Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Urinary Tract Infection Vs Kidney Stone

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Uti Vs Std : How Can You Tell What The Difference Is

Urinary/Kidney Stones – Overview (signs and symptoms, risk factors, pathophysiology, treatment)

UTIs and STDs share very common symptoms and are misdiagnosed more often than you may think. Women with STDs are being needlesly prescribed UTI treatment.

If youre relating to this blog post right now, then youre probably smart, youre probably capable of knowing your body, and most importantly: You probably know when your body is doing something out of the ordinary.. It cant be a UTI, because, you really dont have time for a UTI.. No pain, no gain, is actually really bad advice when it comes to ignoring mysterious symptoms that your body is having, especially when theyre occurring down there.. A UTI is an infection caused by bacteria that get into any of the four parts of the urinary tract and then multiplies.. So, How do You Get a UTI?. Similarities and Differences of UTIs and STDs UTIs and STDs share very common symptoms and are misdiagnosed more often than you may think.. Here are few symptoms that UTIs and STDs share: Dysuria . Increased frequency of urination. Lets Just Try To Avoid UTIs and STDs Altogether Here are a few ways to avoid infections and diseases that nobody in their right mind has time for: Always, always, always have protected sex

Why You Get Stones

Part of preventing stones is finding out why you get them. Your health care provider will perform tests to find out what is causing this. After finding out why you get stones, your health care provider will give you tips to help stop them from coming back.

Some of the tests he or she may do are listed below.

Medical and Dietary History

Your health care provider will ask questions about your personal and family medical history. He or she may ask if:

  • Have you had more than one stone before?
  • Has anyone in your family had stones?
  • Do you have a medical condition that may increase your chance of having stones, like frequent diarrhea, gout or diabetes?

Knowing your eating habits is also helpful. You may be eating foods that are known to raise the risk of stones. You may also be eating too few foods that protect against stones or not drinking enough fluids.

Understanding your medical, family and dietary history helps your health care provider find out how likely you are to form more stones.

Blood and Urine Tests

Imaging Tests

When a health care provider sees you for the first time and you have had stones before, he or she may want to see recent X-rays or order a new X-ray. They will do this to see if there are any stones in your urinary tract. Imaging tests may be repeated over time to check for stone growth. You may also need this test if you are having pain, hematuria or recurrent infections.

Stone Analysis

What If The Infection Does Not Clear Up With Treatment

Most infections clear up with treatment. However, if an infection does not clear up, or if you have repeated infections, you may be given some special tests such as:

  • a type of x-ray called an intravenous pyleogram , which involves injecting a dye into a vein and taking pictures of your kidney and bladder

  • an ultrasound exam, which gives a picture of your kidneys and bladder using sound waves

  • a cytoscopic exam, which uses a hollow tube with special lenses to look inside the bladder.

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How Do You Get Kidney Stones

While we dont know what causes stones to form, we do know that some stones form more easily than others. Dehydration and not consuming enough fluids can contribute to stone formation, as there may not be enough urine to wash out microscopic crystals.

Calcium stones, the most common kidney stones, seem to affect more men than women, and they are most often in the twenties when it happens.

Risks include:

  • Too much calcium in the urine caused by diseases, such as hyperparathyroidism
  • Having too much sodium, usually taken in through salt

Although food doesnt cause stone formation, some people may be told to avoid high calcium foods if they are prone to developing stones.

Cystine stones are caused by a disorder that runs in families.

Struvite stones are virtually always caused by a urinary tract infection due to an enzyme secreted by certain types of bacteria. Because people with shorter urethras have more UTIs, they also tend to develop more struvite stones. These stones can grow very large and block the kidney, ureter, or bladder.

Uric acid stones affect more men than women, and they can also occur in people who already get calcium stones. People who have high uric acid levels may have or develop gout.

What Are The Common Causes Of Urinary Tract Infection

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Treatment for kidney infections can vary depending on the cause and severity of an infection. Infections in the urinary tract most commonly occur when bacteria travel through the urethra to the bladder to use urine as food for growth and multiplication. Excess levels of bacteria can lead to infections that, when they migrate to the kidneys, are known as kidney infections.

The most common cause of an infection in the urinary tract is from the bacteria Escherichia coli, also commonly referred to as E.coli. They are found in our colon and feces.

Certain sexually transmitted infections, including chlamydia, herpes, gonorrhea, and mycoplasma, can also lead to an infection that spreads to the kidneys. Holding your urine for six hours or more can give time for bacteria that enter the bladder to overgrow without being flushed out, increasing the risk of infection.

Dehydration can also increase the risk of infection. Without the proper fluids, your body can not properly flush out bacteria that can cause urinary tract infections . Constipation, a possible result of dehydration, can make it difficult to empty your bladder and allow trapped bacteria to grow as well.

Infections can also be caused by any condition in the urinary tract that prevents urine from flowing naturally. For instance, pregnant women are likely to get bladder infections when the baby puts pressure on the ureters, slowing urine flow.

