WHAT IS UTI?
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection in any part of your urinary system — your kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. Most infections involve the lower urinary tract i.e the bladder and the urethra.
Women are at greater risk of developing a UTI than men are. Infection limited to your bladder can be painful and annoying. However, serious consequences can occur if a UTI spreads to your kidneys.
CAUSES
The vast majority of UTI cases are caused by the bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli), usually found in the digestive system. Chlamydia and Mycoplasma bacteria can infect the urethra but not the bladder.
People of any age and sex can develop a UTI; however, some people are more at risk than others. The following factors can increase the likelihood of developing a UTI:
√ Sexual intercourse (especially if more frequent, intense, and with multiple or new partners)
√ Diabetes
√ Poor personal hygiene
√ Problems emptying the bladder completely
√ Having a urinary catheter
√ Bowel incontinence
√ Blocked flow of urine
√ Kidney stones
√ Some forms of contraception
√ Pregnancy
√ Menopause
√ Procedures involving the urinary tract
√ Suppressed immune system
√ Immobility for a long period
√ Use of spermicides and tampons
√ Heavy use of antibiotics (which can disrupt the natural flora of the bowel and urinary tract)
UTIs typically occur when bacteria enter the urinary tract through the urethra and begin to multiply in the bladder. Although the urinary system is designed to keep out such microscopic invaders, these defenses sometimes fail. When that happens, bacteria may take hold and grow into a full-blown infection in the urinary tract.
The most common UTIs occur mainly in women and affects the bladder and urethra.
TYPES
√ Infection of the bladder (cystitis).
This type of UTI is usually caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli), a type of bacteria commonly found in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. However, sometimes other bacteria are responsible. Sexual intercourse may lead to cystitis, but you don't have to be sexually active to develop it. All women are at risk of cystitis because of their anatomy — specifically, the short distance from the urethra to the anus and the urethral opening to the bladder.
√ Infection of the urethra (urethritis).
This type of UTI can occur when GI bacteria spread from the anus to the urethra. Also, because the female urethra is close to the vagina, sexually transmitted infections, such as herpes, gonorrhea, chlamydia and mycoplasma, can cause urethritis.
√ Infection of the kidney (Acute pyelonephritis)
Acute pyelonephritis is a sudden and severe kidney infection. If an individual develops this condition they could also experience upper back and side pain, high fever, shaking, chills, fatigue, and mental changes. It is considered an emergency and should be evaluated by a doctor immediately if suspected.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Each type of UTI may result in more-specific signs and symptoms, depending on which part of your urinary tract is infected:
Kidneys (acute pyelonephritis)
👉Upper back and side (flank) pain
👉High fever
👉Shaking and chills
👉Nausea
👉Vomiting
Bladder (cystitis)
👉Pelvic pressure
👉Lower abdomen discomfort
👉Frequent, painful urination
👉Blood in urine
Urethra (urethritis)
👉Burning with urination
👉Discharges
Other signs and symptoms of urinary tract infections include:
👉A strong, persistent urge to urinate
👉A burning sensation when urinating
👉Passing frequent, small amounts of urine
👉Urine that appears cloudy
👉Urine that appears red, bright pink or cola-colored — a sign of blood in the urine
👉Strong-smelling urine
👉Pelvic pain, in women — especially in the center of the pelvis and around the area of the pubic bone
👉Rectal pain, in men
Note
UTIs may be overlooked or mistaken for other conditions in older adults.
RISK FACTORS
Things that can lead to urinary tract infections include:
👍 Being female. UTIs are common in women, and many women experience more than one infection. Women have a shorter urethra than men do, which cuts down on the distance that bacteria must travel to reach a woman's bladder.
👍 Being sexually active. Sexually active women tend to have more UTIs than do women who aren't sexually active.
👍 Using certain types of birth control. Women who use diaphragms for birth control also may be at higher risk, as may women who use spermicidal agents.
