Urethral Disorders—Abscess

An abscess is a pocket of pus. You can get an abscess almost anywhere in your body. When an area of your body becomes infected, your body’s immune system tries to fight the infection. White blood cells go to the infected area, collect within the damaged tissue, and cause inflammation. During this process, pus forms. Pus is a mixture of living and dead white blood cells, germs, and dead tissue.

Bacteria, viruses, parasites and swallowed objects can all lead to abscesses. Skin abscesses are easy to detect. They are red, raised and painful. Abscesses inside your body may not be obvious and can damage organs, including the brain, lungs and others. Treatments include drainage and antibiotics.

• Abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Abscess scan – radioactive (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Amebic liver abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Anorectal abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Bartholin cyst or abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Brain abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Epidural abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Intra-abdominal abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Pancreatic abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Perirenal abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Peritonsillar abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Pilonidal cyst resection (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Pyogenic liver abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Retropharyngeal abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Skin abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Subareolar abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Tooth abscess (Medical Encyclopedia)

The urethra is the tube that allows urine to pass out of the body. In men, it’s a long tube that runs through the penis. It also carries semen in men. In women, it’s short and is just above the vagina. Urethral problems may happen due to aging, illness, or injury. They include

• Urethral cancer – a rare cancer that happens more often in men
• Urethral stricture – a narrowing of the opening of the urethra
• Urethritis – inflammation of the urethra, sometimes caused by infection

Urethral problems may cause pain or difficulty passing urine. You may also have bleeding or discharge from the urethra.

Doctors diagnose urethral problems using different tests. These include urine tests, x-rays and an examination of the urethra with a scope called a cystoscope. Treatment depends on the cause of the problem. It may include medicines and, in severe cases, surgery.

• Chlamydial infections – male (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Epispadias (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Meatal stenosis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Self catheterization – female (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Self catheterization – male (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Traumatic injury of the bladder and urethra (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Urethral discharge culture (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Urethral stricture (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Urethritis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Urinary Retention – NIH (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)