title: Assessment and management of irritative voiding symptoms.
abstract: Irritative voiding symptoms are to the urinary tract much as a cough is to the pulmonary system, that is, a nonspecific manifestation of multiple potential underlying causes. Key to the evaluation and management of patients with these symptoms is a clear understanding of the differential diagnosis, the diagnostic tests required for evaluation, and the role of specialists in diagnosis and treatment. This article outlines a general diagnostic approach for patients with irritative voiding symptoms. Treatment approaches for the diseases, as well as the initial management that may be performed in the primary care setting, are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 9200 West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA. mguralni@mcw.edu
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Guralnick
authors.forename: R Corey
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: See
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012737:Sex Factors; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*