 a urethral stricture is a narrowing of the urethra caused by injury or disease such as urinary tract infections or other forms of urethritis. == signs and symptoms == pain during urination can be experienced during the early stages of the illness accompanied by the inability to fully empty the bladder. it is not uncommon for the bladder's capacity to significantly increase due to this inability to completely void. urethral strictures may cause problems with urination, including in certain cases the complete inability to urinate, which is a medical emergency. additionally, a urinary tract infection is often present at, or prior to initial diagnosis. antibiotics, quinolone class anti-infective agents, or a combination of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole are often employed as the initial stage of treatment. occasionally, some degree of relief from straining, or improvement of the urinary stream (depending on the severity of the stricture) occurs with antibiotic treatment due to the reduction of urethral inflammation. * obstructive voiding symptoms namely: ** decreased force of urinary stream ** incomplete emptying of the bladder ** urinary terminal dribbling ** urinary intermittency ** deflected urinary stream * increased frequency of micturition * acute or chronic retention of urine * hydronephrotic signs due to back pressure === complications === * urinary retention * urethral diverticulum * periurethral abscess * urethral fistula * bilateral hydronephrosis * urinary infections * urinary calculus * hernia, haemorrhoids or rectal prolapse from straining == causes == urethral strictures are generally caused by either injury-related trauma to the tract or by a viral or bacterial infection of the tract, often caused by certain sexually transmitted infections (stis). the body's attempt to repair the damage caused by the injury or infection creates a buildup of scar tissue in the tract resulting in a significant narrowing or even closure of the passage. instrumentation of the urethra, particularly before the advent of flexible uro-endoscopy, wasâand remainsâan important causative event. short strictures in the bulbar urethra, particularly between the proximal 1/3 and distal 2/3 of
Urethra_disorders