|
By Johanna M. Sampan, Reporter
Troubled due to throbbing pain and burning sensation while peeing?
Bothered by the intense abdominal pain while walking? Is there a
crucial discharge of pus even it’s not time of menstruation?
All about UTI
Urinary Tract Infection or UTI is an affliction
that can be bacterial, fungal or mixed infections that affect
several parts of the urinary tract such as kidneys, bladder, ureter
and urethra. Urine alone contains a variety of fluids, salts and
waste products but doesn’t contain microorganisms. UTI takes place
once bacteria reproduces in the bladder or kidney.
This information perhaps causes discomfort and
anxiety but UTI can be “promptly and easily treated with a short
course of antibiotics,” Shierly May Dy-del Rosario, MD explains,
adding, “Early detection of UTI would definitely avoid the worsen
of the infection.”
Sexually active women usually acquire UTI
through the urethra. Poor toilet habits can also predispose to
infection and people with anatomical malformations or presence of
renal cortical cysts or stones of the urinary tract can also be
affected. Unknown factor of developing UTI are allergies.
“Allergies to food can irritate the bladder wall and intensify
propensity of UTI,” Dy-del Rosario shares.
A common misconception of the masses is that
women only contract UTI. Del Rosario explains that women are more
prone to UTI than males because in females, the urethra is much
shorter and closer to the anus than in males. Ladies also lack the
antibacterial properties of prostatic secretions that only men have.
But among elderly, UTI frequency is in roughly equal proportions for
both women and men.
The usual symptoms of this medical condition are
dysuria or painful hollow feeling in the abdomen or sometimes even
urinating frequently they still feel bladder-full.
In severe infections, fever and chills or and
episodes of vomiting are current. Some others have non-specific
symptoms like flank or hypogastric pains while still others are
asymptomatic without any symptoms at all.
Preventive measures
Dy-del Rosario says, “Prevention is better
than cure.” Here are some of her tips on how to avoid UTI. Drink
lots of fluid especially water and cranberry juice because liquid
intake cleans the urinary tract. Also cranberry contains tannin, a
substance that kills fungus in the urinary tract that causes
infections. Practice good hygiene including wiping from the front to
the back to avoid contamination of the urinary tract by fecal
pathogens. Avoid resisting the urge to urinate because urinating
cleanses the body. Visit the doctor and have regular check up to
ensure body’s condition.
When infection occurs, oral antibiotics such as
astrimethoprim, cephalosphorins, nitrofurantoin, or a
fluoroguinolone (e.g. ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin or ofloxacin) are
often prescribed.
Trimethoprim is one of the most widely used
antibiotics for UTI and is usually taken for seven days. It is
usually recommended to be taken at night to ensure maximal urinary
concentrations and increase its efficacy. Though caution must be
exercised for possible mild allergic reactions.
Dy-del Rosario explains that for pregnant
patients, cephalosphorins and nitrofurantoin are usually the drugs
of choice.
If antibiotics cannot cover the range of
microorganism, an antifungal medication is added. Some conditions
might require the antibiotics be administered via intravenous (IV)
means. This should be continued for 48 hours, after the fever
subsides, the patient could be discharged and maintain taking
antibiotics for 5 more days.
If the patient has a poor response to IV
antibiotics having continuous fever and worsening renal function,
then an ultrasound imaging is needed to indicate if there’s a
formation of an abscess either within or around the kidney, or the
presence of an obstructing lesion such as a stone or tumor.
For home medication, increased water-intake,
frequent voiding, preventing of sweets and sugary food, drinking
unsweetened cranberry juice, taking cranberry supplements and taking
vitamin C with the last meal of the day can help cure the infection.
Vitamin C intake increases the acidity of the
urine, making the urinary tract less prone to infectioon.
|
