Dysuria

Objectives

1. In a patient presenting with dysuria, use history and dipstick urinalysis to determine if the patient has an uncomplicated urinary tract infection.
2. When a diagnosis of uncomplicated urinary tract infection is made, treat promptly without waiting for a culture result.
3. Consider non-urinary tract infection related etiologies of dysuria (e.g., prostatitis, vaginitis, sexually transmitted disease, chemical irritation) and look for them when appropriate.
4. When assessing patients with dysuria, identify those at higher risk of complicated urinary tract infection (e.g., pregnancy, children, diabetes, urolithiasis).
5. In patients with recurrent dysuria, look for a specific underlying cause (e.g., post-coital urinary tract infection, atrophic vaginitis, retention).