A urinary tract infection occurs in any part of the urinary system, such as the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. Usually, infections occur in the lower urinary tract and affect the bladder and the urethra. The risk of UTI is greater in women than in men, and it can be painful and annoying. However, UTI treatment can be done with antibiotics, but with certain measures, the chances of getting UTI can be reduced.
What are the Causes of UTI?
UTI can be caused when bacteria from the large intestine invade the urethra, which can reach and begin to multiply in the bladder. The infection, if not treated on time, can infect the kidneys.
Due to the abnormality in the urinary tract structure, some women are more susceptible to infection. Those with diabetes may be at higher risk, and other conditions that increase risk are pregnancy, multiple sclerosis, kidney stones, stroke, and spinal cord injury.
Infection of the bladder (cystitis) is usually caused by Escherichia coli, which is commonly found in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
Infection of the urethra (urethritis) can occur when GI bacteria spread from the anus to the urethra.
- Stress incontinence
- Urge incontinence
- Overflow incontinence
- Functional incontinence
- Mixed incontinence
Symptoms of UTIs
Some common symptoms are:
- Burning feeling during urination
- Frequent urge to urinate
- Pain or pressure in the back or lower abdomen
- Cloudy, dark, bloody, or strange-smelling urine
- Tiredness
- Fever or chills
- Pelvic pain
Tests and Treatments for UTIs
Consult your doctor if you suspect a urinary tract infection. For this, you need to give a urine sample to test the presence of UTI-causing bacteria.
Treatment
Antibiotics are best for Urinary tract infection treatment. Drugs such as Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, Fosfomycin are commonly recommended in urine infection treatment. However, drinking lots of water can help flush the bacteria from the system. Proper medication can soothe the pain and a heating pad may also be helpful.
Study shows that cranberry juice is also effective in urinary tract treatment. The tannin in the red berry can prevent E. coli bacteria from sticking to the walls of the bladder where they can cause infection. However, cranberry juice is not recommended if you’re taking blood-thinning medication.
Risk factors
The common risk factors for UTIs include:
- Sexually active women are more prone to UTIs than who aren't.
- The decline in estrogen after menopause causes changes in the urinary tract and make more susceptible to infection.
- Those born with urinary tract abnormalities have an increased risk of UTIs.
- Kidney stones or an enlarged prostate increases the risk.
- Few diseases can suppress the immune system and enhances the risk of UTIs.
Preparing for your appointment
When you suspect chronic kidney infection, you need to check with a doctor specializing in urinary disorders (urologist)
What to expect from your doctor
The doctor will ask you a few questions regarding the symptoms, treatment, severity of infection, etc. You need to make a checklist and be ready, to sum up all information about the symptoms occurring.
