Understanding urinary tract infections, causes, symptoms, and prevention

Urinary tract infections:                  

Infections of urinary tract are normally due to bacteria from poo enter the Urinary tract. When bacteria enter with the help of tube that Carries pee out of the body. This tube is known as urethra. Females has smaller tube or urethra as compared to males. It means bacteria can travel more easily to the bladder or kidney and cause infection.

The infection of urinary system is referred as urinary tract infection. Our urinary system has four parts kidney,   bladder, ureter and urethra. In women the urethra is small so chance of infections is greater in female. About 1 in 2 women get urinary infections in their life .and about 1 in 10 male has chance to get infections.

Normally following are the conditions which increase the bacterial infections in bladder:

Sex increase the chance of infections.

Pregnancy.

The conditions which block the urinary tract know as kidney stone.

Or when we feel difficultly in fully empty the bladder for example in condition when prostate large in male or in constipation in children in which person feel difficulty to remove the waste

Urinary catheters:

Persons in which   immune system is very weak the chance of every infections increases in such people.

Deficiency of fluids or in taking of water. Not keeping the reproductive area clean and dry.

Type of urinary tract infections:

Urinary tract infections has type on the base of which part of body included

• Cystitis
• Polynephritis
• Urethritis

Cystitis:

Cystitis is an inflammation of bladder which is caused by bacteria which spread to kidney sometimes and cause severe pain. It is serious health problem form which infections spread to other part of body. Cystitis may be caused by as a result of reaction to certain drugs, radiation therapy or irritants, such as feminine hygiene   spray .Cystitis may also occur as a result of complication of another illness or disease.

Cystitis is the infection of urinary tract (UTI) in which bladder is affected badly. Mostly females are affected more commonly as compared to males. Sometimes the symptoms of urinary tract infection are automatically relieved but in most of the cases a complete course of antibiotics is required. In some people cystitis occurs rapidly so they receive long term and regular medication.

Cystitis is an infection which effect the bladder. It is mostly occur  in women.in this infections it feel to pee a lot after sometime during pee pain is occur the color of urine in this infection bloody red and it cause pain in lower belly.

Causes:

Bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) is the cause of bladder inflammation. Sexual problems may also be the cause for bladder infection in females.

Symptoms of cystitis:

Stinging, burning sensation or pain occur when you go for pee

Need to pee more and more and urgently than usual

The color of pee is dark and has unbearable smell

Pain in lower belly.

Symptoms in young children:

A high grade fever. Such patients are warmer than normal if you check their back, belly or neck.

Wetting.

Appetite is decreased and being weak and ill.

Weakness

In older:

People with old age and urinary catheter has cognitive impairment and symptoms are following:

• There behaviors are change such as they appear to be confused or anxious and may go into state of delirium.
• Wetting themselves more than normal routine.
• Shivering

Diagnose 

Many ways to diagnose the cystitis. Which are following.

• Urine test.
• Cystoscopy.
• Imaging test.

Management:

• Taking self-care care very important.
• Recommendation of pain killer.
• Urine test done if needed.
• Taking antibiotics for 3 days.
• Before giving antibiotics wait almost 48 hours because sometimes automatically natural recovery occurred.
• Antibiotic is used once within 2 hours of having sex, if you have noticed sex occur.
• Antibiotics of low potency are used for almost 6 months.
• If you have gone after menopause   then used vaginal estrogen cream.
• In some women, antibiotics or urine tests do not inform us about infection even   women have developed cystitis symptoms.
• If infections remains for long duration then I cause the cancer of bladder in people

Pyelonephritis:

The urinary tract infection may damage one or both kidneys .it may be caused by viruses or bacteria. It may cause people to feel uncomfortable and urgent medication is require.

The UTI is the cleaning system of our body.

Healthy kidneys work 24 hours to clean our blood. Human   kidney is a bean-shaped organ which is present near the midline of the back, just under the ribs. One kidney is present on each side of the spine or back.

