Ask An Expert: Urethral Stenosis

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Ask An Expert: Urethral Stenosis

Question:

My 5-year-old son has been diagnosed with urethral stenosis. Can you explain to me what this is? Our doctor is now referring him to a pediatric urologist for further treatment.

Answer:

Urethral stenosis is much better understood when broken down into its two parts. "Urethral" refers to the urethra — the tube that carries urine from the bladder to outside of the body. "Stenosis" is defined as the narrowing of any passageway. Put together, urethral stenosis is the medical condition in which the opening of the urethra is unusually narrow, which keeps urine from freely flowing out of the bladder. This causes symptoms like frequency (urinating too much), hesitancy (wanting to go, but not being able to), and difficult or painful urination.

So what does this mean? It means that a child with urethral stenosis may experience painful twinges and muscle tightening around the lower part of the abdomen because he's trying to urinate, but can't do so normally. Therefore, someone with this condition may end up with inflammation of any part of the urinary tract — the kidneys, bladder and the tubes that connect them.

Two important types of urinary tract infection (UTI) are: (1) cystitis — a non-threatening condition that affects the urethra and the bladder — and (2) pyelonephritis — an infection that affects the ureters, which are the tubes that connect both kidneys to the bladder. Any child who gets a UTI, especially boys, can end up with worsening kidney function and permanent kidney damage.

Therefore, children diagnosed with urethral stenosis are recommended to see a pediatric urologist, as this medical condition may require surgery to enlarge the narrowed urethra. If your son is experiencing much pain or has already had a UTI, please consult the pediatric urologist that your doctor recommended as soon as possible.

Henry (Hank) Bernstein, D.O. is a Senior Lecturer in Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and Professor of Pediatrics at Dartmouth Medical School. Formerly the Associate Chief of General Pediatrics and Director of Primary Care at Children's Hospital Boston, he currently is the Chief of General Academic Pediatrics at Children's Hospital at Dartmouth. He has extensive and varied experience as a primary care pediatrician, and is a spokesperson for the news media on a variety of pediatric health care topics, including vaccination, common childhood illnesses, and practical information for caregivers.

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Last updated:	January 24, 2007