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Men And Urinary Tract Infections

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Preventing Male Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) – Symptoms & Treatment – Dr. Robert Matthews

As rare as urinary tract infections are in men, make sure you take the right steps to ensure you never have to worry about one:

  • Pee when you need to. Dont hold your pee, and always try to empty your bladder fully.
  • Wear cotton underwear and loose fitting clothing. Tight pants and non-cotton underwear tend to trap moisture, making for a great environment where bacteria can grow.
  • Wash your genital area after sex.
  • If youre uncircumcised, wash your foreskin regularly.
  • Urinate soon after sex to flush out any bacteria that may have entered your urethra.
  • Practice safe sex in general.
  • Take showers instead of baths.

Most importantly, make sure you go to your doctor regularly, especially if you suspect something is wrong. Urinary tract infections may point to more serious underlying issues. The best thing you can do is act early. Remember to get tested for sexually transmitted diseases if you are sexually active. And if kidney stones become a common issue, consult your doctor for help with changes in your lifestyle or diet.

If you experience any symptoms of UTI or STD, to set up a phone appointment with a top U.S. doctor today.

How Are Urinary Tract Infections Diagnosed

Your doctor will use the following tests to diagnose a urinary tract infection:

  • Urinalysis: This test will examine the urine for red blood cells, white blood cells and bacteria. The number of white and red blood cells found in your urine can actually indicate an infection.
  • Urine culture: A urine culture is used to determine the type of bacteria in your urine. This is an important test because it helps determine the appropriate treatment.

If your infection does not respond to treatment or if you keep getting infections over and over again, your doctor may use the following tests to examine your urinary tract for disease or injury:

  • Ultrasound: In this test, sound waves create an image of the internal organs. This test is done on top of your skin, is painless and doesnt typically need any preparation.
  • Cystoscopy: This test uses a special instrument fitted with a lens and a light source to see inside the bladder from the urethra.
  • CT scan: Another imaging test, a CT scan is a type of X-ray that takes cross sections of the body . This test is much more precise than typical X-rays.

Why Do Utis Come Back

The short answer: shrug. Recurrent UTIs arent due to poor hygiene or something else that women have brought on themselves. Some women are just prone to UTIs, says infectious diseases specialist Dr. Kalpana Gupta, a lecturer in medicine at Harvard Medical School, in the article published by Harvard Health Publishing.

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Practice Good Hygiene After Sex And Ask Your Partner To Too

Overall health with increased water intake and exercise is the best way to improve health and help with decreasing UTIs, Dr. Shepherd shares. This includes good hygiene and being diligent about cleaning all of your lady parts. And make sure your partner does, too. Bacteria from sexual intercourse is one of the most common ways women can get a UTI, Dr. Shepherd explains.

Questions To Ask Your Doctor

Urinary Tract Infection in men  symptoms, causes and treatment ...
  • Do I need any tests, such as urinalysis?
  • What is the likely cause of my urinary tract infection ?
  • Do I need medicine? How should I take it?
  • What are the possible side effects of the medicine?
  • When should I expect relief from my symptoms?
  • What symptoms would indicate that my infection is getting worse? What should I do if I experience these symptoms?
  • I get UTIs a lot. What can I do to prevent them?
  • Do I need preventive antibiotics? If so, should I be concerned about antibiotic resistance?
  • My child gets UTIs a lot. Could an anatomical problem be causing his or her UTIs?

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Types Of Urinary Tract Infections In Men

A variety of problems can lead to UTI symptoms. Chronic constipation can impair your ability to empty the bladder properly, which can set the stage for a UTI. Infections that affect the lower urinary tract can also cause problems in the upper urinary system, leading to more serious kidney infection.

An enlarged prostate can block the flow of urine out of the bladder, which can increase the risk of infection. If you are undergoing treatment for male incontinence that involves the placement of a catheter tube, you may be more vulnerable to kidney infection and urinary tract infection, because bacteria can be introduced into the urinary system more easily.

Enhancing Healthcare Team Outcomes

UTIs are best managed in an interprofessional fashion, and besides physicians, most nurses will encounter a patient with a UTI. The key to preventing recurrences is patient education. Once a UTI has been diagnosed, the patient should be encouraged to drink more fluids. Sexually active women should try to void right after sexual intercourse as this can help flush the bacteria out of the bladder. Some women with recurrent UTIs may benefit from the prophylactic use of antibiotics. Several other non-medical remedies may help some women with UTIs. Anecdotal reports indicate that using cranberry juice and probiotics may help reduce the severity and frequency of UTIs in some women. Primary clinicians should refer patients with recurrent UTIs to the urologist to rule out reflux and anatomical defects.

Outcomes

The majority of women with a UTI have an excellent outcome. Following treatment with an antibiotic, the duration of symptoms is 2 to 4 days. Unfortunately, nearly 30% of women will have a recurrence of the infection. Morbidity is usually seen in older debilitated patients or those with renal calculi. Other factors linked to recurrence include the presence of diabetes, underlying malignancy, chemotherapy, and chronic catheterization of the bladder. The mortality after a UTI is close to zero.

