Urinary tract infection is an infection that begins in the urinary system. The urinary system consists of the kidneys, urinary tubes, bladder, and urethra. The infection can attack any one of the urinary tract compounds, but the lower urinary tract, i.e. the urethra. The bladder is most susceptible to erosion Hap.
The most accepted and popular treatment for urinary tract infections is antibiotics, but some easy measures can reduce the odds of infection and urinary tract infections from the beginning.
Symptoms of a urinary tract infection
The symptoms of a urinary tract infection do not appear clearly in everyone who has the disease, but most of the infected people usually have one or two of the following symptoms:
A strong and persistent need to urinate.
A burning sensation when urinating.
Urinating in small amounts.
Hematuria or cloudy urine with a very strong odor.
Presence of germs in the urine.
Symptoms of urinary tract infection according to the type of infection
For each of the different types of inflammation, there are symptoms of urinary tract infection that are characteristic of it, depending on the area in which the inflammation occurs, as follows:
1. Acute pyelonephritis
Symptoms appear as follows
Back Pains.
goosebumps.
twitter.
Nausea.
vomiting.
fever.
2. Cystitis
Symptoms appear as follows
Body temperature s to abnormal levels.
Pressure in the pelvic area.
A feeling of discomfort in the lower abdomen.
The need for frequent urination and pain.
3. Urethritis
The patient feels burning when urinating.
Causes and risk factors for urinary tract infection
There are many etiologies and factors that increase UTIs.
Causes of urinary tract infection
The causes vary according to the type of inflammation as follows
1. Causes of cystitis
The causes of urinary tract infection are due to the entry of germs into the urinary system through the urethra, and then begin to multiply in the bladder.
The cause of cystitis in most cases is Escherichia coli, this type of bacteria is found in the digestive system and intestines, and sex may lead to inflammation of the bladder, but it is not necessary for a person to be sexually active in order to develop this infection.
2. Causes of urethritis
Sexually transmitted diseases (STD - Sexually transmitted diseases), such as
Herpes simplex virus.
Gonorrhea.
Chlamydiosis.
Risk factors for urinary tract infection
There are people who are more likely than others to develop urinary tract infections, such as:
sex
About half of all females get urinary tract infections at some point in their lives, and some get it more than once.
The main reason for this is the anatomical structure of the female body, as the urethra in the female body is shorter than in the male body, which makes the distance that bacteria have to travel in order to reach the bladder shorter.
sexual activity
Women who engage in more sexual activity are more likely to develop a urinary tract infection, as sexual intercourse may irritate the opening of the urethra, allowing bacteria to enter more easily and facilitate its transmission to the bladder.
Use of some contraceptives
Women who use a diaphragm are at greater risk of a UTI than women who use spermicide as a method of contraception.
Age
Menopause or amenorrhea, urinary tract infections become more common, because the tissues of the vagina, urethra, and base of the bladder become thinner and weaker due to the loss of estrogen.
Other diseases
There are some diseases that cause urinary tract infection
Urinary tract disorders, such as: kidney stones.
Diabetes.
Other chronic diseases that can hinder the functioning of the immune system.
Prolonged use of catheters in the bladder.
Complications of a urinary tract infection
If the urinary tract infection is treated promptly and well, there are rarely cases that result in complications, but if the infection is not treated, it may worsen and lead to more severe symptoms that cause a feeling of great distress.
Among the most important complications
Acute or chronic inflammation of the kidneys can cause permanent damage to the kidneys.
Having low birth weight babies or premature babies in case of infection during pregnancy.
A woman who has had a urinary tract infection more than three times is more likely to get additional infections in the future.
Diagnosis of a urinary tract infection
When the urologist suspects an infection, he asks to give a urine sample to check for the presence of pus, red blood cells, or bacteria in the urine, and to avoid contamination of the sample, he may ask to clean the genital area with antiseptics before starting to collect the sample from the middle of the urine stream.
A laboratory examination of a urine sample, which is sometimes added to the culture test, reveals whether there is an inflammatory contamination, and although there is no simple test that can distinguish whether inflammation is present in the upper or lower urinary tract, a mixture of fever and pain is present. A localized, concentrated infection can indicate that the infection has reached the kidneys.
Urinary tract infection treatment
If symptoms appear characteristic of a urinary tract infection in a generally healthy person, the effective and primary treatment of a urinary tract infection is with antibiotics. The type of medicine and the duration of treatment are determined according to the general health condition of the patient and the type of bacteria detected in the urine test.
1. Treat simple inflammation
The medications most commonly used to treat minor urinary tract infections include
Sulfamethoxazole trimethoprim.
Amoxicillin.
Ampicillin.
Nitrofurantoin.
Ciprofloxacin.
Levofloxacin.
Symptoms disappear after a few days of receiving treatment for urinary tract infections, however, the patient may need to continue taking antibiotics for more than a week, and it is necessary to take care to take all the drug doses prescribed by the doctor, to ensure complete and final neutralization of the causes of inflammation.
When treating a simple UTI in a person who is generally healthy, the doctor will usually recommend a short-term treatment, such as taking antibiotics for only three days, but checking if this treatment is appropriate for the ophthalmic symptoms.
The doctor may also prescribe analgesic medications that relieve pain in the bladder and urethra and reduce burning during urination.
One of the side effects of these medications is a bright blue or orange-tinged urine.
2. Treatment of recurrent tract infections
Treatment is done in different ways according to the case as follows
A patient who suffers from frequent urinary tract infections, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics for a longer period of time or a self-treatment program, so that the patient takes an antibiotic for a few days immediately after the appearance of symptoms characteristic of a urinary tract infection.
Treatment of infections that occur as a result of sexual relations, the doctor may prescribe a single dose of antibiotic after each sexual contact.
Women who have passed menopause, the doctor may advise her to use vaginal estrogen therapy to reduce the chances of recurrent urinary tract infections.
Cranberry juice has proven to be effective in preventing recurrent uritis, and it is possible for those who can tolerate it and drink it chronically to have a prescription.
The use of probiotics, which are bacteria and types of yeast that are live and beneficial to the human body, and that may help prevent recurrent urinary infection in many ways, such as maintaining a low pH in the vagina, or secreting many anti-inflammatory cytokines and other methods.
Women who use a spermicidal condom to prevent pregnancy should consider replacing this type of condom because it can be directly associated with recurrent urinary infections.
Receiving vaccinations is effective in reducing the possibility of recurrent urinary infection. It is still under research and study, and it could be a possible solution in the future.
3. Treatment of acute inflammation
Treatment of acute urinary tract infection may require hospitalization with intravenous antibiotics.
Prevention of urinary tract infection
The following things may reduce the risk of developing a urinary tract infection
Drink plenty of fluids, especially water.
Washing from front to back when using the bathroom.
Empty your bladder as soon as possible after sexual intercourse.
Avoid feminine hygiene products (Hygiene) that may cause irritation.
