Urinary
Tract Infections
Urinary
tract infections are a common health care problem for women.
Women are at greater risk for getting a urinary tract infection
than men due to women's shorter urethra. This makes it easier
for bacteria to spread into the urinary tract. Urinary tract
infections are caused by bacteria, such as escheria coli (E-coli),
entering the uretrha and spreading up the urinary tract. In
addition to being female, use of spermicides, vigorous sexual
activity, and increased age are all risk factors for getting
a urinary tract infection.
|
Symptoms
of a urinary tract infection
Below
is a list of signs and symptoms of a urinary tract infection
- Urinary
frequency and urgency, feeling the need to urinate even
when the bladder is empty
- Painful
and or buring urination
- Having
to urinate during the night, sometimes waking several
times a night to void
- Pain
in the pubic area or above
- Low
grade fever
- Presence
of pus, mucous, or sometimes blood in the urine
- If
infection has spread to the upper portion of the urinary
tract, you may experience more serious symptoms including
nausea and vomiting, high fever, and chills.
What
should I do if I am experiencing symptoms of a urinary tract
infection?
See
your doctor right away. Your doctor will want a urine sample
and she may also draw blood for blood tests. She will need
to do a urine culture to determine the correct medication
to be used. If you are at risk for a sexually transmitted
disease it is especially important to see your doctor because
soem of the symptoms of urinary tract infections are also
symptoms of certain sexually
transmitted diseases. If you are having vaginal discharge,
vaginal odor, vaginal itching, or painful sexual intercourse,
a work for sexually transmitted diseases is warranted.
Treatment
of urinary tract infections
Urinary
tract infections are treated with antibiotics. Antibiotic
choice will be dependent on the microorganism causing the
infection. It is important to remember to take all prescribed
medication as directed even if symptoms subside. Contact your
doctor if symptoms do not subside.
Your
doctor may also prescribe a medication called Pyridium. Pyridium
is used to relieve the pain associated with urinary tract
infections. It does treat the infection itself, however, it
should help relieve the symptoms of pain, burning, urgency,
and frequency. You should be aware that Pyridium will turn
your urine orange to red in color. You may wish to wear a
sanitary pad or liner to protect your clothing from staining.
What
about cranberry juice?
Cranberry
juice, you may have thought was an old wive's tale at preventing
urinary tract infections. The reason it works is that it keeps
your urine acidic. Urine's acidity is one of the body's protective
mechanisms for fighting infection. Drinking cranberry juice
and taking vitamin C help to keep your urine in an acidic
state.
What
can I do to prevent urinary tract infections?
- Always
use proper hygiene, remembering to wipe from front to
back
- Avoid
bubble baths, soaps with perfumes or dies, feminine hygiene
sprays, and douching
- Urinate
before and after sexual intercourse to cleanse the urethra
from contaminants
- Do
not hold your bladder, urinate every 3-4 hours
- Wear
loose fitting cotton underwear
- Drink
2 glasses of cranberry juice daily
- Take
vitamin C
- Drink
8-10 glasses of water daily
- Avoid
alcohol, caffeine, and carbonated beverages as these are
known bladder irritants
|