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Recognizing Uti Symptoms In Men

Some people dont have any symptoms with a urinary tract infection, which usually entails an inflammation of the bladder and can also involve an infection of the lower or upper urinary tract, and in more serious cases the kidneys. In addition, not every man, woman, or child who gets a UTI has typical UTI symptoms, but most do exhibit at least one or more signs of infection. And when men do get UTIs, their symptoms are generally not too different from those that women experience. Common UTI symptoms include:

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Soothe Uti Pain With Heat

Your Healthy Family: Risks of urinary tract infections in older men

Inflammation and irritation from UTIs cause burning, pressure, and pain around your pubic area, says Kandis Rivers, MD, a urologist in the Henry Ford Health System in Wast Bloomfield, Michigan. Applying a heating pad can help soothe the area. Keep the heat setting low, dont apply it directly to the skin, and limit your use to 15 minutes at a time to avoid burns.

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Things You Can Do Yourself

To help ease symptoms of a urinary tract infection :

  • takeparacetamolup to 4 times a day to reduce pain and a high temperature for people with a UTI, paracetamol is usually recommended over NSAIDs such as ibuprofen or aspirin
  • you can give childrenliquid paracetamol
  • rest and drink enough fluids so you pass pale urine regularly during the day
  • avoid having sex

Some people take cystitis sachets or cranberry drinks and products every day to prevent UTIs from happening, which may help. But there’s no evidence they help ease symptoms or treat a UTI if the infection has already started.

Treatment From A Gp For Utis That Keep Coming Back

If your UTI comes back after treatment, or you have 2 UTIs in 6 months, a GP may:

  • prescribe a different antibiotic or prescribe a low-dose antibiotic to take for up to 6 months
  • prescribe a vaginal cream containing oestrogen, if you have gone through the menopause
  • refer you to a specialist for further tests and treatments

In some people, antibiotics do not work or urine tests do not pick up an infection, even though you have UTI symptoms.

This may mean you have a long-term UTI that is not picked up by current urine tests. Ask the GP for a referral to a specialist for further tests and treatments.

Long-term UTIs are linked to an increased risk of bladder cancer in people aged 60 and over.

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What Are The Symptoms Of A Uti

If you have any symptoms of a UTI, you should see a doctor. Your symptoms could mean that you have a UTI or another condition, eg, a sexually transmitted infection STI, prostatitis or pyelonephritis.Symptoms of a UTI include:

  • pain or burning during or immediately after peeing
  • needing to pee more often than usual during the night
  • pain in your lower tummy
  • feeling the need to pee more often
  • needing to pee without much warning
  • suprapubic pain
  • recent antibiotic use
  • urine that smells bad or looks cloudy or reddish.

Older men may have no symptoms or fever. Often the only symptoms are being more muddled, sleepier, incontinent, off food, or just generally unwell. Confusion and sleepiness can put older adults at risk of falls.

  • a very high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery
  • a very low temperature
  • confusion, drowsiness or difficulty speaking
  • have not been for a pee all day
  • have pain in the lower tummy or in the back, just under the ribs
  • blood in your pee

These symptoms suggest a kidney infection , which can be serious if it’s not treated quickly.

When To Seek Medical Help:

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

You should seek medical advice if you are experiencing the symptoms of urinary tract infection, as mentioned above. You should revisit your doctor if your UTIs symptoms get worse. The worsening of symptoms might indicate the need for a change in the treatment plan. Immediate medical help should be sought if one or more of the following symptoms are experienced:

A urinary tract infection can spread to various other parts of your body, but timely treatment can prevent this. Therefore, you should visit a doctor as soon as you notice the symptoms of a urinary tract infection.1

You must not rely on home remedies alone for the treatment of UTIs. You should consult a qualified doctor for any advice if the condition does not improve with home remedies.

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Managing Urinary Tract Infection Symptoms

The burning, frequent urination and abdominal pain of a UTI can come on unexpectedly. Taking antibiotics is the only effective way to eliminate the bacteria that causes urinary tract infections, but you can take a number of steps to help you stay comfortable until your medication begins working.

A warm heating pad can help to reduce abdominal discomfort. Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, are not very effective against urinary tract discomfort. However, you can find a medication called phenazopyridine at your local pharmacy, which works specifically for urinary pain. Be warned, however, that it may turn your urine a bright orange and can stain clothing.

What Causes Complicated Uti Symptoms

Escherichia coli is a bacteria and a primary culprit in most UTI cases. E. coli bacteria exist naturally in peoples bodies, but when these bacteria invade the urinary tract, they can become infectious.

These factors may present a more significant threat with UTIs and result in more complicated UTI symptoms:

  • A previous history of UTIs
  • Being physically inactive for a prolonged time
  • Using a urinary catheter for a long time
  • Drinking too little healthy fluids, especially water
  • Recent surgery to the kidney or urinary tract
  • Blockage to the urinary tract
  • Suffering from any type of diabetes
  • Experiencing fecal incontinence

Knowing the increased risks of UTIs can help you stay healthy and avoid a UTI. Lets talk about prevention!