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Can Urinary Tract Infections Be Prevented

These steps may help reduce the chance of getting UTIs:

  • Drink plenty of water every day.
  • Drink cranberry juice. Large amounts of vitamin C limit the growth of some bacteria by acidifying the urine. Vitamin C supplements have the same effect.
  • Urinate when you feel the need. Do not wait.
  • Take showers instead of tub baths.
  • Clean the genital area before and after sex, and urinate shortly after sex.
  • Women should not use feminine hygiene sprays or scented douches.
  • Cotton underwear and loose fitting clothes help keep the area around the urethra dry. Tight clothes and nylon underwear trap moisture. This can help bacteria grow.
  • Repeated bouts of urinary tract infections can be treated with small doses of regular antibiotics.

Please consult your health care provider with any questions or concerns you may have about UTIs.

Types Of Urinary Tract Conditions

A urinary tract infection refers to an infection in any area of the urinary tract. Conditions that can occur in the urinary tract or with the potential to lead to complicated infections include:

  • Urethritis: An inflammation of the urethra, usually caused by an infection for example, a sexually transmitted disease such as chlamydia
  • Cystitis: An infection in the bladder that has often moved up from the urethra, also one of the most common UTIs
  • Nephritis: Any type of kidney inflammation
  • Pyelonephritis: An infection in one or both kidneys

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Sequencing And New Culture Techniques Expand Our Knowledge Of The Urinary Tract Microbiota

To expand detection and identification of bacteria in low biomass samples such as urine, we developed enhanced quantitative urine culture . EQUC incorporates more urine volume and a longer incubation period, along with multiple media types and atmospheric conditions . In addition to enhanced culture techniques such as EQUC, 16S rRNA gene sequencing of bacterial DNA has resulted in a paradigm shift in our ability to study the microbiome . 16S rRNA gene sequencing and enhanced culture are complementary, as the sequencing identifies bacteria that cannot be cultured but generally cannot classify below the genus level, while enhanced culture actually isolates the bacteria. These isolates can then be identified more precisely and, most importantly, can be used to study biological relevance.

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When To See A Doctor

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) & Kidney Stones | Dr. Amit, Dr. Swadesh & Dr. Sudeep

When to see a doctor about a UTI? Generally, you have to see the doctor when you experience severe symptoms or the symptoms worsen. UTIs can be dangerous if the infection spreads to the kidneys.

Suppose you suspect that you or someone you care for may have a urinary tract infection. You need to see the doctor when one of the following signs and symptoms start:

  • Pain in the lower tummy or the back, just under the ribs
  • A very high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery
  • A shallow temperature below 36C
  • Confusion, drowsiness, or difficulty speaking
  • Not being able to urinate all-day
  • Visible blood in the urine

Complications resulting from untreated urinary tract infections include:

  • Recurrent infections
  • Narrowing of the urethra, or urethral stricture, particularly in men

Are kidney stones dangerous? Yes, they can be. Kidney stones can cause damage if left untreated until it causes repeated infections or severe kidney blockage that can cause the kidney to stop working.

So, if you suspect that you or someone you care for may have kidney stones, you need to see the doctor when one of the following signs and symptoms start:

  • A high temperature or kidney stone fever
  • Episodes of shivering or shaking
  • Blood in the urine
  • Better understand your urinary symptoms
  • Step-by-step guide

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Kidney Stones And Utis: Types And Causes

Kidney stones are caused by the crystallization of minerals, which occurs when there is not enough urine or when levels of salt-forming crystals are present. Kidney stones may be caused by many different things, including calcium oxalate, uric acid, cysteine, or xanthine.

Based on the cause, there are different types of kidney stones, which include uric acid stones, calcium stones , struvite stones, cystine stones, and xanthine stones.

Urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria most commonly E.coli. When the bacteria enter the urinary system, they travel to the bladder or other parts of the urinary system. UTIs can take place either in the upper or lower urinary tracts, hence their names cystitis, which occurs in the lower urinary tract, and pyelonephritis, which occurs in the upper urinary tract.

There are two main types of UTIs complicated and uncomplicated. The two are distinguished by the factors that trigger the infection. Complicated UTIs are more commonly seen in men than women. UTIs can also be primary or recurrent, which means the infection is happening for the first time or is returning.

What Treatments Are Available

Because of the intense pain often caused by kidney stones, many people need pain relief. Many describe it as the worst pain theyve ever felt.

If you have a kidney stone, you will be encouraged to drink a lot of water if you dont have a medical condition that limits the amount you may have. The extra fluid is to help wash the stone through your urinary system.

If the stone doesnt pass within a reasonable amount of time, your doctor may recommend extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy . Shock waves are sent through to the stone to break them down into smaller pieces that can be passed. Sometimes, surgery may be needed.

The stone should be removed because of the high risk of infection, which could in turn lead to sepsis.

