Burning Sensation While Urinating - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Introduction:

Burning sensation while passing urine is not a condition; rather, it is a symptom that the patient experiences due to kidney diseases or other conditions. It affects men and women at any age. There are several causes of burning sensation, the most common being a urinary tract infection. It can also result from conditions affecting the urinary bladder or other organs of the urinary system. If the patient feels pain or a burning sensation while urinating, it is important to consult the doctor immediately because it could be a warning of an infection.

What Is a Burning Sensation?

It is a feeling that causes pain and discomfort while urinating, something that is not felt normally. The burning sensation can occur due to disease in any organ of the urinary system, including kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra. Some patients feel pain in the urethra and the surrounding area. Diabetic patients and pregnant females are at a higher risk of developing a urinary tract infection. As a result, they experience a burning sensation frequently. The patient must not ignore the symptoms and talk to the doctor to understand the condition better.

Why Does Burning Sensation Occur While Urinating?

The causes of the burning sensation are listed below:

1. Urinary Tract Infection - It is the most common cause of pain and burning sensation while passing urine. Urinary tract infection is a term used to describe the infection that can occur in any organ of the urinary system. The immune cells in the urinary system work to fight infections and prevent bacterial entry. However, these bacteria enter when the immune system fails to function. The burning sensation while urinating is one of the symptoms of urinary tract infection. It will only subside after the infection is treated. The other symptoms of urinary tract infection include the following:

   • Fever.

   • The urine flow is restricted, so the patient passes a few drops of urine each time.

   • Urinary incontinence or leakage of urine.

   • The urine appears cloudy and smells bad.

   • The patient feels pain in the lower back and the abdominal region.

2. Vaginal Infection - The vagina is a muscular organ in females that connects the uterus to the outside world. The vagina consists of healthy bacteria (lactobacillus) and yeasts. The healthy lactobacillus maintains balance in the vagina by inhibiting the overgrowth of yeasts. When the yeasts multiply and outnumber the healthy bacteria, vaginal infection occurs. The yeasts do not remain confined to the vagina alone. They spread to the nearby organs, most commonly the urethra. As a result, the inflammation of the urethra occurs, resulting in pain and a burning sensation while passing urine.

3. Sexually Transmitted Infections - Sexually transmitted infections are among the most common causes of pain and burning sensation while passing urine. The common sexually transmitted infections include the following:

   • Chlamydia - It is a bacterial infection that spreads rapidly in the genital tract. The patient does not experience any symptoms in the initial stage, so the condition goes unnoticed. However, the signs and symptoms become visible in one to two weeks.

   • Gonorrhea - Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection that does not remain confined to the genital tract. It affects the other organs, like the eyes, mouth, and throat. The patient usually experiences symptoms in ten days.

   • Herpes - It is a viral infection of the genital area caused by the herpes simplex (HSV) virus. It is the most dangerous one because people are unaware of the infection in the initial stage. In the later stages, the person experiences pain, irritation, and dryness around the genital areas. Small ulcers or blisters formaround the genital areas causing pain and a burning sensation while passing urine. The other symptoms that the patient commonly experiences in sexually transmitted infections are listed below:

     • A white, greenish, or yellowish discharge from the vagina and penis.

     • Bowel movements become difficult due to pain.

     • Pain and burning sensation (dysuria) while passing urine.

     • There is continuous itching and irritation in the vagina and anus.

     • Some patients experience fever if the infection is severe.

   • Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis - It is a condition in which small pouches develop in the intestinal region that causes inflammation. Urinary tract infection can develop if the condition is left untreated for a long time. In addition, since the urinary bladder and the other urinary system organs are located close to the intestine, the patients can experience a burning sensation during urination.

   • Kidney Stones - Kidney stones or nephrolithiasis are formed when the minerals and salts in the urine crystallize and clump together. If the stones are small, they pass through the urinary tract. However, the urine flow becomes obstructed if the stones are large. As a result, the patient experiences pain while passing urine.

   • Prostatitis - It is a condition in which the inflammation of the prostate gland occurs due to bacterial entry. The prostate gland is present near the urinary bladder in men. The inflammation of the prostate gland can trigger pain in the urethra and the bladder when the patient passes urine.

What Are the Methods Used to Diagnose Dysuria or Burning Sensation While Passing Urine?

