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[U104]Urinary Tract Infection Treatments

by Ricky Hussey, Ric

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. The urinary tract infections are the second most common type of infection in the body. Women are more at risk of developing a UTI. Women are more prone to UTIs than males because in females, the urethra is much shorter and closer to the anus than in males. UTIs are more common in women than they are in men. Around 50% of women will need treatment for at least one UTI during their lifetime.UTIs occur rarely in children. Around 11% of girls and 4% of boys will have a UTI before they reach the age of 16. However, if children do get a UTI, the effects can be serious, so prompt treatment is important. For further information about urinary tract infections in children, see the 'related articles' section. In up to 50 per cent of cases, there is some form of structural abnormality that predisposes the person to infection. One of the most common is a condition called vesicoureteric reflux, which affects the way the ureters join the bladder, allowing urine to flow back up towards the kidney.Pregnant women seem more prone to UTIs as other women. ITU rarely occur in children. Nearly 11% of girls and 4% of boys will have a UTI before they are 16. The enlargement of the prostate can also slow the flow of urine, which increases the risk of infection. People with diabetes have a higher risk of a UTI because of changes in the immune system. Any other condition that suppresses the immune system, increasing the risk of a urinar.Various drugs are available to relieve the pain of a UTI. UTIs can be treated with oral antibiotics such as trimethoprim, cephalosporins, nitrofurantoin, or a fluoroquinolone (e.g. ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin).SymptomsSymptoms differ, depending on whether the infection affects the lower (bladder and urethra) or upper (kidneys and ureters) parts of the urinary tract.The symptoms of lower urinary tract infection are dysuria (burning on passing urine), frequency (frequent need to pass urine) and urgency (compelling need to urinate). The urine can be cloudy with an offensive odour. In older men, generalised symptoms such as confusion and incontinence can be present. TreatmentPhenazopyridine hydrochloride can be used to reduce the burning and urgency associated with cystitis. Acidifiants drugs such ascorbic acid may be recommended to decrease the concentration of bacteria in the urine. The use of low doses of antibiotics on a daily basis may be recommended. A mild case of cystitis may go away on its own without treatment. Because of the risk of the infection spreading to the kidneys, however, antibiotics are usually recommended. It is important that you finish the entire course of prescribed antibiotics.In children, cystitis should be treated promptly with antibiotics to protect their developing kidneys. In the elderly, prompt treatment is recommended due to the greater chances of deadly complications.Your doctor may also suggest a medicine to numb your urinary tract and make you feel better while the antibiotic starts to work. The medicine makes your urine turn bright orange, so don't be alarmed by the color when you urinate.

A urinary tract infection ( UTI ) is a bacterial infection that affects any part of the urinary tract. The most common cause of UTI are bacteria from the bowel that live on the skin near the rectum or in the vagna which can spread and enter the urinary tract through the urethra. Urinary tract infections usually develop first in the lower urinary tract (urethra, bladder) and, if not treated, progress to the upper urinary tract (ureters, kidneys). The urinary tract is normally sterile. Uncomplicated UTI involves the urinary bladder in a host without underlying renal or neurologic disease. In fact, half of all women will develop a UTI during their lifetimes, and many will experience more than one. It can also travel from the bladder into the ureter and kidneys. The most common type of UTI is a bladder infection which is also often called cystitis. Another kind of UTI is a kidney infection, known as pyelonephritis, and is much more serious.

Women are most at risk of developing a UTI. Pregnant women are at increased risk of having a bladder infection progress and develop into a kidney infection. About 40% of women and 12% of men have a urinary tract infection at some time in their life. Sometimes kidney or bladder stones can cause repeated infections. In rare cases, bacteria can reach the kidneys through the bloodstream. Frequent and complete voiding has been associated with a reduction in the incidence of UTI. Infections of the urinary tract are the second most common type of infection in the body. UTIs may cause different symptoms in different people. You may feel a burning when you urinate. You may need to urinate more often, sometimes 30 to 60 minutes later. If you do not take care of a bladder infection, it can spread to your kidneys. A kidney infection is serious and can cause permanent damage.

Causes of Urinary tract infection

The common causes and risk factor's of Urinary tract infection include the following:

The most common cause of UTI are bacteria from the bowel that live on the skin.

Suppressed immune system.

People with conditions that block (obstruct) the urinary tract, such as kidney stones.

The bacteria can travel up the urethra to the bladder, where they can grow and cause an infection.

Some women may be born with genes that make them more likely to get UTIs over and over again.

Microorganisms called Chlamydia and Mycoplasma may also cause UTIs in both men and women.

Symptoms of Urinary tract infection

Some symptoms related to Urinary tract infection are as follows:

Fever.

Loss of appetite.

Nausea and vomiting.

Frequent or urgent need to urinate.

Need to urinate at night.

Pus or blood in urine.

Cloudy and foul-smelling urine

Lower abdominal pain.

Treatment of Urinary tract infection

Here is list of the methods for treating Urinary tract infection:

UTIs are treated with antibacterial drugs. The choice of drug and length of treatment depend on the patient's history and the urine tests that identify the offending bacteria.

Various drugs are available to relieve the pain of a UTI. A heating pad or a warm bath may also help.

Oral antibiotics usually can treat kidney infections ( pyelonephritis ), although you may need brief hospitalization and a short course of intravenous (IV) antibiotics if you are too ill or nauseated to take medicine by mouth (oral medication).

Longer treatment is also needed by patients with infections caused by Mycoplasma or Chlamydia, which are usually treated with tetracycline, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, or doxycycline .

Use of low-dose antibiotics on a daily basis may be recommended to prevent UTIs if you get frequent infections.

Article Source : common bacterial infections

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Both Ricky Hussey & Juliet Cohen are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

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Juliet Cohen has sinced written about articles on various topics from Skin Cream, Alternative Medicine and Abdominal. Juliet Cohen writes articles for and