Infections of the urogenital system are characterized by the following symptoms:
- Dysurea
- Urgency in micturition
- Colic pain in either flanks or the loins
- Pain on the lower abdomen due to inflammation of the urinary bladder (cystitis)
- Poor urinary stream
- Dribbling and hesitancy
- Nocturia
- Urinary incontinence
- Urinary retention
- Haematuria
- Renal failure
These symptoms overlap over many specific conditions, so that a thorough examination is required to facilitate an accurate diagnosis.
The following need to be done in this regard:
- Ask and check for urethral discharge.
- Palpate the urethra for areas of induration (stricture).
- Palpate the lower abdomen for tenderness, masses in the urinary bladder.
- Bimanually palpate the kidney for masses or tenderness.
- Perform a rectal or vaginal examination:
- Manually palpate the urinary bladder for masses.
- Feel for the prostate in a man (size, consistency, nodularity, tenderness,
fixation of rectal mucosa to it, etc.).