UTI and its causes
It is the inflammation of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, or urethra. These are the components of the human urinary system. It is responsible for purifying the blood through the kidneys and then removing the waste and excess water in the urine through the ureters and collecting it in the bladder and finally discharging it through the urethra. Inflammation of the tracts is common and may occur in any person regardless of sex or age, but it affects women more commonly, especially after reaching menopause, due to the short length of urethra in women compared to men, making the entry of bacteria easier .
Urinary tract infection results from a bacterial infection that is naturally present in the human digestive system when it passes through the urethra to infect the rest of the urinary system. Some factors may increase the chances of urinary tract infection, such as suffering from conditions that may close the urethra such as kidney stones, the use of certain contraceptive methods such as disinfectant contaminants, or lack of immunity to the body resulting either from undergoing treatment Chemotherapy, HIV infection or others. These include prostate enlargement, diabetes, or urinary catheterization.
Symptoms of urinary tract infection
There are two types of urinary tract infections that differ in the location of the inflammation, the accompanying symptoms, and the treatment method as well. The first type is inflammation of the lower tract, and this inflammation includes both bladder and urethra, and symptoms are related to urine itself; the increased need of the patient to urinate, or the sense of difficulty or discomfort when doing so, in addition to the feeling of sometimes sudden desire and urgent to urinate can not tolerate delay, As well as the sensation of not full discharge of urine, or may notice the patient’s presence of blood in the urine, or has a bad smell, and may be accompanied by this type of inflammation pain in the lower abdomen in some cases.
Upper urinary tract infection affects the kidneys or ureters. It may be accompanied by the symptoms of lower urinary tract infection as well as a high body temperature of more than 38 °, or pain in the lower or lower back. The patient may also feel chills or the disease, The patient is confused, suffers from insomnia and discomfort, and may also be accompanied by vomiting or feeling nauseous.
Treatment of urinary tract infection
Urinary tract infections are usually treated using two methods: taking antibiotics and following certain household procedures as follows:
- Homework : It is recommended when the infection of urinary tract infection as follows:
- Drink large amounts of water.
- Use hot water packs to soothe pain.
- Avoid alcohol, caffeinated foods, or hot foods because they irritate the bladder.
- Some doctors recommend drinking cranberry juice; it may help fight inflammation.
- Smoking has been found to irritate the bladder and is associated with increased bladder cancer risk.
- Take analgesics, such as over-the-counter medications.
- Antibiotics : It is considered the basic treatment for urinary tract infection of any kind and even the presence of complications. The choice of antibiotic type and duration of treatment depends on several factors: type of inflammation, age, sex and others. There are many types of antibiotics commonly used in this case, such as trimethoprim, sulfamethixazole, fosomycin, nitrofurantoin, cyproflaxacin, levoflaxacin, cephalaxin, ceftriaxone, azithromycin and doxycycline. The method of treatment with antibiotics varies according to the type of inflammation as follows:
- Lower urinary tract infection: Antibiotics are given in this case for only three days, and some may give them a period of seven days. If accompanied by prostate inflammation in males, these antibiotics are treated for four weeks or more. In females, if there are early signs of damage to the kidneys, urinary tract disorders, or if they have diabetes, they will be treated for 5-7 days. Children are usually treated with antibiotics for 10 days. Doctors are advised to take certain compounds, such as vinnazoperidine or a similar one or two days with antibiotics, as these drugs reduce the feeling of burning when urinating.
- Upper urinary tract infection: As the effect of this type of inflammation on the patient is severe, the patient may resort to the hospital to suffer from severe symptoms, or fatigue, or high temperature, then, after the diagnosis of the patient properly, doctors usually resort to giving fluids In addition to the first doses of antibiotic, and then the treatment is completed home by taking oral medications for 10-14 days. The patient is then advised to consult a doctor several times for follow-up. Some patients may need to go to the hospital and receive intravenous treatment until their condition improves so they can have oral therapy. If the inflammation of the tract has the appearance of certain complications may resort to treatment for several weeks.
Complications of urinary tract infection
Urinary tract infections are rarely treated if long-term complications are properly treated, but if neglected or treated incorrectly, it may lead to the following complications:
- Repeat urinary tract infection, especially in women who have had it three or more times.
- Chronic damage to the kidneys caused by acute or chronic kidney pelvic inflammation.
- In pregnant women, the inflammation of the tract may cause small size of the fetus, or early birth.
- Erectile dysfunction, especially in males.