Thursday, March 21, 2024

All Symptoms Of Bladder Infection

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Can I Prevent A Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary Tract Infection – Overview (signs and symptoms, pathophysiology, causes and treatment)

You can usually prevent a urinary tract infection with lifestyle changes. These tips can include:

In some post-menopausal women, a healthcare provider may suggest an estrogen-containing vaginal cream. This may reduce the risk of developing a UTI by changing the pH of the vagina. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have recurrent UTIs and have already gone through menopause.

Over-the-counter supplements are also available for UTIs. These are sometimes recommended for people who have frequent UTIs as another way to prevent them. Talk to your healthcare provider before starting any supplements and ask if these could be a good choice for you.

Important Signs Of A Heart Attack

According to the CDC, 610,000 Americans die because of a heart attack every year. Unfortunately, many people don’t realize what is happening to them or call for help until it is too late. Heart attacks can manifest differently in women than in men, sometimes sidestepping traditional symptoms altogether. If you think you are experiencing a heart attack, seek emergency medical attention immediately by calling an ambulance or going to the ER. The sooner it gets caught, the higher the chance of survival.

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.

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Children And Urinary Tract Infections

Symptoms in children are different from symptoms in adults. Urinary tract infections are quite common in children. While UTIs in very young children are often associated with an anatomic abnormality, for others the infection is related to introducing bacteria into the urinary tract. UTIs in children generally peak in infancy and then again between ages 2 and 4, coinciding with potty training.

In newborns, signs of urinary tract infection include poor feeding, lethargy, diarrhea, vomiting, mild jaundice, and fever. For babies younger than 2, foul-smelling urine may also be a sign. For older children, the more classic UTI signs, such as urgency, incontinence, and pain while urinating occur.

What Is The Prognosis For A Person With A Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary Tract Infections: Symptoms and ...

Urinary tract infections typically respond very well to treatment. A UTI can be uncomfortable before you start treatment, but once your healthcare provider identifies the type of bacteria and prescribes the right antibiotic medication, your symptoms should improve quickly. Its important to keep taking your medication for the entire amount of time your healthcare provider prescribed. If you have frequent UTIs or if your symptoms arent improving, your provider may test to see if its an antibiotic-resistant infection. These are more complicated infections to treat and may require intravenous antibiotics or alternative treatments.

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How Do Utis Affect Pregnancy

Changes in hormone levels during pregnancy raise your risk for UTIs. UTIs during pregnancy are more likely to spread to the kidneys.

If you’re pregnant and have symptoms of a UTI, see your doctor or nurse right away. Your doctor will give you an antibiotic that is safe to take during pregnancy.

If left untreated, UTIs could lead to kidney infections and problems during pregnancy, including:

  • Premature birth
  • Low birth weight

Southern Cross Medical Library

The purpose of the Southern Cross Medical Library is to provide information of a general nature to help you better understand certain medical conditions. Always seek specific medical advice for treatment appropriate to you. This information is not intended to relate specifically to insurance or healthcare services provided by Southern Cross. For more articles go to the Medical Library index page.

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When To Call A Doctor

Get medical help at once if it hurts to pee and you also have any of these symptoms:

This may mean potentially life-threatening kidney disease, a prostate infection, a bladder or kidney tumor, or a urinary tract stone.

You should also call your doctor if:

  • Symptoms return after youâve finished treatment.
  • You also have discharge from your vagina or penis. This may be a sign of a sexually transmitted disease , pelvic inflammatory disease , or other serious infections.
  • You have ongoing pain or a hard time peeing. This may also be a sign of an STD, a vaginal infection, a kidney stone, enlargement of the prostate, or a bladder or prostate tumor. Or it could be that the infection is resistant to the antibiotic your doctor prescribed.

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Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) Overview | Causes, Risk Factors, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment

If your childs illness or injury is life-threatening, call 911.

Treatment for a Bladder Infection

  • What You Should Know about Bladder Infections:
  • Bladder infections are common in girls.
  • Most infections do not respond to the first dose of an antibiotic.
  • Often the bladder symptoms do not improve the first day.
  • Here is some care advice that should help.
  • Keep Giving the Antibiotic by Mouth:
  • UTIs need a prescription antibiotic. It will kill the bacteria that are causing the bladder infection.
  • Give it as directed.
  • Try not to forget any of the doses.
  • Give the antibiotic until it is gone. Reason: To keep the bladder infection from flaring up again.
  • Pain Medicine:
  • Prevention of Bladder Infections in Girls

  • Tips for How to Prevent UTIs in Girls:
  • When your child bathes, clean the genital area with warm water. Soap is not needed for young girls.
  • Don’t use bubble bath, shampoo or other soaps in the bath water. Reason: They are irritants.
  • Keep bath time less than 10 minutes. Your child also should pass urine right after baths.
  • Teach your daughter to wipe herself correctly from front to back after a stool.
  • Drink enough fluids each day to keep the urine light-colored.
  • Pass urine at least every 4 hours during the day and avoid “holding back.”
  • Wear cotton panties. Reason: To allow the skin to breathe. Your child doesn’t need to wear panties during the night.
  • Avoid constipation.
  • You have other questions or concerns
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    What Is Bladder Infection

    A bladder infection, also called cystitis, is caused by an abnormal growth of bacteria inside the bladder, the balloon-like organ that stores urine. Bladder infections are one of the most common bacterial infections to affect humans, with up to one-third of all females having at least one infection at some point in their lives.

