Know More About Urinary Tract Infection and its Treatment

Urinary tract infections which are caused by microbes like bacteria overcoming the body’s defenses in the urinary tract. They can also affect the kidneys, tubes which run between them and bladder. They are the most common types of infection and it accounts for 8.1 million visits to the doctor every year. The urinary tract is divided into upper urinary and lower urinary tract which consists of urethra and bladder.

Facts of Urinary Tract Infection

Below are some key points about urinary tract infection.

• Women have a 50% chances of developing urinary tract infection.
• UTI’s can be cured within 2 to 3 days to treatment
• Symptoms include frequent urge to urinate, painful sensation while urinating.
• UTI’s are diagnosed based on your symptoms and testing of the urine sample.

Causes of Urinary Tract Infection

The majority of urinary tract infections are caused by Escherichia coli which is a type of bacteria. It’s usually found in the digestive system. UTIs have different names depending on where they are situated. Like for example:

• Cystitis: It’s a bladder infection.
• Urethritis is a urethra infection.
• Pyelonephritis which is a kidney infection.

Risk Factors

Over 50% of all women will experience at least one UTI during the lifetime, with 20 to 30% experiencing recurrent UTIs. Pregnant women are likely to develop a UTI than other women, but if it occurs, they are more likely to travel up to the kidneys. People of any sex and age can develop a UTI. The factors can increase the risk of having a UTI:

• Kidney stones
• Menopause
• The blocked flow of urine
• Poor personal hygiene
• Procedures which involve the urinary tract
• Some forms of contraception
• Sexual intercourse, with multiple partners and frequently

Symptoms of Urinary Tract Infection

The symptoms of UTI can depend on your age, gender and where the urinary tract has been infected. The symptoms include are:

• Blood in the urine
• Strong urge to urinate
• Vomiting and nausea
• Abdominal pains
• Pain during urinating
• Acute pyelonephritis

Acute pyelonephritis is a kidney infection. If an individual suffers from this condition they could also get upper back and side pain, fatigue, shaking, high fever. It’s considered as an emergency and the doctor should evaluate immediately.

Cystitis

If a person has got a bladder infection, they experience low fever, cramping in the abdomen and in the lower back.

Complications in Urinary Tract Infection

Most of the UTIs are not serious, but some of them can lead to serious complications, with the upper UTIs. Long lasting kidney infections can cause permanent damage and some of the kidne infections can be life threatening, if it enters the bloodstream.

• Prevention of Urinary Tract Infection
• There are various measures which can be taken to reduce the risk of having a UTI:
• Urge to urinate after sex
• Keep your genital area clean
• Completely avoid fluids like alcohol and caffeine which can cause irritation the bladder.
• Avoid using perfumed products in the genital area.
• Prefer using baths and avoid the use of oil
• Wear cotton underwear and loose-fitting clothes to keep the area dry

Diagnosis of Urinary Tract Infection

Diagnosis will be made after knowing the symptoms and testing the urine sample to know the presence of red blood cells, white blood cells and bacteria. There is a method of collecting urine which is known as ‘clean catch’. This requires that a person clean their genital area before providing a urine sample. This will help to prevent the bacteria from around the genital area to get transferred in the urine sample.

If a person has UTIs the doctor will recommend these tests:

• Urodynamics: The procedure determines how well the urinary tract is releasing the urine.
• Cystoscopy: The diagnosis exam allows the doctor to check inside of the bladder and urethra with the help of a camera lens which is inserted via a long tube.

Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections

UTIs are caused by bacteria, they are commonly treated with antibiotics. The length of the treatment and medication will depend on the symptoms and the medical history of the individual. The treatment should be completed to make sure that the infection is gone. The symptoms will disappear before the infection is gone.

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An uncomplicated UTI is one which occurs in a healthy person having a normal urinary tract. This can be cured within 2 to 3 days of the treatment. Whereas, a complicated UTI occurs in the person which is weakened by other condition like a heart transplant. Complicated UTIs take a lot of time to get cured with the help of antibiotics, the duration is about 7 to 14 days.

Recurrent Infections in Women

Women who are suffering from bladder infections are advised to:

• Take a dose of antibiotic for at least 6 months
• Taking a dose of an antibiotic after the sexual contact
• Undergoing vaginal estrogen therapy if they are having a menopause

Home Remedies for Urinary Tract Infection

There are plenty of remedies which are suggested to people who are suffering from UTI can do at their home. Drinking plenty of fluids will help in flushing out the bacteria from the body. You can also use a heated pad for short durations to get relieved from the discomfort. Cranberries and their extract are also helpful in treating UTI. This happens because cranberries contain certain compound such as proanthocyanidins which will prevent E.coli from sticking to the walls of your digestive and urinary tracts.

In research, it has been found that women with UTIs who took cranberry over 12 months had a 35% reduction in infections. Cranberry tablets are twice as effective as cranberry juice to prevent UTIs. Cranberry extracts also contain salicylic acid and anthocyanins. They have a painkilling effect which is able to reduce the symptoms. The regular use of probiotics is available online as yoghurts and supplements.

So, if you are suffering from UTIs you should consult your doctor as soon as possible. It’s better to consult your doctor before taking any step. There are various treatments available, which will depend on the symptoms and the person’s health.