Youve Got A Cold The Flu Or Allergies
You may be tempted to curse your seasonal sneezes, a cold, or the dreaded flu for making your life even more miserable with a UTI, but these ailments arent the cause. The meds you take to manage symptoms could be.
Though theyre the bomb at keeping your runny or stuffy nose in check, antihistamines and decongestants might make you go less by causing urinary retention. And see No. 6 that may lead to a UTI.
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.
Uti Symptoms In The Elderly
The symptoms of a UTI may be the same in older adults as in younger people. However, a larger percentage of the elderly may not experience any symptoms other than white blood cells in the urine . The elderly are also less likely to have a fever. Research shows there is usually no benefit in treating these asymptomatic infections, and so healthcare professionals typically dont intervene until symptoms appear.
You May Like: Hill’s Science Diet Urinary So
How Is Urinary Tract Infection Diagnosed
In order to ensure a clean urine sample, a physician will likely have you clean your genital area with a special wipe beforehand, and ask that you do a midstream catch of the urine.
If a UTI is diagnosed, youll be treated with antibiotics. Its important to note that false negative results do occur and that almost all women who experience typical UTI symptoms and a negative urine culture actually do have a UTI. 30209-4/fulltext” rel=”nofollow”> 11)
If youve had a prior UTI, your healthcare provider will look at prior cultures to see which bacteria were found, if any, and which antibiotics were used this often guides therapy in recurrent UTIs.
How Can You Determine If Your Dog Has A Uti Without Going To A Vet
A UTI test is the best way to determine whether or not your pup has UTI without stepping foot in a veterinarian clinic. Through a urine sample, vets can confirm a dogs UTI.
Aside from detecting tract infections in dogs, a UTI test can save you a lot of time, especially if your four-legged friend gets UTIs frequently. If the test detects that your dog does have a UTI, youll want to ask your vet for effective over-the-counter treatment as soon as possible. The condition will only worsen with time.
Read Also: How Do You Fix Overactive Bladder
Also Check: What Is A Pessary For Urinary Incontinence
Research And Statistics: Who Gets Urinary Tract Infections
In the United States, UTIs result in about 10 million doctor’s office visits annually. People of any age can get a UTI, though most commonly it affects women. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 40 to 60 percent of women develop a UTI during their lives.
Twelve percent of men will have symptoms of at least one UTI during their lives, per the American Urological Association. While UTIs are uncommon in young men, the risk of infection increases with age, especially in men over 50.
In children, UTIs are common and also occur more frequently in girls than boys. About 3 percent of girls and 1 percent of boys will have a UTI by the time they’re 11 years old.
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. Call your doctor if you have a fever , chills, lower stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. You should also call your doctor if, after taking medicine for 3 days, you still have a burning feeling when you urinate. If you are pregnant, you should also call your doctor if you have any contractions.
Don’t Miss: How To Clear Up A Urinary Tract Infection Without Antibiotics
Urinary Tract Infection Treatment
If you are a healthy adult man or a woman who is not pregnant, a few days of antibiotic pills will usually cure your urinary tract infection. If you are pregnant, your doctor will prescribe a medicine that is safe for you and the baby. Usually, symptoms of the infection go away 1 to 2 days after you start taking the medicine. Its important that you follow your doctors instructions for taking the medicine, even if you start to feel better. Skipping pills could make the treatment less effective.
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 dont be alarmed by the color when you urinate.
Symptoms Of Kidney Infection
Symptoms of pyelonephritis often begin suddenly with chills, fever, pain in the lower part of the back on either side, nausea, and vomiting.
, including frequent, painful urination. One or both kidneys may be enlarged and painful, and doctors may find tenderness in the small of the back on the affected side. Sometimes the muscles of the abdomen are tightly contracted. Irritation from the infection or the passing of a kidney stone can cause spasms of the ureters. If the ureters go into spasms, people may experience episodes of intense pain . In children, symptoms of a kidney infection Urinary Tract Infection in Children A urinary tract infection is a bacterial infection of the urinary bladder , the kidneys , or both. Urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria. Infants and younger read more often are slight and more difficult to recognize. In older people, pyelonephritis may not cause any symptoms that seem to indicate a problem in the urinary tract. Instead, older people may have a decrease in mental function , fever, or an infection of the bloodstream .
