burning sensation

I am a 35-year-old woman suffering from a burning sensation during urination. Also, there’s an increased frequency of urination and occasional mild fever. What’s wrong with me?

Probably you are suffering from a urinary tract infection. This is a fairly common problem among women in your age group. Because such symptoms are accompanied by other diseases, you should go for an urine culture and a urine sensitivity test. I think your problems will be solved if you drink plenty of fluids and have a course of antibiotics, according to your urine sensitivity report. However, when your symptoms go away you should get your urinary tract checked through an ultrasonography of the kidney, ureter (a duct through which urine passes from the kidney to the bladder) and urinary bladder. If the test indicates the presence of a stone, it has to be treated accordingly. Also, a procedure called cystoscopy can be applied in which the urinary bladder is cleaned by making it swell, and the urethra (a duct through which urine is discharged from the bladder) is widened. This is done under anaesthesia.

prostatitis

I am a 60-year-old man. Since last month I developed an increased urge of urination. My doctor examined me thoroughly and concluded that my prostate gland is enlarged. He asked me to get a blood test called PSA (prostate specific antigen ? a marker of prostate cancer) done to find out if I have cancer. The test was positive. Am I suffering from cancer?

Just because you have a positive PSA report does not mean that you have cancer. You belong to an age group in which men are most likely to develop prostatic diseases. The prostate gets enlarged, an increased frequency of urination is noticed, and a slow flow of urine and a sense of incomplete voidance continue. The urine comes out in a trickle and it finally stops. If the prostate enlarges without any sign of cancer, it can be treated with medicines. If medicine fails, microsurgery of the prostate (called TURP) may be performed. However, the raised level of your PSA means you need a test called Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) in which a sample of tissue from the affected gland is investigated. If the test confirms malignancy, it can be treated by a hormone injection. Otherwise, you may need a small operation called sub-capsular orchidectomy (removal of both the testes). The results of these treatment procedures is often encouraging. So, if needed, you can go for this.

Blood in urine

I am a 30-year-old man. Since last week I have been passing blood in urine occasionally. Although it was painless, there were some clots. My doctor gave some medicines which seem to have worked miraculously. Do I need to go for any further test?

Passing blood in the urine is a worrisome condition and should be treated as early as possible. The commonest cause for passing blood is an infection. The other probable cause is a stone in the urinary tract. But the worst possibility is cancer of the urinary tract. You should go for investigations to rule out cancer of the urinary system. The first and foremost test is an ultrasonogram. This will help detect tumours of the bladder or the kidneys with accuracy.

discomfort

I (30) frequently have a burning sensation while passing urine. I also feel sense of discomfort while sitting on a chair. In addition, I often have a mild fever. Is this a prostate gland disease? Do I need a surgery?

No, I don’t think so. This condition usually does not require a surgical treatment. Your ailment can be detected through a rectal examination by an urologist. It can also be detected through a microscopic examination. An examination using a cystoscope (which can give a telescopic view of the lower urinary system) is also a good option in your case. Once fully detected, your problem can be treated through a long course of antibiotics. You also need to drink plenty of fluids.