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Major Cause Of Lower Tract Utis In Older Males

Older men commonly experience lower tract UTIs if they develop a noncancerous prostate gland enlargement known as benign prostatic hyperplasia:

  • This condition causes the enlarged prostate to tighten around the bladder, affecting the flow from the bladder through the urethra.
  • Once the bladder gets too compressed, it becomes harder for urine to leave the body, and bacteria can accumulate in a bladder that doesnt empty properly.

Can You Treat A Uti Without Antibiotics

Mayo Clinic Minute: Treating Urinary Tract Infections

Antibiotics are an effective treatment for UTIs. However, the body can often resolve minor, uncomplicated UTIs on its own without the help of antibiotics.

Complicated UTIs will require medical treatment. These UTIs involve one or more of the following factors:

More severe risks of using antibiotics include:

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Urinary Tract Infection Causes

The human immune system protects the urinary tract from infection by preventing bacteria from multiplying within the urinary tract.

When the body’s immunity fails to perform its function, urinary tract infection occurs as a result of germs invading the urinary tract, where the multiplication of bacteria leads to the inflammatory process.

Microorganisms enter the urethra through the urethra and may then spread to the bladder, where cystitis and urethritis are the most common places where urinary tract infections occur in men.

Urinary tract infection is more common in older men than in young men. Urinary tract infection is often seen in elderly people over 50 years of age as a result of chronic diseases and predisposing factors that affect the elderly. such as an enlarged prostate and diabetes mellitus.

Escherichia coli is one of the most common bacteria that causes cystitis in men.

Bacteria And Antibiotic Susceptibilities

Microbiological results as reported from the Department of Clinical Microbiology at Uppsala University Hospital were extracted from the medical records. Bacterial cultures and species determination were performed using either conventional methods or a Vitek 2 instrument . Antibiotic susceptibilities were determined with disk diffusion or the gradient method and interpreted according to EUCAST definitions . Susceptibility to mecillinam in Enterobacter sp., Citrobacter sp. and Serratia sp. was tested and interpreted as recommended for E. coli in accordance with local guidelines during the study period.

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Myth: Utis Are Nothing To Worry About

Fact: Though painful and uncomfortable, you may think of UTIs as a minor, temporary condition. UTIs can go away on their own or be treated with a course of antibiotics, and though you should never ignore them, most are not cause for alarm. However, UTIs can cause serious complications, including for men.

Men are likelier than women to get UTIs from bacteria that is already present in their body, which poses a risk of the infection spreading. Some complicated UTIs can even cause kidney damage. If you have chronic UTIs, men risk the narrowing of their urethra which can create problems with urinating, in turn increasing your risk of further UTIs.

If you have symptoms of a UTI, including painful urination and cloudy urine, it is important to get checked as soon as possible. So make an appointment with Drs. Herman, Kester, and the Urology Center of Florida today for treatment and relief.

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Do you always feel your hand always going down to itch your vaginal area? If yes, then you should definitely need to evaluate your hygiene and vaginal health.

In addition to this, if you also have pain and a burning feeling while urination then there are high chances that you are having UTI i.e., Urinary Tract Infection.

Did this scare you? Relax! It’s not just you. About 50-60% of women develop Urinary Tract Infections in their lifetime. UTI is one of the most common bacterial infections that one faces in one’s lifetime.

After knowing its frequency, now the question arises what do you generally opt for as a treatment?

Antibiotics, right! You start with an antibiotic initially and get some relief. Then you again get infected and choose the same antibiotic in the hope that it will cure the infection in the same way. Which it does, but this time it took a bit longer. Now, repeat this cycle multiple times in your mind.

After multiple infections, the medicine stops working and you now get severe symptoms. Why does this happen, even after taking the advised medicines on time? This is because your infection-causing bacteria have now become resistant to your antibiotics and now have stopped responding. Above this, your own bacterial growth that protects your urinary tract is damaged or dead after consuming antibiotics.

Hence, now your good bacteria colony is unfortunately dead and there is no army that can fight and resist the foreign bacteria.

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Urinate When The Need Arises

Frequent urination puts pressure on bacteria in the urinary tract, which can help to clear them out.

It also reduces the amount of time that bacteria in the urine are exposed to cells in the urinary tract, reducing the risk of them attaching and forming an infection.

Always urinate as soon as possible when the urge strikes to and treat UTIs.

Recommended Reading: Causes Of Urinary Urgency In Females

Use Heat In The Pelvic Area

Women often experience UTI pain in the pelvic area. Pain and discomfort range in intensity, but applying heat could alleviate them.

You can place a heating pad on a pubic or bladder area.

But, avoid putting heat directly onto the skin and make sure its not too hot.

Warmth should be moderate, and you should apply it for short periods only.

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