Urinary Tract Infection
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a bacterial infection that affects any part of the urinary tract. Although urine contains a variety of fluids, salts, and waste products, it usually does not have bacteria in it. When bacteria get into the bladder or kidney and multiply in the urine, it causes a UTI.
The most common type of UTI is a bladder infection, which is also often called cystitis (pronounced: sis-tie-tis). Another kind of UTI is a kidney infection, which is also known as pyelonephritis (pronounced: pie-low-neh-freye- tis). This kind of infection is more serious.
Although they cause discomfort, urinary tract infections are usually quickly and easily treated - but it's important that they are treated promptly. You can't get a urinary tract infection from someone else, although females who are just becoming sexually active often get UTIs.
Bacteria Are to Blame
UTIs are usually caused by E. coli, bacteria that are usually found in the digestive tract and on the skin around the rectal and vaginal areas. When the bacteria pass through the urethra (the narrow urine canal that connects the bladder to the outside), they can get up into the bladder and cause an infection.
Some girls get urinary tract infections more frequently, and most doctors believe that this is because of differences in the shape and length of the urethra. A girl with a shorter urethra may get more UTIs. Guys generally get fewer urinary tract infections than females because they have longer urethras.
There are several ways bacteria can get into the urethra. During sexual intercourse, the bacteria in the vaginal area may be pushed into the urethra, which causes irritation in the bladder. Sexual intercourse may also bruise vaginal tissue and contribute to an infection. In fact, any time the vaginal area is irritated, bacteria can be pushed into the urethra.
Burning (and Other Symptoms)
There are a number of symptoms associated with UTIs. With bladder infections, symptoms include:
- Frequent urination
- Burning or pain during urination
- The feeling of having unrinate even though little actually comes out
- Pain in the genital area or in the lower back
In some cases, you may have bloody or foul-smelling urine, and maybe a mild fever. Males with urinary tract infections sometimes experience a discharge from the penis. A kidney infection may involve more serious symptoms, including:
- Fever
- Chills
- Nausea
- Cloudy or bloody urine
- Abdominal pain and burning
- Frequent urination
- Back pain just above the waist.
If you have any symptoms of a urinary tract infection, you'll need to go to us right away. The symptoms won't go away if you ignore them - they'll only become worse. The more quickly you begin treatment, the less uncomfortable it will be.
Call our office or visit our clinic immediately, even if it's during a weekend (Saturday). The most important thing is to take action as soon as possible.
Battling the Bacteria
Only a doctor can treat urinary tract infections. The first thing we will do is confirm that you have a UTI by taking a clean-catch urine specimen. At our office, you'll be asked to wash your genital area with disposable wipes and then urinate into a sterile (bacteria-free) cup.
If an infection is found when the specimen is examined, you'll be given antibiotics. Because there are many different antibiotics available, the doctor may then use your urine specimen for a urine culture, which is a test to identify the exact type of bacteria causing your infection. It takes about 48 hours to get results from a urine culture, and your doctor may ask you to switch antibiotics depending on the results.
Although antibiotics begin fighting the infection right away, they can't stop all the symptoms right away. If you have a lot of pain, your doctor may recommend a medication to help relieve the spasm and pain in your bladder. This will make your urine orange-colored (which is harmless), and will usually make you much more comfortable within hours. In the case of a kidney infection, your doctor may prescribe pain medication.
It's important to take the antibiotics until the prescription is finished. Many people stop taking medication when they begin to feel better, but that doesn't allow the antibiotics to completely kill the bacteria, which increases the risk that the infection will reappear.
For some infections, you may only have to take antibiotics for 3 days, but usually you'll be on medication for 7 to 14 days. If symptoms continue after you've used up all your medication or if your symptoms aren't much better after 2 to 3 days of treatment, you should contact your doctor.
It's important to drink lots of water during and after treatment because each time you urinate, the bladder cleanses itself a little bit more. Cranberry juice also has been shown to have positive effects on UTIs.
If you get a doctor's help right away, a UTI should completely clear up within a week. For a more serious kidney infection, you probably will have to return to the doctor's office for a follow-up visit to ensure that the infection has responded completely to the medication.
In either case, you will be advised to avoid sexual intercourse until the symptoms have been gone for 2 weeks, which allows the inflammation to disappear completely.
Only You Can Prevent UTIs
There are several ways you may be able to prevent urinary tract infections. After urination, females should wipe from front to back with toilet paper. After bowel movements, be sure to wipe from front to back to avoid spreading bacteria from the rectal area to the urethra.
Another thing you can do to prevent UTIs, whether you're a male or female, is to go to the bathroom to empty your bladder frequently. Avoid holding your urine for long periods of time.
Males and females should also keep the genital area clean and dry. Girls should change their tampons and pads regularly during their periods. Frequent bubble baths can cause irritation of the vaginal area, so girls should take showers or take baths without adding bubble bath to the water. Avoid prolonged exposure to moisture in the genital area by not wearing nylon underwear or wet swimsuits. Remember that wearing underwear with cotton crotches is also helpful.
If you are sexually active, go to the bathroom within 15 minutes after intercourse and gently wash the genital area to remove any bacteria. Avoid sexual positions that irritate or hurt your urethra or bladder, and if you need lubrication during sex, use a water-soluble lubricant, such as K-Y Jelly.
Finally, drinking lots of water - six to eight glasses a day - keeps your bladder active and bacteria-free.
Remember that although urinary tract infections are uncomfortable and often painful, they are very common and easily treated. The sooner you contact your doctor, the sooner you'll be able to get rid of the problem.
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