In chronic pyelonephritis, the pain may be vague, and fever may come and go or not occur at all.
Don’t Miss: Urinary Tract Infection Azo Cranberry
How Centric Healthcare Can Help
It has been well-established by medical researchers that older adults have a greater risk of getting UTI than the rest of the population. At the same time, demographers are projecting that the population of our state and our country continues to age dramatically. Therefore, the impact of UTI on our health will continue to grow.
Listed below are some of the services offered by Centric Healthcare that can help you and your loved one prevent and manage UTI.
Can A Urinary Tract Infection Lead To Death
Yes. If left untreated, a urinary tract infection can lead to death. UTIs may lead to a form of called urosepsis. The mortality rate of severe sepsis is between 20%-40%.
Infections are a major cause of hospitalization and death in nursing homes. Nearly 380,000 people die of the infections in nursing homes every year.
A urinary tract infection is caused when bacteria enter the urethra and infect the bladder or kidneys. The bacteria then multiply in the urine, and an infection develops. If the infection spreads into the bloodstream, then it can cause fatal problems like acute or chronic kidney failure.
The risk of death from urinary tract infection is especially high in elderly people, which is why nursing homes are required to take steps to prevent UTIs. When a nursing home resident develops a UTI, he or she should receive treatment for the infection as soon as possible.
Schenk Smith represents families of loved ones who have died from UTIs in Georgia nursing homes.
Recommended Reading: What Causes Urinary Incontinence At Night
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 is 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 your bladder. The urine that stays in the bladder is more likely to grow bacteria and cause infections.
Key Points About Urinary Tract Infections
- Urinary tract infections are a common health problem that affects millions of people each year. These infections can affect any part of the urinary tract.
- Most UTIs are caused by E. coli bacteria, which normally live in the colon.
- The most common symptoms of UTIs include changes in urination such as frequency, pain, or burning urine looks dark, cloudy, or red and smells bad back or side pain nausea/vomiting and fever.
- Antibiotics are used to treat UTIs. Other treatments may include pain relievers, and drinking plenty of water to help wash bacteria out of the urinary tract.
- Other things that can be done may help reduce the likelihood of developing UTIs.
Read Also: What Antibiotics Are Used For A Urinary Tract Infection
Urinary Tract Infections During Pregnancy: Symptoms Treatment And Common Questions
In addition, as the uterus grows throughout pregnancy, it can put pressure on the bladder, making it more difficult to empty completely.
Pregnancy can also make a UTI more difficult to treat, which can have serious consequences, including pyelonephritis preterm labor low birth weight and .
A urinalysis and a urine culture are routinely performed at an initial prenatal visit to screen for UTIs, but if you’re pregnant and suspect you may have an infection, seek medical attention quickly.
How To Prevent Urinary Tract Infections In Nursing Homes
Nursing homes are required by Georgia law to have UTI prevention measures. Preventions measures must be specific to each residents needs and include:
- Rounding: Nursing home staff should develop schedules based on a residents toileting and sleeping patterns. This helps reduce instances of incontinent episodes.
- Catheter Care: Catheters drastically increase UTI risk. Nursing homes must obey physicians orders regarding the drainage, replacement, and maintenance of catheters.
- Hygiene: Staff should use normal practices when cleaning residents or providing incontinent care. Rubber gloves, disinfectant, and clean linens are imperative not just for infection control, but for the residents dignity.
- Infection Control: The nursing home must employ infection control policies for every staff member.
Federal regulations, including this one, require nursing homes to take reasonable steps to prevent UTIs.
Recommended Reading: Kidney Stone In Urinary Tract
How To Treat Uti Symptoms
UTI symptoms can only be treated by eliminating the underlying infection, though over-the-counter analgesics will help with pain or fever. There are few treatment options for the infection itself outside of antibiotics. Several different antibiotics may be prescribed depending on the type of UTI and the bacteria involved. Bactrim is commonly used as a first-line agent, but other common antibiotics prescribed include amoxicillin, ampicillin, fluoroquinolones, cephalosporins, gentamicin, and nitrofurantoin. While there are natural remedies and lifestyle changes, such as drinking cranberry juice, that may help reduce the incidence of UTIs, they are not effective at combating an active infection.
