Urinary tract infection is common, do not take it home!

Have you ever experienced a burning sensation while urinating? Did your urine have a strong smell? Were you also experiencing frequent urination at the time?

Then you may have had a Urinary Tract Infection. The above symptoms are but a few of the symptoms if it presents any.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can occur in any part of your urinary tract – kidneys, ureters, bladder, or urethra. Infections of the lower urinary tract – the bladder and urethra – are most common.

Women are more likely to experience UTIs than men. Infections of the bladder can be uncomfortable and unpleasant, but if a UTI spreads to your kidneys, serious consequences can occur.

SYMPTOMS

There are not always symptoms associated with urinary tract infections, but when they do occur they may include:

• A strong, persistent urge to urinate

• Burning sensations when urinating

• Routinely passing small amounts of urine

• Cloudy urine

• Blood in the urine may appear red, bright pink, or cola-coloured

• Strong-smelling urine

• A woman may experience pelvic pain, especially in the area of the pubis

Elderly adults are more likely to overlook UTIs or confuse them with other conditions.

TYPES OF UTI

Infections can occur in different parts of the urinary tract, and they are called by different names depending on where they happen.

• Cystitis of the bladder can cause you to pee excessively or to feel pain when you do. It can also cause you to have cloudy urine or blood in your urine.

• Pyelonephritis (kidneys) can result in fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, and upper back pain and discomfort.

• Urethritis may cause a discharge and pain when you urinate.

CAUSES OF UTI

Bacteria entering the urinary tract through the urethra and multiplying in the bladder often cause urinary tract infections. Even though the urinary system is designed to protect against such bacteria, these defences sometimes fail. If that occurs, bacteria could take hold and grow into a full-blown infection in the urinary tract.

• Infection of the bladder (cystitis). In this type of UTI, Escherichia coli (E. coli), a type of bacteria commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract (GI), is responsible for the infection. However, other bacteria can also cause infection. Sexual intercourse may lead to cystitis, but you don’t have to be sexually active to develop it. A woman’s anatomy makes her vulnerable to cystitis, especially the short distance between the urethra and anus and the opening along the urethral wall that leads to the bladder.

• Infection of the urethra (urethritis). In this type of UTI, GI bacteria spread from the anus to the urethra. Additionally, because the female urethra is located close to the vagina, infections such as herpes, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, and mycoplasma may cause urethritis.

RISK FACTORS

Women are prone to urinary tract infections, and many experience more than one infection in their lifetime. Specific risk factors for women include:

• Female anatomy. Women have a shorter urethra than men, which makes it easier for bacteria to reach the bladder.
• Sexual activity.  Women who are sexually active tend to have more UTIs than those who aren’t. Switching partners also increases your risk.

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• Birth control methods. Women who use diaphragms for birth control, as well as those who use spermicidal agents, may be at higher risk.

• Menopause. As estrogen levels decline during menopause, you become more susceptible to infections in the urinary tract.

OTHER RISK FACTORS INCLUDE:

• Abnormalities of the urinary tract. The risk of UTIs is higher in babies born with abnormalities of the urinary tract that prevent urine from leaving the body normally or cause urine to back up in the urethra.

• Urinary tract obstructions. UTIs can be caused by kidney stones or an enlarged prostate that trap urine in the bladder.

• A suppressed immune system. The risk of UTIs increases with diabetes and other diseases that impair the immune system.

• Catheter use. An increased risk of UTIs exists for people who can’t urinate on their own and use a tube (catheter). The category may include people who are hospitalised, people with neurological problems that make it hard for them to control their bladder function, and people who are paralysed.

• Recent urological surgery. An exam of your urinary tract with medical instruments or a surgery on your urinary tract can both place you at risk for urinary tract infections.

COMPLICATIONS

Infections of the lower urinary tract rarely result in complications when they are treated promptly and properly. An untreated urinary tract infection, however, can cause serious complications.

Complications of a UTI may include:

• Recurring infections, especially in women who experience more than two UTIs in a six-month period or four or more within a year.

• Acute or chronic kidney infection (pyelonephritis) caused by an untreated UTI that permanently damages the kidneys.

• Pregnant women are more likely to deliver low birth weight or premature babies.

• Men with recurrent urethritis have narrowing (stricture) of the urethra, a condition previously seen with gonococcal urethritis.

• Infections can lead to sepsis, which is a potentially life-threatening complication, especially if the infection goes into your urinary tract or kidneys.

PREVENTION

Here are some steps you can take to reduce your risk of urinary tract infections:

• Drink plenty of liquids, especially water. Drinking water helps dilute your urine and ensures that you’ll urinate more frequently — allowing bacteria to be flushed from your urinary tract before an infection can begin.

• Drink cranberry juice. Although studies are not conclusive that cranberry juice prevents UTIs, it is likely not harmful.

• Wipe from front to back. Doing so after urinating and after a bowel movement helps prevent bacteria in the anal region from spreading to the vagina and urethra.

• Empty your bladder soon after intercourse. Also, drink a full glass of water to help flush bacteria.

• Avoid potentially irritating feminine products. Using deodorant sprays or other feminine products, such as douches and powders, in the genital area can irritate the urethra.

• Change your birth control method. Diaphragms, or unlubricated or spermicide-treated condoms, can all contribute to bacterial growth.

Source:

Maureen Masopeh and Tina Amarh

Content Creators

Health Essentials Ghana Limited

References:

• Mayoclinic.org
• Webmd.com