What is a Urinary Tract Infection?
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection that can occur in any part of one’s urinary system. The urinary system consists of various vital body parts like the kidney, ureter, bladder, and urethra.
Most urinary tract infections happen in the bladder and urethra and can lead to various urinary diseases like pyelonephritis – the inflammation of the kidney. UTI is one of the most common infections, as it gets more than 8.1 million visits annually in the U.S. alone. Females are more likely to contract urinary tract infection – about 60% of women and only 12% of men will have a UTI visit at least once in their lifetime.
What Happens in a UTI?
The urinary tract is responsible for making and storing urine – which is a common waste product that is released by almost all living creatures. The kidney is the organ that is responsible for making urine in the urinary tract and they balance the levels of various chemicals in the body.
When one gets a urinary tract infection, the lining of their bladder and urethra becomes red and irritated. Some other symptoms include throat irritation and warm pain the lower abdomen – right around the pelvic area. Some of the most common symptoms of UTI include:
Feeling a strong urge to urinate but being unable to do so.
Losing control over one’s urine.
A sensation of burning or pain when urinating.
Smelly and cloudy urine.
Mild fevers, lower and upper body pain, and nausea.
What Causes a UTI?
Some of the biggest causes of UTI in the body include, but are not limited to:
Body factors – women who go through menopause will lose the protection that estrogen usually provides, which is responsible for protecting the body against bacteria that can lead to UTIs.
Sexual intercourse – both men and women are more likely to contract UTIs through sexual intercourse.
Using diaphragm – women who use diaphragms are very likely to be at risk of contracting UTIs as compared to other birth controls.
Anomaly in anatomy – using a tube to drain the urinary tract can lead to UTIs. Structural anomalies like diverticula can also cause enlarged bladder and UTI.
What is Chronic UTI?
A chronic urinary tract infection affects the unitary system of a person. People who suffer from chronic urinary tract infections are very unlikely to respond to treatment or the problems keep coming back. It is called chronic because the problem is recurring, and most normal treatments can’t solve the problem completely.
What Happens If You Have Chronic UTI?
If someone has been diagnosed with chronic urinary tract infections, the first thing that doctors do is try to eliminate the problem’s cause. If one is suffering from chronic urinary tract infections, they will be in constant pain in the lower pelvic area of the body, which can extend to the upper body if left untreated.
Some other problems that can be used because of prolonged urinary tract infections include:
Spreading of an infection from one bladder to the other, or the kidneys.
Permanent reduction in kidney function.
Increases risk of kidney failure.
Cystitis – a condition related to the bladder that can cause blood in urine and pelvic pressure.
High level of pain and burning sensation in the urethra which can cause an early discharge of urine.
How to Deal with Chronic UTI
If you are susceptible to chronic urinary tract infections, it is usually recommended to visit a doctor to find an effective solution at dealing with this problem. Because it is a chronic condition, you will have to live with this issue – perhaps for the rest of your life. Several options can help you figure out how to effectively deal with this chronic condition. Some of these conditions include:
Thoroughly wipe yourself from front to back after visiting the toilet.
Wear cotton underwear so you don’t get irritated by the clothes you are wearing.
Refrain from wearing tight-fitting clothes as they can make your pelvic uncomfortable.
Drink plenty of water all day, to ensure your urinary tract is staying clean.
Take showers instead of baths.
If you are using birth control, refrain from using diaphragms and spermicide-shaped condoms.
Refrain from too much intercourse, and always urinate after performing the act.
Doctors may recommend taking a long-term antibiotic dosage between six months to over two years to promptly deal with chronic urinary tract infections. Similarly, doctors may also recommend therapy and CT scans of the urinary tract to find the underlying issue and thoroughly deal with the issues of chronic urinary tract infections.
For more information please call AMA Medical Center at (781) 581-6181 or contact us online.
Schedule your consultation with the best doctors in Lynn, MA!
Comments