👍 Completing menopause. After menopause, UTIs may become more common because the lack of estrogen causes changes in the urinary tract that make it more vulnerable to infection.
👍 Having urinary tract abnormalities. Babies born with urinary tract abnormalities that don't allow urine to leave the body normally or cause urine to back up in the urethra have an increased risk of UTIs.
👍 Having blockages in the urinary tract. Kidney stones or an enlarged prostate can trap urine in the bladder and increase the risk of UTI.
👍 Having a suppressed immune system. Diabetes and other diseases that impair the immune system — the body's defense against germs — can increase the risk of UTIs.
👍 Using a catheter to urinate. People who can't urinate on their own and use a tube (catheter) to urinate have an increased risk of UTIs. This may include people who are hospitalized, people with neurological problems that make it difficult to control their ability to urinate and people who are paralyzed.
COMPLICATIONS
When treated promptly and properly, lower urinary tract infections rarely lead to complications. But left untreated, a urinary tract infection can have serious consequences such as :
👉 Recurrent infections, especially in women who experience three or more UTIs
👉 Permanent kidney damage from an acute or chronic kidney infection (pyelonephritis) due to an untreated UTI, especially in young children
👉 Increased risk of women delivering low birth weight or premature infants
✔ What you can do ?
Before your appointment, make a list of medications or supplements you're taking and any allergies you have. This information helps your doctor select the best treatment.
✔ Write down questions to ask your doctor, such as?
What kind of tests do I need?
Can I do anything to prevent a UTI?
What signs and symptoms should I watch out for?
What do the results of my urine test mean?
Do I need to take medicine?
Are there any special instructions for taking the medicine?
What can I do if I keep getting UTIs?
Don't hesitate to ask questions during your appointment.
✔ Now what to expect from your doctor?
Your doctor will likely ask you several questions, including:
When did you first notice your symptoms?
Have you been treated for a bladder or kidney infection in the past?
How severe is your discomfort?
How often do you urinate?
Are your symptoms relieved by urinating?
Do you have low back pain?
Have you had a fever?
Have you noticed vaginal discharge or blood in your urine?
Are you sexually active?
Do you use contraception? What kind?
Could you be pregnant?
Are you being treated for any other medical conditions?
Have you ever used a catheter?
PREVENTION AND LIFESTYLE
Take these steps to reduce your risk of urinary tract infections:
👉 Drink plenty of liquids, especially water. Drinking water helps dilute your urine and ensures that you'll urinate more frequently — allowing bacteria to be flushed from your urinary tract before an infection can begin.
👉 Wipe from front to back. Doing so after urinating and after a bowel movement helps prevent bacteria in the anal region from spreading to the vagina and urethra.
👉 Empty your bladder soon after intercourse. Also, drink a full glass of water to help flush bacteria.
👉 Avoid potentially irritating feminine products. Using deodorant sprays or other feminine products, such as douches and powders, in the genital area can irritate the urethra.
👉 Practise safe sex.
HOME REMEDY
✔ Load Up on Vitamin C for a Healthy Urinary Tract
✔ Soothe UTI Pain With Heat
✔ Cut Bladder Irritants From Your Diet
✔ Go Ahead, Empty Your Bladder Again
✔ Change to Healthier Habits
✔ Cranberry juice
There's some indication, though it hasn't been proved, that cranberry juice may have infection-fighting properties and drinking it daily may help prevent urinary tract infections. Studies have shown the greatest effect in women who have frequent UTIs. Studies involving children and older adults have had mixed results.
It's not clear how much cranberry juice you'd need to drink or how often you'd need to drink it to have an effect.
If you enjoy drinking cranberry juice and feel it helps you prevent UTIs, there's little harm in continuing to drink it, but watch the calories. For most people, drinking cranberry juice is safe, but some people report an upset stomach or diarrhea.
However, don't drink cranberry juice if you're taking the blood-thinning medication warfarin, because this may lead to bleeding.
HLF🌀
No comments:
Post a Comment