Signs Of A Kidney Infection To Know And When To Go To The Hospital
Youre probably not constantly on the lookout for signs of a kidney infection. But getting a urinary tract infection can open you up to also getting an infection in one or both kidneys, which means this is an illness that should be on your radar. Yep, its an unfortunate truth: A urinary tract infection can lead to a kidney infection, which is medically known as pyelonephritis and can be incredibly serious. So if youre experiencing symptoms of a UTI and thinking, Eh, I can wait a few more days to get those antibiotics, think again. Heres what you need to know about the signs of a kidney infection, its underlying causes, why its so important to get treatment as soon as you can, and more.
Why Are Females At A Higher Risk For Utis
People with female reproductive organs are at a higher risk for UTIs because of their anatomy. The female urethra, the tube which empties urine from your bladder out of your body, is shorter than someone born with male anatomy.
The female urethra is also quite close to female reproductive organs. That means bacteria from sexual intercourse as well as products like spermicide can be in close contact with the urethra and bladder.
Females also experience menopause and pregnancy. These two biological events change the bacteria in your reproductive and digestive tracts and create conditions that make UTIs more likely.
Cut Back On Meat And Poultry
Some studies, such as one published in August 2018 in the journal mBio, have linked contaminated poultry and meat to E.coli bacteria strains that can cause UTIs. These studies havent proven that eating meat or poultry causes UTIs. In fact, some E.coli can live in the intestines without causing any problems. However, bacteria from the gut can enter the urinary tract and cause infection. This risk is greater in women than men, because women have shorter urethras than men, meaning the bacteria has less distance to travel to reach the bladder.
Cutting back on meat and focusing on fruits and veggies may slightly cut your risk of UTIs. According to a study of Buddhists in Taiwan, published in January 2020 in Scientific Reports, compared with nonvegetarians, vegetarians had a 16 percent lower risk of UTI.
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Treatment From A Gp For Utis That Keep Coming Back
If your UTI comes back after treatment, you may have a urine test and be prescribed different antibiotics.
Your doctor or nurse will also offer advice on how to prevent UTIs.
If you keep getting UTIs and regularly need treatment, a GP may give you a repeat prescription for antibiotics.
If you have been through the menopause, you may be offered a vaginal cream containing oestrogen.
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What Is The Urinary Tract
The urinary tract makes and stores urine, one of the body’s liquid waste products. The urinary tract includes the following parts:
- Kidneys: These small organs are located on back of your body, just above the hips. They are the filters of your body removing waste and water from your blood. This waste becomes urine.
- Ureters: The ureters are thin tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to your bladder.
- Bladder: A sac-like container, the bladder stores your urine before it leaves the body.
- Urethra: This tube carries the urine from your bladder to the outside of the body.
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Bladder And Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract infections can affect any area of your urinary tract, such as your bladder, kidneys, or urethra. They happen when bacteria enter your urinary tract. Most commonly, bacteria enter through your urethra and grow in your bladder, affecting the lower part of your urinary tract. UTI symptoms may include frequent urination often only small amounts of urine burning during urination, strong-smelling urine, or urine thats cloudy, red, bright pink, or brown. Women may have pelvic pain. Its important to get treatment for a UTI so that it doesnt cause complications, such as kidney problems or recurring UTIs.
You can get expert treatment for urinary tract and bladder infections from the UHealth Clinic at Walgreens team for both children and adults. We learn about your symptoms, talk to you about treatment options, and tell you how you can help prevent UTIs. You get expert advice and treatment to help you feel better as quickly as possible. With virtual visits, evening appointments, and convenient locations throughout South Florida, the UHealth Clinic at Walgreens makes it easy to get the care you need.
Causes Of Urinary Tract Infections In Cats
Both sudden and chronic urinary tract infections are caused by bacterial infections. The bacteria involved in UTIs usually come from either the gastrointestinal tract or lower down the urinary/reproductive tract. If your cat is older or has other medical conditions, they are more likely to develop bacterial urinary tract problems.
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How It Is Done
Compare your test strip with the colours provided with the test kit.
How To Read Uti Test Strips
What is a Urinary Tract Infection? UTIs or Urinary tract infections are caused by microbes such as bacteria overcoming the bodys defenses in the urinary tract. They can affect our kidneys, bladder, and the tubes that run between them. They are one of the most common types of infection and account for around 8.1 million visits to a doctor every year.
The urinary tract can be divided into the upper urinary tract and the lower urinary tract. The upper urinary tract consists of the kidneys and the ureters, and the lower urinary tract consists of the bladder and the urethra.
Most UTIs are not serious, but some can lead to serious problems, particularly with upper UTIs.
Recurrent or long-lasting kidney problems or infections can cause permanent damage, and some sudden kidney infections can be life-threatening, particularly if bacteria enter the bloodstream in a condition known as septicemia. They can also increase the risk of women delivering infants that are premature or have a low birth weight.