Kidneys are the main filter system of our body which filters the blood and remove extra waste .They clean almost 150 quarts of blood per day. Every day by removing water and waste from the blood it form almost 1 2 quarts of urine.  Normally urine goes from the kidneys down to the bladder and move out through the urethra. The role of kidney in human body very important because it remove waste from the body if it remains in human body cause serious health issue.

Function of kidney:

• It balance the fluid.
• It maintain the Electrolyte levels (e.g., sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, acid)
• It remove Waste removal as a urine
• It regulate  the function  of blood  pressure  and red blood cell counts .damage kidney not Able to work properly fi damage is small then it can be regulate easily. But major damage cause many problems because it effect the function of kidney and disturb the filtration rate.

Symptoms:

• Frequent and painful urination.
• Pain behind the back or in genital region.
• High grade temperature.
• Vomiting and irritability
• Many children only have the symptoms of fever they not having pain related problems. While in old age problems increase such as confusion muddled speech or disturb vision. kidney problems can become very dangerous and life treating so as urgent as possible treatment is required

Causes:

Polynephritis is caused by viruses and bacteria. The one of the famous bacteria E.coli caused UTI. But the bacteria of intestine may also cause the infection of urethra bladder and this infection further spread to kidney and cause major problems. Normally cystitis occur 1 3 percent per year in female  and if this infection is long lasting then it spread out to kidney and cause major problems one the main thing is disturb the filtration. Hence many problems arise by this and whole body suffer from this. It is also caused by disturb the flow for urine and complete blockage of urine which leads to infection to kidney.  Normally the blockage of kidney occur due to the

Kidney stone. Tumor of kidney or urethra ureter.

Structural problems of UTI:

People which has diabetes and weak immune system has more chances to develop infections and recovery period is also slow I such patients so it cause serious infections and leads to damage of kidney. Pregnant women also have danger if thy develop UTI.

Diagnosis: 

The problem of abdomen and pelvis has same similarities which has UTI so it cause major confusion to Dr.  for diagnosis. But for the diagnosis Dr.  Has used following test:

Medical history: Dr.  Asked about the start of disease, symptoms, when it begin and about general medical history. Hence this help to understand the actual condition of disease and patients.

Physical examination: Dr.  For physical examination press the abdomen and feel pain or tenderness. He also collect blood sample and urine sample for further investigation

Urinalysis:

Dr.  Check the sample of urine for UTI. He noticed the white blood cells and bacteria which are increases in infections.

Urine culture:

In this procedure bacteria grow in dish very rapidly to calculate which antibiotic is proved effective in treatment of UTI.

Blood culture: 

Blood culture tell us that where the infection spread or it reaches to blood of the patient.

CT scan: 

Generally the Need of CT scan is not necessary for kidney problems or UTI but it helps to diagnose the region where infections occur.

Kidney ultrasound: 

Kidney ultrasound is necessary to locate the origin of infection wound or stone in kidney or ureter.

Voiding cystourethrogram:  

It is also used to diagnosis the UTI related problems.

Digital rectal examination:

DRE is used to check the prostate. The male which has UTI must go for DRE for the examination.

Treatment: 

Antibiotics mostly used to treat infection. Antibiotics are taken in the form of prostate as any further problem occurs.  Of pill if any severe problem occurs then take antibiotics through IV in hospital.

Urine culture is need to check the infections type and which antibiotic has to use.

If blockage of UTI or stone is present then surgery is required.

Related problems occur during infections:

• High blood pressure.
• Kidney damage
• Sepsis

Infections in pregnancy:

Normally the infections in pregnant women would prove very dangerous for the health of baby kr mother both .so it required urgent medication or treatment.

Urethritis: 

Urethritis is the inflammation of the urethra. Urethra is the passage way by which urine (pee) moves from your bladder to the outside of your body. Infection is the reason for urethritis.  Mostly, the infection is spread through the sexually transmitted disease.

