12/01/2026
Dear Patients
I hope that you are all doing well in this new year.
I have been thinking of doing a write up on the common diseases I see in my practice to creatre awareness as i firmly believe in prevention is better than cure!
I will be starting off with the STI (S*xually transmitted infections).
Any feedback is welcome and you can always send me a private message with regards to your feed back.
Thank you!
Understanding Male Urethritis Syndrome (MUS)
(What to do when it hurts to p*e or you see a discharge)
What is MUS?
Think of MUS as a "group name" for when the tube you p*e through (the urethra) gets red, swollen, and irritated.
When a doctor uses the syndromic approach, it means they are treating your symptoms right away. Because several different tiny germs (bacteria) can cause the exact same feeling, your doctor will give you medicine that kills the most common ones all at once, rather than waiting days for a lab to tell them which specific germ it is.
What are the symptoms?
A man with MUS usually notices one or both of these things:
Discharge: A liquid (clear, white, or yellow) leaking from the tip of the p***s.
Dysuria: A stinging or burning feeling when passing urine.
What causes it?
The most common germs that cause these symptoms are:
Gonorrhoea: A very common infection.
Chlamydia: Another common infection that often happens at the same time as Gonorrhoea.
How is it treated?
Because these two germs often travel together, the evidence-based protocol is to treat both at the same time with two different types of medicine:
An Injection: A single dose of Ceftriaxone.
Oral Tablets: A single dose of Azithromycin (swallowed with water) as well as the metronidazole. (Both are antibiotics)
Important "Golden Rules" for Healing:
Treat Your Partner: Your partner must also be treated, even if they feel perfectly healthy. If you get better but your partner doesn't get treated, they can pass the germs back to you the next time you are together.
No S*x for 7 Days: You should wait at least 7 days after treatment before having s*x again to make sure the medicine has finished its job and you don't spread the germs.
HIV Testing: It is strongly recommended to have an HIV test when you have any STI, as these infections can sometimes make it easier for HIV to enter the body.
What if it doesn't go away?
If you still have a discharge after 7 days, you must go back to your doctor immediately. They may need to look for rarer germs or check if the bacteria are resistant to the first round of medicine.
UGQIRHA WASE THEMBALETHU EGEORGE
Shope 21
Thembalethu Square
Thembalethu
Cell: 067 333 4444
References & Evidence:
South African National Department of Health: STI Management Guidelines (2018).
CDC: S*xually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines.