Symptoms:
Urinary tract infections dont always cause signs and symptoms, but when they do they may include:
- A strong, persistent urge to urinate
- A burning sensation when urinating
- Passing frequent, small amounts of urine
- Urine that appears cloudy
- Urine that appears red, bright pink or cola-colored a sign of blood in the urine
- Strong-smelling urine
- Pelvic pain, in women especially in the center of the pelvis and around the area of the pubic bone
How To use Urinalysis Test Strips?
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How Is Urinary Tract Infection In Men Treated
The treatment of Urinary Tract Infection in Men depends on many factors including the:
- Location of infection
- Species of bacteria causing the infection
Common treatments for UTIs in Men include:
- Oral or IV antibiotics to specifically target the bacteria causing the infection, such as ampicillin, amoxicillin, and ciprofloxacin
- Surgery to repair twisting of the epididymis, if necessary
- Surgery to repair damaged portions of the kidneys: Congenital or acquired conditions of the kidney can cause abnormal kidney structure that can lead to increased risk for developing infection
Some infections are known to be self-limiting and get better without any treatment.
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Can Uti Cause Any Complications In Men
UTI rarely causes complications. If they occur, they may include:
- Infection of the kidney : If a lower UTI remains untreated for a long time, it can spread to the kidneys and result in pyelonephritis.
- Chronic kidney disease: Untreated kidney infection can result in permanent damage to the kidneys and lead to chronic kidney disease or kidney failure.
- : refers to widespread infection in the body and is a life-threatening condition. It may result from a kidney infection that has turned serious.
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How Do I Know If The Treatment Isnt Working
If the treatment isnt working, your symptoms will stay the same, get worse or you will develop new symptoms. Contact your healthcare provider if you have a fever ), chills, lower stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting, or if, after taking medicine for 3 days, you still have a burning feeling when you urinate. If you are pregnant, you should also contact your healthcare provider if you have any contractions.
Drink Plenty Of Fluids
Dehydration is linked to an increased risk of UTIs.
This is because regular urination can help flush bacteria from the urinary tract to prevent infection. When youre dehydrated, you arent urinating as often, which can create a breeding ground for bacteria.
A examined nursing home residents and administered a drinking schedule to participants to increase their fluid intake. Following the schedule decreased UTIs requiring antibiotics by 56%.
In a 2020 randomized control trial , 140 premenopausal participants prone to UTIs took part in a 12-month study to test if a higher fluid intake would decrease their risk of recurrent cystitis and, in turn, their risk of developing a UTI. Researchers found that an increase in fluid intake led to a decrease in UTI frequency.
To stay hydrated and meet your fluid needs, its best to drink water throughout the day and always when youre thirsty.
Benefits of drinking more fluids for UTI
Drinking plenty of liquids can decrease your risk of UTIs by making you pee more, which helps remove bacteria from your urinary tract.
evidence suggests that increasing your intake of vitamin C could protect against UTIs.
Vitamin C is thought to work by increasing the acidity of urine, killing off the bacteria that cause infection.
An older 2007 study of UTIs in pregnant women looked at the effects of taking 100 milligrams of vitamin C every day.
Fruits and vegetables are especially high in vitamin C and are a good way to increase your intake.
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What Are Treatments Available For Utis
Though UTIs are usually not serious or a sign of concern, they can cause severe pain and discomfort. If not treated, some UTIs can lead to more serious conditions that may have life-changing effects.
To alleviate this pain and discomfort, here are some tips!
Consult your doctor and he might prescribe some antibiotic medications which you will have to take either once or twice a day for 5-7 or more days.
We recommend drinking adequate fluids to stay hydrated and urinate often while taking your antibiotics. Many people prefer drinking cranberry juice to prevent UTIs but there is no strong evidence that supports this home remedy.
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How Can I Prevent Male Urinary Tract Infection
You cannot prevent all UTIs, but it is possible to make its development less likely. Please take note of the following preventive measures to avoid the risk of acquiring the infection.
- Do not hold your urine. It is necessary to urinate as soon as you feel the need to go to the bathroom. Holding your urine can initiate the growth of bacteria and multiply as long as you keep your urine.
- Keep your genitals clean. Carefully washing your genitals is necessary to avoid bacterial growth. If not circumcised, it is crucial to clean the area beneath the foreskin.
- Wash before and after sex. Cleaning your genitals before and after having intercourse can help remove any bacteria that is present. If possible, urinating after sex also helps to flush out any bacteria you might have acquired during the intercourse.
- Practice safe sex. Wearing condoms is also necessary to protect you against the transmission of bacteria.
- Treat prostate problems and bladder infections. These are only some of the underlying issues that may lead to the formation of UTIs. It is essential to talk to your doctor about it to prevent complications.