Dysuria is a symptom that the patient experiences due to a condition. So, the doctor first looks at the medical history of the patient to diagnose the condition. The medical history gives an idea about the diseases the patient is suffering from. For example, if the patient is suffering from a urinary tract infection, urine tests need to be done. On the other hand, screening tests need to be done if he is suffering from sexually transmitted infections. The following tests need to be done to diagnose the conditions:

• Urinalysis - The patient needs to collect the urine in a container. It is then sent to the laboratory for examination under a microscope. If the urine contains bacteria, an increased number of white blood cells, and blood, then urinary tract infection can be suspected.

• Urine Culture - In this test, the urine sample obtained from the patient is examined in the laboratory. It is left for several days to check the bacterial growth. It is used to identify the causative organism in patients suffering from sexually transmitted infections.

• Blood Tests - The doctor usually recommends blood tests for any disease to check the general health of the patient and if he is suffering from any infection or not.

• Screening Tests - Screening tests are done to check the disease even if the person does not experience any symptoms. Papanicolaou Test (pap test) is commonly done in women to screen them for cervical cancer. The cells present in the vaginal lining or urethra are collected and examined.

• Digital Rectal Examination - A digital rectal examination is done if the burning sensation while passing urine is due to prostate disease. The surgeon inserts a gloved finger into the rectum to examine the prostate gland in this test.

• Imaging Tests - The imaging tests mainly include ultrasound, computed tomography (CT scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and abdominal X-rays. These tests produce three dimensions (3D) images of the internal organs and help detect stones, tumors, and other abnormalities.

How to Manage the Burning Sensation While Urinating?

The condition that causes pain while passing urine needs to be treated first. The symptoms subside on their own once the disease is treated. For example, if the burning sensation is due to a urinary tract infection, the following treatment is done:

1. Antibiotics - The following drugs are usually recommended to treat urinary tract infections:

   • Cephalexin.

   • Ciprofloxacin.

   • Trimethoprim.

   • Nitrofurantoin.

   • Ceftriaxone.

   • Fosfomycin.

If the burning sensation is due to sexually transmitted infections, the following antibiotics are recommended:

• Azithromycin.

• Doxycycline.

• Erythromycin.

• Ciprofloxacin.

• Cefixime.

• Penicillin G in the case of syphilis.

• Antiviral drugs like Acyclovir, Valacyclovir, and Famciclovir are used in the case of herpes.

If the burning sensation is due to kidney stones, the following treatments are done:

• Lithotripsy - It is a procedure in which shock waves are sent to the body to break the stone into small pieces. The small fragments easily pass through the urine, and the patient is relieved of the symptoms.

• Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy - In this procedure, an incision is made in the lower back region. Then, a tube known as a nephroscope is inserted through the incision to locate and remove the stone.

• Ureteroscopy - A small tube known as a ureteroscope is inserted through the urethra to examine the urinary system. The stone is removed directly or broken down into pieces to allow it to pass through urine.

If the burning sensation is due to prostatitis, the following antibiotics are recommended:

• Doxycycline.

• Ciprofloxacin.

• Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole.

• Norfloxacin.

• Ofloxacin.

What Can Be Done to Prevent a Burning Sensation While Passing Urine?

The following steps can be followed to prevent a burning sensation while passing urine:

1. The patient needs to drink plenty of water daily to maintain optimum fluid balance, flush out the bacteria from the body and prevent urinary tract infections.

2. Citrus fruits like oranges, grapes, and lemons should be consumed daily in case of kidney stones. These fruits contain an important compound called citrate that inhibits stone formation. Therefore, potassium citrate tablets are usually recommended to increase the citrate levels in urine.

3. Salty food items, animal foods like chicken, meat, and fish, and food rich in oxalates like nuts, chocolates, and rhubarbs should be avoided to balance the sodium, calcium, and oxalate levels.

4. If the patient wears pads due to urinary incontinence (leakage of urine), it is important to change them regularly to avoid infection.

5. After urination, the patient should wipe from front to back to keep the area dry and clean.

Conclusion:

The conditions that commonly affect the urinary system include urinary tract infections, sexually transmitted diseases, kidney stones, and prostate diseases. The most common symptoms of these conditions are pain and burning sensation while urinating. If these conditions are left untreated for a long time, they can cause severe complications. Therefore, it is important to consult the doctor as soon as the symptoms are noted because the patient will get rid of the symptoms only when the condition is treated. Along with treatment, a good diet, drinking a sufficient quantity of water, and maintaining healthy bowel and bladder habits help a lot.