Treatment source: Urinary tract infections in adults, American Family Physician
Signs And Symptoms Of Urinary Tract Infections
UTI symptoms can vary, and it’s possible for someone who has a urinary tract infection to experience no symptoms. But for many people, UTI symptoms are uncomfortable and painful. Besides a strong, persistent urge to urinate, common symptoms include:
When a urinary tract infection moves to the kidneys, symptoms such as fever, shaking, chills, and pain in the upper back, side, or groin may occur.
Also Check: Bulking Injection For Urinary Incontinence
Appendix 1 Point Of Care Urine Collection Prior To Urine Culture1
Urine Collection
Upon rising or at any time, collect urine in the C& S container provided.
Labelling:
Packaging:
Storage and Transport:
References:
|
Organism |
The report only includes organisms suspected to be uropathogens . This depends on patient demographics, concentration of the specific organism and the specific laboratory protocol. In urine with multiple organisms, identification may not be performed as it may produce misleading results that are not related to the UTI. |
|
Antibiotic susceptibilities |
The report only includes antibiotics that can be used for UTI. The specific antibiotics listed depend on the patient demographics, documented antibiotics and allergies, organism identified, colony count of the organism and the specific laboratory protocol. |
References:
What Are Possible Causes
In some patients with metastatic bladder cancer, the bladder cancer cells may have spread to their bones, which can cause the symptom of bone pain.3 However, bone pain due to bladder cancer is relatively uncommon and the pain is more likely due to some other cause. There are multiple causes of bone pain, including
- Fracture due to injury or accident
You May Like: Overactive Bladder At Night Causes
You May Like: Easy Home Urinary Tract Infection Test Strips
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.
Recommended Reading: Can Teeth Hurt From Sinus Infection
Differences Between Uti And Pyuria Without Uti
To clarify the effect of UTI, we divided the patients by episodes of UTI, which was less frequent than pyuria.> 1UTI episode was associated with an increased risk of ESRD with a HR of 1.90 . The associations of> 1UTI episode with rapid GFR decline and all-cause mortality were also significant. To clarify the effect of pyuria without UTI, we selected 2661 patients without any UTI episodes and without any high grade urine WBC and then divided them by episodes of pyuria .> 2 episodes of pyuria without UTI were associated with an increased risk of ESRD with a HR of 3.53 .> 2 episodes of pyuria without UTI were associated with rapid GFR decline, but not with all-cause mortality. Because the risk of pyuria without UTI for renal outcomes was numerically higher than that with UTI, we further compared the differences between baseline parameters. eGFR and UPCR were associated with pyuria without UTI, but not with UTI in multivariate logistic regression .
Table 5 Association between UTI or pyuria without UTI and clinical outcomes.
Recommended Reading: Can Heart Failure Cause Kidney Problems
Recommended Reading: What Can I Take To Cure A Urinary Tract Infection
Am I At Risk Of A Uti
While UTIs can happen to anyone, they are more common in females who are sexually active or menopausal, or have health conditions such as diabetes or urinary incontinence. Females who use spermicides or diaphragms as contraception are also at increased risk of UTIs, and may benefit from other contraceptive options if they get recurrent UTIs.
Some people at greater risk of developing urinary tract infections:
- Females nearly 1 in 3 females will have a UTI that needs treatment before the age of 24.
- Males with prostate problems an enlarged prostate gland can cause the bladder to only partially empty, raising the risk of infection.
- Older people some medications and problems with incontinence mean that older people are more likely to get a UTI.
- People with urinary catheters people who are critically ill and people who cant empty their bladder are at a greater risk of infection.
- People with diabetes changes to the immune system make people with diabetes more vulnerable to infection.
- Infants babies in nappies commonly get UTIs, in particular, infants born with physical problems of the urinary system are at greater risk.
Bacteria Are Not The Only Culprit
Have you ever heard of schistosomiasis? Its a disease caused by a harmful organism and may cause UTIs. There are four types of schistosomiasis all can lead to kidney disease and bladder cancer. Worldwide, 200 million people are infected every year and 100,000 die. Although its most common to Africa and the Middle East, its on the move even to as far away as Fiji.
Don’t Miss: Urinary Tract Infection Detection Kit
You Wipe From Back To Front
Wiping from back to front can transport E. coli, the bacteria thats behind most UTIs, from the rectal region to the urethra. Moral of the story: Always wipe from front to back. Al-Badr A, et al. . Recurrent urinary tract infections management in women: A review.