Urinary tract infection – causes, complaints & therapy

Urinary tract infection

urinary tract infection is a widespread infectious disease of the urinary tract. In younger years, predominantly women are affected by this disease. In later age, however, men are increasingly suffering from a urinary tract infection.

What is a urinary tract infection?

A urinary tract infection (urinary tract infection) is an infectious disease caused by pathogens and affecting the urinary tract. In most cases, it is triggered by bacteria. However, later on, the infection can also spread to the bloodstream or kidneys, so treatment should be provided promptly.

Due to the different living conditions, behaviors and anatomical changes, there are not only sexual but also age-related differences in susceptibility to a urinary tract infection.

Causes

Although a urinary tract infection is usually triggered by bacteria, there are very different causes. In almost all cases, the bacteria enter the urethra from the outside. In rare cases, however, transmission via the bloodstream can also be the cause of a urinary tract infection.The bacteria often originate from their own intestinal flora and enter the body again via the urinary tract, where they trigger the urinary tract infection. In addition, however, there are often many other factors that make the development of the infection possible in the first place. These include, for example, lack of fluid, dysfunction of the bladder or malformations of the urinary tract.

Adult women, on the other hand, are particularly susceptible to a urinary tract infection, as sexual intercourse can promote the spread of germs. Furthermore, however, some contraceptive methods can also promote the development of a urinary tract infection.

In young children, on the other hand, a urinary tract infection is often transmitted by a smear infection. Older people become susceptible to urinary tract infections because anatomical changes, such as the prolapse of the uterus or problems with the prostate, can lead to narrowing of the urinary tract.

When to see a doctor?

In women, an uncomplicated urinary tract infection often heals within a few days with the help of bladder tea, physical protection and warmth without medical treatment. A doctor should be consulted if the symptoms do not improve or even worsen despite treatment with home remedies. Blood in the urine may indicate a more severe course, which requires the use of antibiotics – in this case, a visit to the doctor must not be delayed. Also, the occurrence of fever, a strong general feeling of illness or pain in the kidney area speak for a spread of the inflammation and should be clarified immediately by the doctor.

During pregnancy, the urinary tract infection poses a risk to the health of mother and child, at the first signs it is advisable to consult the treating gynecologist. In men, urinary tract infections occur less frequently than in women, but should always result in a visit to a urologist: Often the urinary tract infection is caused by a disease of the prostate or a narrowing of the urethra. Even women who repeatedly suffer from bladder infections are advised to undergo a thorough examination by a urologist. Children should be presented to the pediatrician if they complain of pain when urinating or need to go to the toilet at short intervals. Also, wetting after the diaper age can indicate a urinary tract infection requiring treatment.

Symptoms and course

Possible signs of urinary tract infections:

The most common symptoms of a urinary tract infection are pain when urinating and a constant urge to Urinates . Otherwise, the symptoms can be very different depending on the gender. The pain varies depending on the severity of the infection and can only be alleviated by drinking plenty of fluids. The urine can also become reddish because it may contain pus and blood. But pain in the Lower abdomen or fever can also be an indication of a urinary tract infection. With increasing duration, a urinary tract infection can also spread to the kidneys. In this case, there is severe pain in the side, nausea and nausea.

Diagnosis

In order to diagnose a urinary tract infection, a physical examination and the collection of a urine sample from the patient lead to the goal. Bacteria and leukocytes (white blood cells) can be detected in the urine using special test strips. These are clear signs of a urinary tract infection.

The doctor determines which pathogens are the cause of the urinary tract infection. To do this, he has pathogens cultivated from the Urine Sample and laboratory conditions. In other words, the doctor does a urine culture. Pathogens cannot be detected in all cases of urinary tract infection. For example, if you have a urinary tract infection during pregnancy. Also after an operation on the urinary system or if the patient is taking antibiotics.

The blood test performed by the doctor can help diagnose a urinary tract infection. The following applies here: If the disease is not very developed, the blood values are unremarkable. When the kidneys become infected, the number of white blood cells increases.

The doctor can also carry out an ultrasound examination of the kidneys, bladder or prostate to diagnose a urinary tract infection . This shows the causes of the infection such as kidney stones, bladder stones or tumor. In men, an enlarged prostate can be the cause of the disease. Furthermore, in the case of an upper urinary tract infection, changes in the kidneys caused by the infection can often be seen on ultrasound. An X-ray with a contrast agent makes urine reflux visible.

Complications

While urinary tract infections can often be treated without medication or with antibiotics, complications can occur in rare cases. These are always due to the fact that the triggering bacteria spread further in the urogenital tract. A possible complication is the occurrence of inflammation of the renal pelvis, which in the worst case can lead to Urosepsis (blood poisoning caused by bacteria that enter the bloodstream from the kidney tissue). However, this can be prevented with antibiotics and hydration. The problem is that many urinary tract infections are asymptomatic and only trigger a trip to the doctor when clear symptoms (blood in the urine, severe pain, etc.) appear. Often the infection has already spread.

Inflammation of the renal pelvis can also take a chronic course, in which the infection flares up again and again. The same applies if antibiotic therapy that has started is stopped too early. Resistant germs can then lead to recurrent infections. Epididymitis is possible in men in rare cases. It can lead to infertility. In pregnant women, an unfavorable course of a urethral infection carries the risk of triggering a premature birth. All bacteria that cause a urinary tract infection or an infection of the rest of the urogenital tract can lead to cyst formation, which makes surgical measures necessary.

treatment and therapy

Milder cases of a urinary tract infection usually do not need to be treated with medication because they heal on their own. However, this can be supported by various measures. Drinking a lot of fluids can promote the excretion of the bacteria.

Consuming blackberries or cranberries not only relieves pain, but also leads to more acidic urine, which makes it harder for the bacteria to survive. Furthermore, special intimate hygiene should be observed in order to facilitate the healing of the urinary tract infection. Drug treatment with antibiotics is only necessary in more severe cases.Only in the case of recurring urinary tract infections is medicinal treatment with a broad-spectrum antibiotic alone not sufficient. In this case, a bacterial culture is first created to find out the optimal antibiotic.

The acidification of the urine (acidity) or the long-term intake of a weak antibiotic can also be used as therapy. Other medications can also be used to relieve pain and relieve spasms in a UTI to relieve symptoms and facilitate healing.

Prevention

In order to prevent a urinary tract infection, care should be taken to ensure good personal hygiene. But it can also be helpful for women to urinate after intercourse to flush out any bacteria that may have entered. A drinking quantity of two liters a day can lead to the flushing out of possible bacteria and should therefore be adhered to. In some cases, changing the contraceptive method can also be helpful for female sufferers. Furthermore, people who easily suffer from a urinary tract infection should avoid cold and wet conditions.

Dorothy Farrar

Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.

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