Urinary Tract Infection Diagnosis And Treatment

Whats The Difference Between A Urinary Tract Infection And Bladder Infection

Urinary Tract Infection, Causes, Signs and Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment.

A urinary tract infection is a more general type of infection. There are many parts of your urinary tract. A UTI is a term for an infection that takes place throughout the urinary tract. A bladder infection, also called cystitis, is a specific infection. In this infection, bacteria makes its way into the bladder and causes inflammation.

Not all urinary tract infections become bladder infections. Preventing the spread of the infection is one of the most important reasons to treat a UTI quickly when you have symptoms. The infection can spread not only to the bladder, but also into your kidneys, which is a more complicated type of infection than a UTI.

Herbal Teas To Help Relieve Uti

A urinary tract infection is a debilitating bacterial infection that occurs when bacteria gets into the urethra and multiplies. In most cases of UTI, germs use urethra to reach the bladder and causes abdominal pain, irritation, redness, itchiness and pressure on the bladder and burning sensation during urination. Women, because of short urethra, are more susceptible to UTI. Sex, pregnancy, diabetes, kidney stones, prostate issues and contamination can cause urinary tract infection. If urinary tract infection is left untreated, it can affect the kidneys and develop complications. So, infection should be treated immediately. Along with medical care, these herbal teas can provide significant relief from the discomfort.

What Is Urinary Tract Infection

The urinary tract comprises of organs which are involved in making and transporting urine out of the body. These organs include a pair of kidneys and ureters, a bladder, and a urethra.

A urinary tract infection is therefore, an infection of any or a combination of these organs. In 90% of the cases, infection can be caused due to bacteria called E.coli or Staphylococcus saprophyticus.

These bacteria are either neutral or beneficial until it stays in the digestive tract however when it migrates to urinary tract, it causes infection.

In some cases, it can be caused due to fungi or other common bacteria that causes UTI are Klebsiella species, and Proteus species.

Symptoms of UTI include lower abdominal pain, flank pain, bloody urine, or fever. However, sometimes you might have no symptom at all, which is described as asymptomatic bacteriuria.

Nowâ¦You might be wondering how these bacteria gain access to urinary organs.

There are few conditions that can help the bacteria or fungus to access the organs and cause an infection.

Sexual intercourse

Cat Food/diet Related To Urinary Tract Infections

If your cat develops recurrent urinary tract infections or if he or she is also diagnosed with bladder stones or crystals, your veterinarian might recommend a diet change and increasing how much water your cat drinks.

Cat food for urinary health addresses the issue in several ways.

There are no diets that treat or prevent urinary tract infections, but your veterinarian may recommend a diet aimed at urinary health based on other findings on the urinalysis. Therapeutic urinary diets are limited in certain minerals to prevent the development of stones and crystals. These diets also address urinary tract health by adjusting your cats urinary pH to help prevent or reverse crystal and stone formation.

The right diet depends on which type of urinary tract disease your cat has.

While they can also help to prevent episodes of bladder inflammation, most diets focus on bladder stones and crystals.

The most common types of bladder stones and crystals found in cats are calcium oxalate and struvite. These crystals can be identified by their shape when viewed under a microscope. The type of bladder stones present can only be identified by sending it to a diagnostic lab after removal.

Luckily, many diets are now formulated to prevent both struvite and calcium oxalate crystals, so its much easier than it used to be to treat appropriately. If bladder stones are present, they will usually have to be removed surgically to prevent a blockage, chronic infections, or discomfort..

Urinary Incontinence And Skin Breakdown: Causes And Treatments

AZO Urinary Tract Defense® : Before and After

Urine can irritate the skin if it is not removed for an extended period of time. Some substances in urine that are normally found in the genital area may be transformed into ammonia, which is extremely harsh on the skin as a result of the germs that live on it. Skin breakdown caused by incontinence can be treated by cleansing and moisturizing the perineal area.

Try Taking A Probiotic

Introducing a probiotic to your system may help to replenish the naturally occurring, healthy bacteria that live in the gut. It is thought that probiotics may prevent harmful bacteria from attaching to the urinary tract cells, and may also lower the urine Ph, making it less hospitable to harmful bacteria. And, if you have taken an antibiotic to treat a UTI, taking a probiotic is a great way to build up the healthy bacteria that may have been killed during your course of treatment. Probiotics are found in supplement form , or they occur naturally in some types of food, including certain yogurts, kombucha, or kefir.

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.