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Ok Got It But Then What Is A Kidney Infection

A kidney infection is, in essence, a UTI that has spread into the kidneys. While this type of infection is rare, its also very dangerous and if youre experiencing any of the following signs of a kidney infection, you should see a doctor immediately:

  • Upper back or side pain

  • Fever, shaking or chills

  • Feeling nauseous

While most kidney infections can be treated simply with an antibiotic, if left untreated, a kidney infection can cause damage to your kidneys, leading to chronic kidney disease. The bacteria could even spread to your bloodstream creating a life-threatening situation.

How Are Urinary Tract Infections Diagnosed

KIDNEY STONES AND PREGNANCY

Your doctor will review your medical history and do a physical exam. Other tests may include:

  • Urinalysis. Lab testing of urine is done to check for various cells and chemicals, such as red and white blood cells, germs , or a lot of protein.

If UTIs become a repeated problem, other tests may be used to see if the urinary tract is normal. These tests may include:

  • Intravenous pyelogram . This is a series of X-rays of the kidney, ureters , and bladder. It uses a contrast dye injected into a vein. This can be used to find tumors, structural abnormalities, kidney stones, or blockages. It also checks blood flow in the kidneys.
  • Cystoscopy. In this test, a thin, flexible tube and viewing device is put in through the urethra to examine the bladder and other parts of the urinary tract. Structural changes or blockages, such as tumors or stones can be found.
  • Kidney and bladder ultrasound. This imaging test uses high-frequency sound waves to make images of the bladder and the kidneys on a computer screen. The test is used to determine the size and shape of the bladder and the kidneys, and check for a mass, kidney stone, cysts, or other blockages or abnormalities.

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Symptoms Of Urinary Tract Stones

Stones, especially tiny ones, may not cause any symptoms. Stones in the bladder may cause pain in the lower abdomen. Stones that obstruct the ureter or renal pelvis or any of the kidneys drainage tubes may cause back pain or renal colic. Renal colic is characterized by an excruciating intermittent pain, usually in the area between the ribs and hip on one side, that spreads across the abdomen and often extends to the genital area. The pain tends to come in waves, gradually increasing to a peak intensity, then fading, over about 20 to 60 minutes. The pain may radiate down the abdomen toward the groin or testis or vulva.

Other symptoms include nausea and vomiting, restlessness, sweating, and blood or a stone or a piece of a stone in the urine. A person may have an urge to urinate frequently, particularly as a stone passes down the ureter. Chills, fever, burning or pain during urination, cloudy, foul-smelling urine, and abdominal swelling sometimes occur.

What Are The Symptoms Of A Urinary Tract Infection

These are the most common symptoms of a UTI:

  • Frequent urination
  • Pain or burning when passing urine
  • Urine looks dark, cloudy, or reddish in color
  • Urine smells bad
  • Feeling pain even when not urinating
  • Pain in the back or side, below the ribs
  • Nausea and/or vomiting
  • Despite an strong urge to urinate, only a small amount of urine is passed
  • Women may feel an uncomfortable pressure above the pubic bone

The symptoms of UTI may look like other conditions or medical problems. Always see a health care provider for a diagnosis.

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How Do Kidney Stones Form

Normally, your urine removes waste from your body including small crystals such as calcium, uric acid and oxalate that can be easily diluted and pass through your urinary system. However, when you produce more of these minerals than your urine can manage, the minerals can form kidney stones by sticking together in larger groups. This results in one of four different types of stones: calcium, struvite, uric acid and cystine.

Kidney Stone Causes Symptoms Treatments & Prevention

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

Your kidneys remove waste and fluid from your blood to make urine . Sometimes, when you have too much waste and not enough fluid in your blood, these wastes can build up and stick together in your kidneys. These clumps of waste are called kidney stones.

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Preventative Care For Urinary Tract Infections

Whether you are at risk of a bladder or kidney infection, methods reducing the likelihood of bacteria entering the urethra and spreading to the bladder are effective ways to prevent either infection from developing.

The primary way to prevent urinary tract infection is to pee when you need to and trying to empty the bladder. Holding urine can lead to bacteria build-up and irritation in the urinary tract.

Staying hydrated is a critical way to ensure frequent flushing of bacteria from the urinary tract. Drinking lots of fluids can prevent constipation from occurring and other irritating kidney infection symptoms.

Fiber-rich foods such as apples and cabbages are also effective preventative measures for constipation. Staying hydrated can also be done by drinking water or tea and avoiding sugary or caffeinated beverages.

Other home remedies include using a heating pad on your belly, back, or side to soothe pains and aches from infections.

Good hygiene also contributes to preventing further infection. Other methods for reducing the risk of infection include:

  • Urinate soon after sex, and make sure you practice safe sex in general
  • Contraceptive diaphragms prevent proper and complete emptying of the bladder consider switching to different birth control methods
  • Women with chronic urinary tract infections may find it helpful to take preventive antibiotic therapy

If you experience any symptoms above, to set up a phone appointment with a top U.S. doctor today.

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