelonephritis (upper urinary tract infection) then the doctor will give you antibiotics which should be taken by mouth. Antibiotics may also be given through an intravenous for pyelonephritis that has symptoms like high fever, shaking, chills and vomiting. If the dysuria is caused by urethritis (infection of the urethra) then the doctor will prescribe antibiotics to eliminate the bacteria and treat the symptoms. However, if dysuria is caused by vaginal infection then antifungal drugs are given. It can also be treated by applying certain creams to the vaginal region. Therefore, sometime treating the underlying disease can cure a person of dysuria.

People suffering from dysuria have these symptoms which include fever, cloudy or bloody urine, foul or stronger-smelling urine, increased urination, vomiting, nausea and itchiness and pain. A person will not have all of these symptoms but may experience some depending on the cause of dysuria. These symptoms make a person eligible for dysuria treatment.

Any person not showing any of the symptoms of dysuria or suffering from other urinary tract infection and not showing the symptoms of dysuria is not eligible.

Antibiotics are the main form of treatment for dysuria. Though it very safe and does not have any health risks, doctors and medical professionals ask patients to practice caution while taking antibiotics because taking too much lead to numerous side effects and also cause the bacteria to become drug resistant. These side effects include severe watery diarrhea, vomiting, white patches on your tongue, vaginal itching or discharge and allergic reactions such as rash, shortness of breath and swelling of the lips or tongue. A person can also experience constipation and loss of appetite from having too much antibiotics in their system. Therefore, a person having these side effects should contact a doctor immediately.

As the treatment for dysuria involves taking antibiotics, the post-treatment guidelines are followed along with the medicinal routine. It involves having plenty of fluids in form of soups or water to flush out the bacteria from the body.

The problem of dysuria occurs among women more than men, therefore it is important to follow a good hygiene routine. Some of the measures include wiping their vaginal area after urination and keeping it dry and clean, also urinating after a sexual intercourse and not to hold your urination for too long. Women should also avoid using soaps, vaginal sprays and douches to lessen irritation and itching in the area. They should also try to change their tampons and sanitary napkins frequently. Also to prevent dysuria in children try to limit bubble bath and not letting them play in wet swimsuits for too long.

Recovery time for dysuria is minimal as it does not require any hospitalisation and you can have a normal routine while taking the antibiotics.

The price for treatement of dysuria include doctoral consultation and medicinal charges. It usually starts from Rs. 500 and can go up to Rs.2000.

Yes, the results of the treatment are permanent.

Alternative treatment for dysuria includes home remedies and homeopathic medicines. You can take homeopathic medicine like cantharis, apis mellifica, sarsaparilla and petroselinum to ease the burning sensations and decrease the pain while urinating.

If you want to follow home remedies, then it will include drinking carrot juice every day, mixing ginger paste with milk or honey and having it once per day, drink buttermilk mixed with pepper powder or crushed cumin seed and have boiled and cooled and strained coriander water every day with a gap of 2 hours.