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How To Feel Better

If your healthcare professional prescribes you antibiotics:

Take antibiotics exactly as your healthcare professional tells you.
Do not share your antibiotics with others.
Do not save antibiotics for later. Talk to your healthcare professional about safely discarding leftover antibiotics.

Drink plenty of water or other fluids. Your healthcare professional might also recommend medicine to help lessen the pain or discomfort. Talk with your healthcare professional if you have any questions about your antibiotics.

Treatment For More Severe Utis

UTI l Urinary Tract Infection & Pyelonephritis Treatment for NCLEX RN & LPN

Kids with a more severe infection may need treatment in a hospital so they can get antibiotics by injection or IV .

This might happen if:

the child has high fever or looks very ill, or a kidney infection is likely
the child is younger than 6 months old
bacteria from the infected urinary tract may have spread to the blood
the child is dehydrated or is vomiting and cannot take any fluids or medicine by mouth

Kids with VUR will be watched closely by the doctor. VUR might be treated with medicines or, less commonly, surgery. Most kids outgrow mild forms of VUR, but some can develop kidney damage or kidney failure later in life.

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Urinary Tract Infections : Symptoms Causes And Treatment

In the United States, urinary tract infections are fairly common. In fact, they’re the second most common type of infection in the body and affect millions of people every year.

Because of this, it’s important that you educate yourself on what exactly a UTI is, what its symptoms and treatments are, and how you can prevent contracting one in the first place. Nobody ever wants to get a UTI, but by learning more about them, you can get better quickly and avoid more pain and discomfort.

Are you interested in learning more? If so, then continue reading and we’ll walk you through everything you’ll want to know!

Different Parts Of The Urinary Tract

Kidneys: These small organs are located on the back of your body, just above the hips. They are the filters your body uses to remove waste and water from your blood by turning them into urine.
Ureters: The ureters are thin tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to your bladder.
Bladder: A sac-like organ where urine is stored before it leaves the body.
Urethra: This tube carries the urine from your bladder to the outside of the body.

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History And Physical Examination

Clinical signs and symptoms of a UTI depend on the age of the child. Newborns with UTI may present with jaundice, sepsis, failure to thrive, vomiting, or fever. In infants and young children, typical signs and symptoms include fever, strong-smelling urine, hematuria, abdominal or flank pain, and new-onset urinary incontinence. School-aged children may have symptoms similar to adults, including dysuria, frequency, or urgency. Boys are at increased risk of UTI if younger than six months, or if younger than 12 months and uncircumcised. Girls are generally at an increased risk of UTI, particularly if younger than one year.3 Physical examination findings can be nonspecific but may include suprapubic tenderness or costovertebral angle tenderness.

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:

do not use scented soap
do not hold your pee in if you feel the urge to go
do not rush when going for a pee try to fully empty your bladder
do not wear tight synthetic underwear, such as nylon
do not drink lots of alcoholic drinks, as they may irritate your bladder
do not have lots of sugary food or drinks, as they may encourage bacteria to grow
do not use condoms or a diaphragm or cap with spermicidal lube on them try non-spermicidal lube or a different type of contraception

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What Is A Urinary Tract Infection In Children

A UTI is when bacteria gets into your urine and travels up to your bladder. As many as 8 in 100 of girls and 2 in 100 of boys will get UTIs. Young children have a greater risk of kidney damage linked to UTI than older children or adults.

How Does the Urinary Tract Work?

The urinary tract is the organs in your body that make, store, and get rid of urine, one of the waste products of your body. Urine is made in the kidneys and travels down to the bladder through the ureters . The kidneys make about 1Â½ to 2 quarts of urine a day in an adult, and less in children, depending on their age. In children, the bladder can hold 1 to 1Â½ ounces of urine for each year of age. For example, a 4-year-old childs bladder can hold 4 to 6 ouncesa little less than a cup.

The kidneys also balance the levels of many chemicals in the body and check the bloods acidity. Certain hormones are also made in the kidneys. These hormones help control blood pressure, boost red blood cell production and help make strong bones.

Normal urine has no bacteria in it, and the one-way flow helps prevent infections. Still, bacteria may get into the urine through the urethra and travel up into the bladder.

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What Are The Complications Of Utis

Lower UTIs can lead to kidney infections, which are more serious. These can affect anyone, but pregnant people are prone to kidney infections stemming from bladder infections.

Serious complications from UTIs are rare if you follow the advice of your doctor. This may include taking antibiotics exactly as your doctor has prescribed them and finishing the entire course of treatment, even after your symptoms have eased. Not doing so can raise your risk of developing another infection.