    Bladder infections are classified as either simple or complicated. Simple bladder infections affect only healthy women with normal urinary systems. Bladder infections are rare in men who are otherwise healthy, so men are included in the complicated category with members of both sexes who have abnormal urinary systems.

    Symptoms Of A Urinary Tract Infection

    Symptoms of a lower UTI include

    • Pain or discomfort when urinating
    • The feeling of being unable to empty your bladder fully
    • Cloudy and/or foul-smelling urine that may contain blood
    • Pain in your lower abdomen and pelvis
    • Feeling achy, tired and generally under-the-weather

    Symptoms of an upper UTI include

    • A high temperature of 38°C
    • Pain in your sides or back
    • Shivering or chills
    • Agitation or restlessness

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    Are Some Women More At Risk For Utis

    Yes. You may be at greater risk for a UTI if you:1,5

    • Are sexually active. Sexual activity can move germs that cause UTIs from other areas, such as the vagina, to the urethra.
    • Use a diaphragm for birth control or use spermicides with a diaphragm or with condoms. Spermicides can kill good bacteria that protect you from UTIs.
    • Are pregnant. Pregnancy hormones can change the bacteria in the urinary tract, making UTIs more likely. Also, many pregnant women have trouble completely emptying the bladder, because the uterus with the developing baby sits on top of the bladder during pregnancy. Leftover urine with bacteria in it can cause a UTI.
    • Have gone through menopause. After menopause, loss of the hormone estrogen causes vaginal tissue to become thin and dry. This can make it easier for harmful bacteria to grow and cause a UTI.
    • Have diabetes, which can lower your immune system and cause nerve damage that makes it hard to completely empty your bladder
    • Have any condition, like a kidney stone, that may block the flow of urine between your kidneys and bladder
    • Have or recently had a catheter in place. A catheter is a thin tube put through the urethra into the bladder. Catheters drain urine when you cannot pass urine on your own, such as during surgery.

    Causes Of Urinary Tract Infections

    Prevention of Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) In Pregnancy

    Urinary tract infections are usually caused by bacteria from poo entering the urinary tract.

    The bacteria enter through the tube that carries pee out of the body .

    Women have a shorter urethra than men. This means bacteria are more likely to reach the bladder or kidneys and cause an infection.

    Things that increase the risk of bacteria getting into the bladder include:

    • having sex
    • do not use scented soap

    • do not hold your pee in if you feel the urge to go

    • do not rush when going for a pee try to fully empty your bladder

    • do not wear tight, synthetic underwear, such as nylon

    • do not drink lots of alcoholic drinks, as they may irritate your bladder

    • do not have lots of sugary food or drinks, as they may encourage bacteria to grow

    • do not use condoms or a diaphragm or cap with spermicidal lube on them try non-spermicidal lube or a different type of contraception

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    Is That Burning Sensation A Urinary Tract Infection

    Reviewed By:

    Melindia Mann, M.S.N, C.N.M., W.H.N.P.-B.C.

    Chances are, it has happened to you: You go to the bathroom and feel a burning sensation when you urinate. That feeling is a telltale symptom of a urinary tract infection , and its one that most women are familiar with. UTIs are incredibly common. In fact, the risk of a woman contracting one in her lifetime ranges from 40% to more than 50%.

    UTIs are inconvenient and can make a woman feel miserable from the pelvic pain, frequent urination and that burning feeling. Prompt treatment is key to relieving these symptoms and preventing possible complications, such as kidney infection.

    Melindia Mann, a womens health nurse practitioner who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of UTIs at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, talks about the common causes of urinary tract infections, how to prevent them and when to see a doctor or practitioner.

    What Are Causes And Risk Factors For A Urinary Tract Infection

    The urine is normally sterile. An infection occurs when bacteria get into the urine and begin to grow. The bacterial infection usually starts at the opening of the urethra where the urine leaves the body and moves upward into the urinary tract.

