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Urinary tract infections are usually primarily a female disorder, but some men are affected as well. It is caused by pathogens (bacteria) traveling up the urethra into the bladder (the tube that leads from where you urinate from into the bladder). When the bladder becomes irritated it is called cystitis. Any urinary tract infection (UTI) is treated with antibiotics so it does not travel higher into the kidneys.
Preventive Measures:
Preventive measures should include simple good hygiene, wiping front to back after going to the toilet, washing yourself regularly, making sure you urinate before and after sexual intercourse, avoiding “bubble baths” if you are prone to irritation, using white cotton lined panties, using white toilette tissue, as the dyes and perfumes in some of these products may promote an infection.
Signs and Symptoms:
Painful urination, blood in urine, dark color, foul odor, difficulty in urination, bladder pain, suprapubic pain (pain in lower abdomen), fever, having to urinate frequently, unable to hold urine called incontinence, irritation of meatus (the opening from which you urinate), feeling full like you have to urinate but you have already been to the bathroom, fatigue, weakness, depending on the severity it could also include profuse sweating.
Diagnosis:
Your doctor will determine if you have a UTI, by several means. First he uses your history, current complaints, and does a routine dip stick urinalysis at the office. This is called clean catch urine, he will have you get two samples one sample to be used in the office and the other is sent to the lab for a culture to see what bacterium is present in your urine. The simple dip stick tests the amounts of protein, specific gravity, the ph of your urine, it will also tell him if you are spilling over any sugar in your urine from that one test and your complaints he can make a preliminary diagnosis and treat you with antibiotics. Urinary tract infections are always treated with antibiotics, and they may prescribe a medication to help with the pain and bladder spasms you may be having. Depending on the severity of the symptoms.
Usually it takes 72 hours for the medication to fully kick in so that the pain totally subsides. You will be on antibiotics. If you are prone to yeast infections it is very important to tell your physician so you can be treated or given a medication to stop that process. Having a yeast infection with a urinary tract infection only inhibits the proper healing process.
Treatment
Omitting anything that will irrigate the bladder further from your diet, such as soda’s, caffeine, citrus drinks and teas. In taking a lot of water and cranberry juice that helps to neutralize the ph of the urine helps to ease some of the discomfort. Advil and Tylenol for pain, if sever the doctor may order Tylenol with Codiene for a short period of time. This will also include your antibiotics or other medications the doctor will prescribe you.
It is very important that you follow your physician’s instructions and take all of your medication regardless if you are feeling better. He or She has prescribed them for a reason; to make sure the bacteria is killed in your urine. If you stop the medication before you are totally cured you are setting yourself up for a recurrent infection and making the medication you took useless, as it has had a chance to mutate to another source of bacterium. Making the whole process not only costly is very ineffective in treating you.
Disclaimer: This is not to be mistaken for medical advice, only information.
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