When Should I Call The Doctor

As soon as you think that your child has a UTI, call your doctor. The doctor may recommend another urine test after treatment to be sure that the infection has cleared.

If your child has from recurrent UTIs, consult a pediatric urologist, who can do a thorough evaluation and order tests for urinary system abnormalities. In the meantime, follow your doctors instructions for treating a UTI.

How To Treat Skin Irritation From Urine

Urinary Tract Infection – Overview (signs and symptoms, pathophysiology, causes and treatment)

If you experience skin irritation from urine, it is important to clean the area immediately. Rinse the area with warm water and mild soap. Apply a cool compress to the area for 10-15 minutes. If you have a rash, you may also apply a topical corticosteroid cream. If the irritation persists, consult your healthcare provider.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Utis

UTI symptoms result from the bladder and urethra lining becoming inflamed and irritated from the infection. If you have any of the following symptoms, you may have a UTI:

burning, stinging, pain, or cramping with urination
cloudy, bloody, or foul smelling urine
feeling like your bladder does not fully empty after you urinate
having a frequent urge to urinate, but not much urine comes out
pressure or pain in your pelvic area or lower belly

Will A Uti Go Away On Its Own

A very mild UTI might resolve on its own in a few days, but more often than not a short course of antibiotics is needed to treat a UTI, says Dr. Kannady. After initiation of antibiotics, UTI symptoms usually begin to resolve as early as the next day.

In the meantime, drinking plenty of fluids may help flush out the infection-causing bacteria and over-the-counter medications can help ease discomfort and pain.

But dont put too much stock in common UTI home remedies. For instance, drinking cranberry juice hasnt been shown to help relieve a UTI .

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Boost Your Immune System

When your body is fighting off an infection, focus on behaviors that strengthen your immune system.

Rest is one of the best ways to ensure your immune system can actively fight off your infection. If you feel tired, take a nap, and aim to get enough sleep at night that you wake feeling well rested. And while it can be stressful to be sick, try your best to stay relaxed too much stress can impair immune function.

Along with proper hydration, its also important to maintain a nutritious diet. Focus on nourishing your body with healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables and whole grains and avoiding sugar and alcohol, which can compromise your immune system.

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Frequent Or Recurring Utis

If you get frequent UTIs defined as three or more in a year talk with your doctor. You may need preventive antibiotics. This may mean taking a daily antibiotic or just taking one when you know you are at risk, such as after sex.

Other prevention strategies include:

not holding your urine for long periods
urinating after sex
using lubrication during sex

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How To Add Ginger To Your Diet

There are so many ways to add ginger to your diet.

One of the most common is ginger tea.

You can use a prepared tea bag and steep in hot water for about 7 minutes.

Alternatively, you can cut and peel a couple of pieces of fresh ginger and drop them into hot water.

Let it steep for seven to ten minutes.

Add your favorite sweetener like honey, monk fruit, or sucanat.

Grate fresh ginger over your chicken, lamb, fish, or vegetables for a nice spicy kick.

To retain the flavor, add it at the end of cooking so its exposure to the heat is minimal.

If you are creating a dish around ginger then you can cook it into the sauce or food you are preparing, just limit its direct contact to heat.

In other words, you dont want it to directly touch the hot pan.

Ginger jam is great on toast, oatmeal, and other treats.

Combine equal parts of sliced fresh ginger and water in a blender.

Puree although it will not be smooth due to gingers fibrous texture.

Pour the mixture into a saucepan and add an equal part of sugar, sucanat, monk fruit, or muscovado .

Add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, a pod of cardamom , and ½ teaspoon Vietnamese cinnamon .

Heat the mixture over medium high flame and allow to thicken.

Pour into canning jars and store in the refrigerator or freezer.

Add some ginger to your butter for a nice little zing.

You can add some honey, monk fruit, or stevia for a little sweetness.

If you are into to butter coffee, this will change the world for you!

It is served hot.

Bring to a boil.

Key Take Home Message

UTIs are an issue of concern since they are troublesome and may lead to serious consequences if not treated. Catheter users are at higher risk of UTIs compared to people emptying their bladders in a natural way. Intermittent catheterization should always be selected over indwelling to prevent infections. There are differences between intermittent catheters and these are very important to be aware of to reduce the risk of obtaining UTIs. LoFric has a unique surface shown in several clinical studies to be superior in terms of reducing friction, wounds to the urethra and reducing risk of UTIs.

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