Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary Tract Infection General Information

Urinary Tract Infection is the generic name given to any infection that occurs in the kidneys, urethers, bladder or urethra. Although urine is sterile and does not typically contain any bacteria, in some cases pathogen agents do find their way into the urinary tract, most commonly through the urethra. Thus, the most common infections are those of the urethra (urethritis) and bladder (cystitis), but there are cases of urether or kidney (pyelonephritis) infection as well. These are severe affections and need to be treated immediately, as they can result in possibly lethal consequences.

Generally, sexually active women are affected the most by Urinary Tract Infections, while boys and young men are less often affected by this condition. Recurrence is also possible, so it is advised that you take preventive measures to protect yourself from such infections. Maintaining a good level of hygiene is in this case one of the first and most important preventive measure that one can take. Also, proper washing of the genital organs before and after sexual intercourse is a good measure against this type of infections. Special care should be taken by people engaging in anal sex, as the bowels contain a very large number of bacteria that may easily cause infections in the urinary tract, both in men and in women. In such cases, the use of condoms as well as thoroughly washing the genitalia before engaging in vaginal sex is highly advised.

Urinary Tract Infection Symptoms

While the Urinary Tract Infection can be asymptomatic, in most cases it will manifest some symptoms. There are particular symptoms depending on the part of the urinary tract that is affected; however there are some general symptoms as well to most of the cases of infections of the urinary tract. These include, but may not limit to a strong constant need to pass urine, however the process of urinating is painful, and a burning sensation accompanies the expulsion of urine. The volume passed is small, and the urine may be bloody or cloudy with a strong smell. Urine sample testing will reveal the presence of bacteria in the urine.

An Urinary Tract Infection localized in the kidneys will also be accompanied by back, groin and flank pain, nausea and vomiting, as well as shaking, chills and high fever. Night sweats and fatigue are also common in cases of pyelonephritis. Cystitis may present, apart from the generic symptoms, low grade fever, pressure or pain in the pelvic region, however the symptoms are typically mild and the pain in not so severe as in the case of kidney infection. Urethritis does not typically cause fever or generalized pain; however the pain is more intense when passing urine.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms associated with Urinary Tract Infection, it is highly advised that you contact your specialized health care professional, as this condition needs to be treated immediately, before the infection can spread to other parts of the urinary tract.

Urinary Tract Infection Treatment

In the case of Urinary Tract Infection, the treatment of choice is antibiotics. The dosage and treatment duration depends largely on the severity of the infection as well as the age and general health condition of the patient. In most cases, if the infection is simple and does not have any further complications or underlying affections, a standard antibiotic treatment should be employed for 3 days, or 5 days in elderly patients. Oral antibiotics are typically prescribed to fight off such infections, and some examples of these are nitrofurantoin, cephalosporins, trimethoprim, levofloxacin or ciprofloxacin.

In more complicated cases of Urinary Tract Infections, such as infections of the kidneys, the base treatment should also involve the administering of intravenous antibiotics such as Gentamicin, Ampicillin and Ceftriaxone. The intravenous perfusion should be kept until the fever subsides, as well as an additional 48 hours afterwards. After that the patient should still continue the treatment with oral antibiotics for an additional 5 to 7 days.

In cases where the patient does not respond to intravenous treatment, further measures need to be taken, such as a CT scan to check for kidney abscess or for lesions, stones or tumors in the area which may aggravate the patient’s condition. Persistent fever as well as worsening renal functions should be signs that the patient’s state of health is not improving and should demand for further investigations. Also further investigations should be deemed necessary in the case of a recurring Urinary Tract Infection. Ultrasound kidney and bladder scans or X-rays of the urinary tract (following an injection with iodinated contrast material for better observation) should be employed, in order to detect any complications that may have appeared.

Apart from the medication treatment to Urinary Tract Infection, patients should be advised to employ a diet that incorporates drinking large amounts of liquids as well as frequent urination. Sugar should be avoided as well as alcohol, as they feed the bacteria and may worsen pain as well as other symptoms. Unsweetened cranberry juice should be consumed frequently. An addition of vitamin C to the last meal of the day can assist in shortening the duration of the infection, as it increases urine acidity and impairing bacteria reproduction.

It is highly advised that if you believe you are suffering from an Urinary Tract Infection you should immediately contact your specialized health care professional. The situation needs to be assessed as soon as possible and a treatment should be prescribed, according to your age, medical history and general health condition. You should not postpone being examined by a specialized physician as untreated infections can spread and cause severe consequences, in some cases causing the death of the patient. Also, it is highly advised that you closely follow the dosage for any oral antibiotics that you have been prescribed, and you should never alter the doses, either by altering the intake schedule or by altering the intake schedule that your prescribing doctor has recommended. While a lower dosage may be inefficient in fighting off the infection, higher doses can lead to overdose and death.