Nivaquine and urethral pain

Two patients, one Jewish and the other Nigerian, were investigated for pain in the urethra. They were both fully treated along the usual lines without any change in the pain. The Jewish patient was later found to be sensitive to chloroquine. When ingestion of this drug was discontinued, his urethral pain disappeared after about four months. The Nigerian patient was advised along the same lines when it was found that he too took chloroquine for malarial attacks regularly. He had total symptomatic relief. The probable relationship between chloroquine and urethral pain is discussed.