Types of urethritis:

Gonococcal urethritis which occurs due to gonorrhea.

Nongonococcal urethritis (NGU) which have causes other than gonorrhea. Repeated irritation of urethra may cause this infection.

Non-specific urethritis (NSU) is the type of urethritis whose cause is not known.

Following are the risk factors for urethritis:

• People with age 15 to 24 are at higher risks.
• Having sex with more than one person
• Sex without any protection.
• Handling the objects that have irritants such as deodorants
• If any trauma occurs to urethra which cause serious issue.

Prevailing of urethritis: 

Many people in the USA which are infected by urethritis every year. Normally average 62 billion are caused by gonorrhea and 89 billion by NGU each year

Sign and symptoms:

• Pain during urination (dysuria).
• Pain while having sex (dyspareunia).
• Irritation at the tip of the urethra.
• Penile discharge which includes blood or pus
• Pelvic pain
• Nongonococcal urethritis is found in males mostly

Causes:

The main cause of urethritis are sexually transmitted disease. Apart from gonorrhea, other STIs are following

• Chlamydia.
• Trichomoniasis.
• Genital herpes.
• Sometimes   urethritis can get by this

UTI:

Infections of yeast exposure to irritants such as spermicides, soaps and douches pressing the penis  in a roughly way

Activities that cause pressure on your urethra, such as some sexual activities or riding a bicycle.

Putting any equipment inside your urethra, like a catheter that aid you to pee.

Urethritis contagious or not:

Inflammation of urethritis itself is not dangerous but the infections which occur due to it will be contagious. If the urethritis is due to sexually transmitted diseases then must be treated the sexually transmitted disease. You and partner both have to take treatment otherwise it cause serious problems.

Urethritis diagnosis:

Dr.  Must take medical history in which it ask about everything as about sexual history. Dr.  Also take physical examination for redness, pain, swelling and discoloration

The test are following which are mostly used:

• Lab tests for discharge.
• Blood tests.
• Urine tests.
• Such tests also tell us about the urethritis and the infection which cause it.

Urethritis treatment

Actually antibiotics are used for any type of infections mostly infections caused by bacteria. Following antibiotics are used in the treatment of urethritis:

• Azithromycin.
• Doxycycline.
• Ofloxacin.
• Levofloxacin.
• Ceftriaxone.

These antibiotics are very useful treatment for urethritis which are used in combination of other drugs. If irritants or chemicals cause urethritis then u must use lose clothing stop wearing tight clothing and don’t used irritants and reduce the activity which cause friction.

Complications which are occurred by using antibiotics:

Antibiotics cause side effects including nausea, diarrhea and stomach disturb. Normally we used Antibiotics with other medicine to reduce its side effects. Must share your problems with your Dr after taking antibiotics. Long term used of antibiotics is not prove good.

 Prevention of urethritis:

The risk of developing urethritis is reduced by following.

• We can prevent ourselves from developing sexually transmitted diseases.  For this we have to do safe sex and decreasing the number of sexual partner.
• If you are sexually active then go for regular test of STIs.
• The chemicals which irritate the urethra must be avoided.
• Avoiding the activities which irritate the urethra.

If someone has urethritis and then treated with the correct medication, then he will be cure completely. It is very important to notice that both partners take the proper medication. If only one of partner take medication then it will cause the infection to pass back and forth. If both of them get medication then wait for to finish all the symptoms before going to sexual activities again. Dr must tell about safe sex tips tell the exact use of condom, female condoms and dental dams.

If urethritis not treated: 

Inflammation of urethritis may get resolved on its specific time. If sexually transmitted infections are the cause of urethritis then there are chances that germs may stay in patient’s body.

Untreated sexually transmitted disease may cause issues that are given below:

• Penis swelling occur.
• Inflammation of lymph channels in the penis
• Blockage in urethra
• Abscess formation in the urethra.
• Inflammatory problems of urethra
• Infertility.