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Causes Of Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract infections are usually caused by bacteria from poo entering the urinary tract.
The bacteria enter through the tube that carries pee out of the body .
Women have a shorter urethra than men. This means bacteria are more likely to reach the bladder or kidneys and cause an infection.
Things that increase the risk of bacteria getting into the bladder include:
- having sex
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do not use scented soap
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do not hold your pee in if you feel the urge to go
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do not rush when going for a pee try to fully empty your bladder
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do not wear tight, synthetic underwear, such as nylon
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do not drink lots of alcoholic drinks, as they may irritate your bladder
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do not have lots of sugary food or drinks, as they may encourage bacteria to grow
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do not use condoms or a diaphragm or cap with spermicidal lube on them try non-spermicidal lube or a different type of contraception
What Is The Treatment Of A Urine Infection
- A course of an antibiotic medicine will usually clear the infection quickly. This is usually for seven days. You should see a doctor if your symptoms are not gone, or nearly gone, after a few days.
- Paracetamol or ibuprofen will usually ease any pain, discomfort, or high temperature .
- Have plenty to drink to help prevent a lack of fluid in the body if you have a fever and feel unwell.
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How Do Health Care Professionals Diagnose A Bladder Infection
Health care professionals use your medical history, a physical exam, and tests to diagnose a bladder infection.
A health care professional will ask if you have a history of health conditions that make you more likely to develop any type of UTI. During a physical exam, the health care professional will ask you about your symptoms.
Uti Tests And Diagnosis
If you suspect that you have a urinary tract infection, go to the doctor. Youll give a urine sample to test for UTI-causing bacteria.
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If you get frequent UTIs and your doctor suspects a problem in your urinary tract, they might take a closer look with an ultrasound, a CT scan, or an MRI scan. They might also use a long, flexible tube called a cystoscope to look inside your urethra and bladder.
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Is It Possible To Treat A Uti At Home Without The Use Of Antibiotics
Most UTIs require treatment with antibiotics. When certain groups of people, including people with a penis, have a UTI, the infection is usually considered to be complicated. Delaying treatment of complicated UTIs can lead to complications, such as a kidney infection or sepsis. If you are experiencing symptoms of a UTI, visit a doctor or healthcare professional and have a urine test performed.
What Can I Do To Prevent A Uti From Occurring In The Future
Your veterinarian will let you know if there is anything that can be done to prevent your dogs UTI from recurring. Often, a diet change may be recommended. They may also recommend some medications or supplements that can help to change the pH of the urine, making it harder for an infection to take hold. It is best to discuss UTI prevention with your veterinarian in order to put into place strategies that have been shown to be effective.
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What Are The Treatments Available For Bladder Infections In Men
Bladder infections are extremely common and usually not a cause for concern. However, if you get frequent bladder infections or have other chronic bladder diseases youll probably want to avoid them. You can prevent most bladder infections by taking certain steps in your daily hygiene routine. Also, you should know that bladder infections can affect your sex life by causing painful urination and a burning sensation while peeing.
People with acute bladder infections are usually recommended a short course of antibiotics but people with more complicated bladder infections will have to take antibiotics for more than 10 days.
Unsweetened Cranberry juice or cranberry supplements can help prevent frequent bladder infections because Cranberry has compounds known as proanthocyanidins that can prevent bacteria from sticking to the walls of the urethra and bladder.
Bladder Infections and UTIs
Urinary tract infections or UTIs are one of the most common infections amongst men. It can be painful and is typically caused by bacteria and/or germs getting into the urinary tract through the urethra, a tube that runs from the bladder to the outside of the body. Bladder infections are one of the most common types of UTI experienced by men around the world.
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Why Do Women Get Urinary Tract Infections More Often Than Men
Women tend to get urinary tract infections more often than men because bacteria can reach the bladder more easily in women. The urethra is shorter in women than in men, so bacteria have a shorter distance to travel.
The urethra is located near the rectum in women. Bacteria from the rectum can easily travel up the urethra and cause infections. Bacteria from the rectum are more likely to get into the urethra if you wipe from back to front after a bowel movement. Be sure to teach children how to wipe correctly.
Having sex may also cause urinary tract infections in women because bacteria can be pushed into the urethra. Using a diaphragm can lead to infections because diaphragms push against the urethra and make it harder to completely empty the bladder. The urine that stays in the bladder is more likely to grow bacteria and cause infections.
Frequent urinary tract infections may be caused by changes in the bacteria in the vagina. Antibacterial vaginal douches, spermicides and certain oral antibiotics may cause changes in vaginal bacteria. Avoid using these items, if possible.
Menopause can also cause changes in vaginal bacteria that increase your risk for urinary tract infection. Taking estrogen usually corrects this problem, but may not be for everyone.
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