Dr. Sachin Shelke
Internal Medicine
Urinary tract infection or UTI occurs when bacteria infect several parts of the urinary tract. The most common type of UTI is a bladder infection, also known as cystitis. Kidney infection, known as pyelonephritis, is a less common but more serious UTI. UTI is a common condition, especially among women. More than half of women will have urinary tract infection at least once in their lifetime. Thought to be a condition that will eventually clear up, UTI can have severe long term complications. Here is your complete guide on the condition and why you should get adequate treatment for it.
UTI is a prevalent infection that affects 150 million people every year. One-third of women are diagnosed with this infection before 24, and half of the women develop this infection at least once before the age of 35. Thirty per cent of women suffering from UTI will develop recurrent urinary tract infections, also known as rUTIs.
Urinary tract infection can be divided into four types depending on the area affected of the urinary system:
One of the most glaring symptoms is an intense burning sensation when you pass urine. This burning is usually accompanied by pain around the abdomen (and sometimes the middle of the back) and the urge to pass urine very often. The uniqueness of this symptom is that you will want to pass urine but will often only pass a few drops or very little urine. Apart from that, you might experience generalized body pain, fever and fatigue. Other symptoms include:
Causes
UTI or Urinary tract infection, simply put, is an infection of the urinary bladder. Caused due to infectious organisms entering the urinary tract and multiplying in the bladder, UTI is a very uncomfortable and painful condition; if left untreated, it can infect the kidneys.
The urinary tract consists of all the organs that help make urine and excrete it from your body, including the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder and urethra. A urinary tract infection occurs when an infectious organism enters your urinary tract – usually through the urethra and causes an infection. Here's what you should know about urinary tract infections in children.
The most common UTI causing organisms are those found in your faeces; these organisms are naturally present in your stomach, but when they enter your urinary system, they cause an infection.
Risk Factors
UTI is more common in women than in men since their urethra is much shorter than that of a man – 4 centimetres in women as compared to 20 centimetres in men – making it easy for the organism to infect the bladder. Older adults and young children are more susceptible to get UTI. Older adults with Alzheimer’s disease have an increased risk of developing UTI.
The infection may spread to the urethra in a number of ways; some of them are:
It is better to take necessary precautions and prevent urinary tract infection from recurring rather than suffer from long-term complications. Here are some basic tips that can help you:
Diagnosis is first based on your symptoms. Your doctor will initially give you a few pain killers and antihistamines. In cases where a confirmation is required, you will be advised to get a urine test. This test will check your urine for the presence of pus cells and blood cells. In some cases, you will also be advised to get a urine culture, where the organism causing the infection is identified, and the antibiotic that will kill it will also be zeroed in on.
The doctor may also suggest the following tests to rule out other problems in the urinary system:
UTI is normally treated with antibiotics, antipyretics (medicines that help bring down a fever) and pain killers. In severe cases, you may need to get an intravenous drip with antibiotics.
Treatment regimens as per the type of UTIs are, but mainly depends on urinary culture and sensitivity :
Prognosis
Most of the symptoms of UTIs often disappear with 24 to 48 hours after beginning the treatment. However, kidney infection lasts for more than a week.
Complications
Typically, UTI is easily curable with medication. But if ignored, the infection can spread to the kidneys and infect them, making it a hazardous condition. Studies have also found that repeated UTI infections can lead to the formation of kidney stones known as ‘struvite stones. Here are five common complications of urinary tract infection:
Here are few effective home remedies to treat UTI.
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If a person chronically controls the urge to pee, they might be putting themselves at risk of conditions like urine incontinence, overactive bladder and stones
UTI is commonly associated with women. But men are prone to this infection too and it can lead to unwanted complications. Read on to know more.
Researchers found that temocillin led to lower selection of resistant intestinal bacteria than the standard treatment for febrile urinary tract infection.
The hot and sultry summer months significantly increases your risk of urinary tract infections, warn doctors. Read on to know how to prevent infection.
Urinary tract infections are usually treated with antibiotics, but prolonged use of antibiotics may lead to several health problems. Ayurveda is believed to a safer and more effective treatment than antibiotics.
Almost half of all patients with uncomplicated urinary tract infections receive the wrong antibiotics with possible undesirable outcomes. Read on to know more.
If you are pregnant, you are susceptible to infections because your immune system is compromised. This monsoon, know how to keep urinary tract infections at bay.
Women are more prone to developing a UTI than men. Below are some steps you can take to reduce your chances of getting a UTI.
You are more likely to suffer from urinary tract infections in winters if you don't drink enough water. Compared to men, women are more vulnerable to such infections. Below are a few tips that will help keep bacteria at bay.
Women might not talk about it, but vaginal dryness is an extremely uncomfortable condition that they have to face. Read on to know more.
Masturbation can offer a range of health benefits from reducing your risk of diabetes to preventing infertility. Read on to know more.
You can use your smartphone to diagnose various health conditions, thanks to the tracking apps that are available now. Here is a list of diagnostic apps that can prove to be your best health buddy.
Did you know that there are many natural home remedies that you can use for the treatment of urinary tract infections?
Probiotics which are often called 'good or helpful bacteria', help maintain the right ratio of good to bad bacteria in the gut and help prevent a number of diseases.
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