Urinary Tract Infection Treatment Near Me

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are infections of any part of the urinary system, including the kidneys, uterus, bladder, and urethra. Most infections are related to the lower urinary tract-the bladder and urethra.

Women have a higher risk of developing a UTI than men. Infections that are confined to the bladder can be painful and annoying. However, if the UTI spreads to the kidneys, it can have serious consequences.

Doctors usually treat urinary tract infections with antibiotics. However, measures can be taken to reduce the likelihood of getting infected with a UTI in the first place.

Symptoms

Urinary tract infections do not always cause signs and symptoms, but if they occur, they may include:

• Strong, persistent urge to urinate
• Burning sensation when urinating
• Frequent passage of a small amount of urine
• Urine that appears to be cloudy
• Urine that appears red, bright pink, or COLA—a sign of blood in the urine
• Bad smell urine
• Pelvic pain in women—especially around the center of the pelvis and pubic bone

UTI can be overlooked in older people or mistaken for other conditions.

Types of urinary tract infection

Depending on which part of the urinary tract is infected, more specific signs and symptoms may appear for each type of UTI.

Part of the urinary tract affected	Signs and symptoms
Kidneys (acute pyelonephritis)	·        Upper back and side (flank) pain ·        High fever ·        Shaking and chills ·        Nausea ·        Vomiting
Bladder (cystitis)	·        Pelvic pressure ·        Lower abdomen discomfort ·        Frequent, painful urination ·        Blood in urine
Urethra (urethritis)	·        Burning with urination ·        Discharge

Causes

Urinary tract infections usually occur when bacteria enter the urinary tract through the urethra and begin to multiply in the bladder. The urinary system is designed to prevent such microscopic intruders, but these defenses sometimes fail. When it happens, bacteria can settle and grow into a full-fledged infection in the urinary tract.

The most common UTI occurs mainly in women and affects the bladder and urethra.

• Infection of the bladder(cystitis). This type of UTI is usually caused by E. coli (E. coli), a type of bacteria commonly found in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. it is caused by the disease (influenza). However, it can be due to other bacteria.
• Sexual intercourse can lead to cystitis, but it is not necessary to be sexually active to develop cystitis. Every woman is at risk of cystitis due to its anatomical structure, especially the short distance from the urethra to the anus and the opening of the urethra in the bladder.
• Infection of the urethra (urethritis); This type of UTI can occur when GI bacteria spread from the anus to the urethra. Also, since the urethra in a woman is close to the vagina, sexually transmitted diseases such as herpes, gonorrhea, chlamydia, Mycoplasma can cause urethritis.

Risk factors

Urinary tract infections are common in women, and many women experience multiple infections during their lifetime. The risk factors specific to women with UTI are:

• Female anatomy. Women have shorter urethra than men, so the distance the bacteria must travel to reach the bladder is shorter.
• Sexual activity. Sexually active women tend to have more UTIs than non-sexually active women. Having a new sexual partner also increases your risk.
• Certain types of contraception; Women who use a diaphragm for contraception may be at a higher risk, as do women who use spermicidal agents.
• Menopause. After menopause, when circulating estrogen decreases, the urinary tract changes, making it more susceptible to infections.

Other risk factors for UTIs include:

• Abnormalities of the urinary tract. Babies born with urinary tract abnormalities that do not allow urine to leave the body normally or cause urine to return to the urethra are at increased risk of UTI.

• Obstruction of the urinary tract. Kidney stones or enlarged prostate can trap urine in the bladder and increase the risk of UTI.

• Suppressed immune system. Diabetes and other diseases that impair the immune system—the body's defenses against bacteria—can increase the risk of UTIs.

• Use of catheters. People who are unable to urinate on their own and use a tube (catheter) to urinate are at higher risk of a UTI. This may include people who are hospitalized, who have neurological problems that make it difficult to control their ability to urinate, or who are paralyzed.

• Recent urine procedures. An examination of your urinary tract including urine surgery or medical equipment can both increase your risk of developing a urinary tract infection.

Complications

If treated quickly and properly, the lower urinary tract infection rarely causes complications. But if left untreated, urinary tract infections can have serious consequences.

Complications of UTI include：

• Recurrent infections, especially women who experience more than 6 UTI in 2 months, or 1 UTI in 4 years.
• Permanent kidney damage due to acute or chronic renal infection (pyelonephritis) due to untreated UTI.
• Increased risk of pregnant women giving birth to low birth weight babies or premature babies.
• Urethral stenosis (stenosis) in men with recurrent urethritis, previously seen with gonococcal urethritis.
• Sepsis, a potentially life-threatening complication of infection, especially if the infection progresses from the urinary tract to the kidneys.

Prevention

To reduce the risk of urinary tract infections, you can take the following steps:

• Drink a lot of liquids, especially water. If you drink water, your urine will be diluted and you will be able to urinate more often. Before infection begins, bacteria can be washed out of the urinary tract.
• Drink cranberry juice. There is no conclusive study that cranberry juice prevents UTI, but it may not be harmful.
• Wipe from front to back. Doing so after urination and defecation can prevent bacteria in the anal area from spreading to the vagina and urethra.
• Empty the bladder immediately after sexual intercourse. Also, drink a glass of water to help wash away the bacteria.
• Avoid potentially irritating women's products. The use of deodorant sprays or other women's products (for example, douche or powder) in the genital area can irritate the urethra.
• Change the contraceptive method Diaphragm, or any condom treated with no lubrication or spermicide, can contribute to the growth of bacteria.