Urinary tract infection: Symptoms, causes, and treatment

page contents

• What is a urinary tract infection
• symptoms
• Causes and risk factors
• Multiples
• Diagnosis
• treatment
• protection

Types of urinary tract infection

The most prominent types include the following:

1. Simple and complex infections

There is a clear distinction between a simple infection in the Urinary tract infection, i.e. an inflammation of the lower urinary tract in a non-pregnant woman, and a complex infection, where every infection in a man, as well as an infection in the kidneys, is a complex infection, and an infection of this type requires certain examinations and the intervention of specialists.

2. The most common infection

Among all types of infections in humans, urinary tract infection is the most common and requires antibiotic treatment, as the percentage of infections increases with age and is more prevalent among women at the age of 16-35, reaching 20%, and at the age of 65 and over, reaching 40%, and the percentage of Infections in men up to the age of 35 are less than 1% and increase to 20% and more over the age of 65 as a result of an enlarged prostate.

Urinary tract infection is usually an ascending infection, meaning that the germs that cause infection come from the woman’s vagina and anus, as the occurrence of infection is related to the strength and type of germ, as well as to the factors related to the patient.

There is great importance to complete emptying of the bladder due to factors such as an enlarged prostate in men, or prolapse of the uterus in women, as the emptying is not complete, as the infection may stem from a defect in the valve between the ureters and the urinary bladder, from the presence of stones in the urinary system, or from every congenital defect in the system. polycarbonate.

Symptoms of a urinary tract infection

The most prominent symptoms include the following:

• A strong and persistent urge to urinate.
• A burning sensation when urinating.
• Passing small, frequent amounts of urine.
• The appearance of cloudy urine.
• Urine appears red or light pink.
• The smell of urine is strong.
• Pelvic pain in women, especially in the center of the pelvis and around the pubic bone area.
• Causes and risk factors for urinary tract infection.

The following is an explanation of the most prominent causes and risk factors:

1. Causes of urinary tract infection

The most prominent reasons include the following:

Cystitis

This type of UTI is usually caused by Escherichia coli, a type of bacteria commonly found in the digestive tract.

Sexual intercourse can lead to cystitis, but you don't have to be sexually active to develop it. All women are at risk of developing cystitis precisely because of their anatomy, the short distance from the urethra to the anus and the opening of the urethra to the bladder.

Injury to the urethra

This type of UTI can occur when digestive tract bacteria spread from the anus to the urethra, and since the female urethra is close to the vagina it can cause sexually transmitted infections such as herpes, gonorrhea and chlamydia.

Complications of a urinary tract infection

The most prominent complications include the following:

• Frequent infections, especially in women who have had one or more UTIs in a period of six months or four or more in a year.
• Permanent kidney damage from acute or chronic kidney infection due to an untreated UTI.
• Increased risk of pregnant women having low birth weight or premature babies.
• Urethral stricture in men from recurrent urethritis previously seen with gonococcal urethritis.
• Sepsis, which is a potentially life-threatening complication of the infection, especially if the infection makes its way through the urinary tract to the kidneys.

Diagnosis of urinary tract infection

The most prominent methods of diagnosis include the following:

1. Urinary tract abnormalities

Babies born with abnormalities of the urinary tract that do not allow urine to leave the body normally or that cause urine to back up into the urethra have an increased risk of developing a urinary tract infection.

2. Urinary tract obstruction

Kidney stones or an enlarged prostate can trap urine in the bladder and increase the risk of a urinary tract infection.

3. Suppressing the immune system

Diabetes and other diseases that weaken the immune system can increase the risk of UTIs.

4. Use a catheter

People who cannot urinate on their own and use a tube to urinate are at increased risk of urinary tract infections. This may include people who are hospitalized, people with neurological problems that make it difficult to control their ability to urinate, and people who are paralyzed.

Urinary tract infection treatment

The most prominent methods of treatment include the following:

Urinary tract infection treatment

1. Treat simple inflammation

Medications commonly recommended for minor UTIs include:

• Trimethoprim / Sulfamethoxazole.
• Fosfomycin.
• Nitrofurantoin.
• Cephalexin.
• Ceftriaxone.

2. Treatment of recurrent inflammation

If you suffer from frequent UTIs, your doctor may recommend treatment recommendations such as:

• Low-dose antibiotics initially for six months but sometimes longer.
• Diagnosis and self-treatment if you stay in touch with your doctor.
• One dose of antibiotic after sexual intercourse if your infection is related to sexual activity.
• Vaginal estrogen therapy if you are postmenopausal.

3. Treatment of acute inflammation

For severe UTIs, you may need treatment with intravenous antibiotics in the hospital.

Prevention of urinary tract infection

The most important methods of prevention include the following:

• Drink plenty of water, as water helps dilute urine and flush out bacteria.
• Avoid drinks that may irritate the bladder, and avoid coffee and alcohol and soft drinks containing citrus juices or caffeine until the infection clears.
• Use a heating pad but not hot on your abdomen to reduce bladder pressure or discomfo