Taking self-care in urethritis  

Taking painkillers of high potency to reduce the pain caused by it.

Intake of water increase too much so that urine is diluted and because less pain and cause waste to excrete more.

Go for Pee when you need to it — and do not try itself to stop pee.

Go sits bath in warm water 2 or 3 times in a day.

Urethritis mostly due to the infection. Sexually transmitted infection (sexually transmitted disease) is its most common reason.

Antibiotics are best way to treat the urethritis. High dosage antibiotics are mostly used.

Vaginitis:

Vaginitis is an infection of vagina in female. It is disease of female.

It is an inflammation of the vagina that can cause   discharge, itching, irritation and pain. It is mostly caused by bacteria which produce severe infection. When level of estrogen is decrease after menopause then the chance of this infection increased.

Types:

Trichomoniasis: it is due to the parasite and it is also sexually transmitted disease.

Yeast infections: it is caused by a fungus name is candida. It is naturally occurring fungus.

Bacterial vaginosis: it is due to the bacteria which found in your vagina. It is normally caused by naturally over growth of bacteria which disturb the natural balance and cause severe problems.

Signs and symptoms: 

• The color odor and amount of discharge is change in vagina.
• Itching or irritation in vagina
• Pain occur  during sexual  activities
• Pain occur  during urination
• bleeding or spotting in vaginal  during sex
• The color amount and smell is vary of discharge form vagina in its different types.
• In bacterial vaginosis the discharge is greyish white foul-smelling. The smell is fishy type which is clearer after sex.
• In yeast infections the main issue is itching the color of discharge is thick white just like a cottage cheese.
• In trichomonas’s the color of vaginal discharge is greenish-yellow and this discharge is frothy.

Diagnosis: 

For diagnosis purpose we mostly used damsel criteria in which we used

• Vaginal pH greater than 4.5
• Positive whiff test
• The color of discharge is milky
• Clue cells present in vaginal fluids

Treatment: 

• Oral and topical clindamycin.
• Metronidazole.
• Clotrimazole.
• Miconazole.
• Miconazole.

Actually the infection normally not spread from person to person. But sexually transmitted infections can spread from partner to partner .so the treatment of both partner is needed in complete course of medication.

UTI Prevention:

UTI can be prevented by doing following things:

• After sexual activities urinate
• Hydrated well
• Take bath properly after sex
• Minimum used of spray or powder  in the genital area which prevent infection
• Poty training in girl by telling exact way of wash from front to back
• Stay hydrated. Drinking enough water can help prevent and treat UTIs.
• Urinate when the need arises.
• Drink cranberry juice are used in these infections.
• Used probiotics.
• Taking vitamin C.
• Wipe from forward to backward direction
• good sexual hygiene must be practiced
• Heating pads
• Loose clothing

Risk Factors:

Some people are at higher risk of getting a UTI. UTIs are more common in females because their urethras are shorter and closer to the rectum. This makes it easier for bacteria to enter the urinary tract.

Factors which may increase the risk of UTI:

• A previous UTI history
• Sexual activity with different sex partner.
• The amount of bacteria change or increase which live in the vagina.
• Pregnancy.
• Age.
• Enlarged prostate.
• Other structural problems.
• Poor hygiene conditions for example in children the poty training.

UTI risk factors in pregnant women:

Actually UTI in pregnant women cause to increase  the blood pressure  and cause premature baby birth .so if u have UTI symptoms then firstly treat UTI problems then go for pregnancy  to prevent from any further difficulties .because in pregnant women baby birth occur before the time and cause unhealthy baby or infant  .

For the recovery of UTI we must take proper rest and used of antibiotics and manage the diet also.

Diet used in UTI patients:

Foods like yogurt pickles sauerkraut must be used because they contain good bacteria which help to treat the infection caused by UTI. High fiber foods must be used. Such as

• Banana.
• Beans.
• Lentils.
• Nuts.
• Oats.
• Whole Grains.

These high fiber work to remove dangerous bacteria form body.