    • The culprit in at least 90% of uncomplicated infections is a type of bacteria called Escherichia coli, better known as E. coli. These bacteria normally live in the bowel and around the anus.
    • These bacteria can move from the area around the anus to the opening of the urethra. The two most common causes of this are improper wiping and sexual intercourse.
    • Usually, the act of emptying the bladder flushes the bacteria out of the urethra. If there are too many bacteria, urinating may not stop their spread.
    • The bacteria can travel up the urethra to the bladder, where they can grow and cause an infection.
    • The infection can spread further as the bacteria move up from the bladder via the ureters.
    • If they reach the kidney, they can cause a kidney infection , which can become a very serious condition if not treated promptly.

    The following people are at increased risk of urinary tract infection:

    The following special groups may be at increased risk of urinary tract infection:

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    Urinary Tract Infection Symptoms And Signs

    Symptoms of a urinary tract infection are similar in men, women, and children.

    • Early symptoms and signs are usually easy to recognize and primarily involve pain, discomfort, or burning when trying to urinate.
    • Accompanying this can be the sense that one needs to urinate urgently or the need for frequent urination . Even when there is a strong urge to urinate, you may pass only a small amount of urine.
    • The urine itself may appear bloody or cloudy. Men may feel pain in the rectum, while women may experience pain around the pubic bone.

    Causes Of Bladder Infection In Both Sexes

    Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Signs & Symptoms (& Why They Occur)

    Cystitis usually causes a frequent, urgent need to urinate and a burning or painful sensation while urinating. These symptoms usually develop over several hours or a day. The urgent need to urinate may cause an uncontrollable loss of urine , especially in older people. Fever is rarely present. Pain is usually felt above the pubic bone and often in the lower back as well. Frequent urination during the night may be another symptom. The urine may be cloudy in severe infection. Uncommonly, when infection results from an abnormal connection between the bladder and the intestine or the vagina , air can be passed in the urine .

    Doctors can usually diagnose cystitis based on its typical symptoms. A midstream urine specimen Obtaining a Clean-Catch Urine Sample is collected so that the urine is not contaminated with bacteria from the vagina or the tip of the penis. A strip of test paper is sometimes dipped into the urine to do two quick and simple tests for substances that are normally not found in the urine. The testing strip can detect nitrites that are released by bacteria. The testing strip can also detect leukocyte esterase , which may indicate that the body is trying to clear the urine of bacteria. In adult women, these may be the only tests necessary.

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    What Kinds Of Doctors Treat Urinary Tract Infections

    Most urinary tract infections can be treated by your primary care doctor or your child’s pediatrician. They are usually the best provider to treat you as they are most familiar with your medical history, medications you are taking, and other factors that might affect your treatment. If you seek treatment in an urgent care facility, a specialist in emergency medicine may be involved in your care.

    If there are frequent reoccurrences of UTIs or if complicating circumstances are present, your primary care doctor might refer you to a urologist, a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions related to the urinary system.

    Im Pregnant How Will A Uti Affect My Baby

    If you have a UTI and it isnt treated, it may lead to a kidney infection. Kidney infections may cause early labor. Fortunately, asymptomatic bacteriuria and bladder infections are usually found and treated before the kidneys become infected. If your doctor treats a urinary tract infection early and properly, it wont hurt your baby.

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    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.

    Check If It’s A Urinary Tract Infection

    Home Remedies to Relieve UTI (Urinary Tract Infection)

    Symptoms of a urinary tract infection may include:

    • pain or a burning sensation when peeing
    • needing to pee more often than usual during the night
    • pee that looks cloudy, dark or has a strong smell
    • needing to pee suddenly or more urgently than usual
    • needing to pee more often than usual
    • lower tummy pain or pain in your back, just under the ribs
    • a high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery
    • a very low temperature below 36C

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    A Pharmacist Can Help With Utis

    You can ask a pharmacist about treatments for a UTI.

    A pharmacist can:

    • offer advice on things that can help you get better
    • suggest the best painkiller to take
    • tell you if you need to see a GP about your symptoms

    Some pharmacies offer a UTI management service. They may be able to give antibiotics if they’re needed.

    Which Infections Are Worse

    NIDDK . A kidney infection is usually caused by a bladder or urethra infection where the bacteria multiply and travel upward toward the kidneys.

    Kidney infections can be extremely serious and painful, sometimes leading to hospitalization to receive intravenous antibiotics. If left untreated, kidney infections due to UTIs can cause infections in the bloodstream. This can be life-threatening.

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    What Is The Bladder

    The bladder is a hollow muscular organ that is located in the pelvis. The bladder has two functions: one is to store urine and the other is to release/expel urine. Urine drains from the kidneys , down the ureters , and into the bladder. The urine is stored in the bladder where it remains until urination. When it is time to urinate, the bladder muscle contracts and the outlet of the bladder and sphincter muscles relax to allow urine to pass through the urethra to leave the body. The bladder and urethra are part of the lower urinary tract, whereas the kidneys and ureters are part of the upper urinary tract.

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