Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Bladder Infection Or Kidney Infection

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What The Doctor Does

Kidney & Bladder Health : How to Treat a Kidney Infection

Doctors first ask questions about the persons symptoms and medical history and then do a physical examination. What they find during the history and physical examination often suggests a cause of the blood in the urine and the tests that may need to be done can make urine appear pink, red, or brown, depending on the amount of blood, how long it has been in the urine, and how acidic the urine is. An amount of blood read more ).

Doctors ask how long blood has been present and whether there have been any previous bleeding episodes. They ask about fever, weight loss, or symptoms of urinary blockage, such as difficulty starting urination or inability to completely empty the bladder. Pain or discomfort is an important finding. Burning during urination or dull pain in the lower abdomen just above the pubic bone suggests a bladder infection. In men, mild to moderate pain in the lower back or pelvis is often the result of a prostate infection Prostatitis Prostatitis is pain and swelling, inflammation, or both of the prostate gland. The cause is sometimes a bacterial infection. Pain can occur in the area between the scrotum and anus or in the read more . Extremely severe pain is usually due to a stone or a blood clot blocking the flow of urine.

How Dehydration Affects Your Bladder Health

Dehydration happens for two reasons:

        • Youre not drinking enough hydrating liquids
        • Youre expelling liquids more quickly than youre taking them in

The latter often happens when youre exercising and sweating enough to diminish your fluid levels but havent taken in enough to replace what youve lost.

If youre drinking beverages that act as a diuretic , then you might also be passing more fluids than youre ingesting.

Either way, your body suffers the effects of dehydration.

But what about your bladder? How is that affected by low fluid intake?

What Are The Symptoms Of A Kidney Infection

Symptoms of a kidney infection include:

  • Fever
  • Pain in your lower back, one or both sides or your groin
  • Urinating more often than normal
  • Feeling like you have to urinate even if you just went
  • Pain or burning when urinating
  • Blood or pus in your urine
  • Urine that is cloudy or smells bad
  • Diarrhea

If you notice any of these symptoms, contact your doctor right away. If you are currently taking medicine to treat a UTI, but you are still having any of these symptoms, contact your doctor.

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Kidney Infection Home Remedies

You can do some things at home to feel better while you have an infection:

  • Drink plenty of fluids to flush out germs.
  • Get extra rest.
  • When you go to the bathroom, sit on the toilet instead of squatting over it, which can keep your bladder from completely emptying.
  • Take a pain reliever with acetaminophen. Donât use aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen because these can raise your risk of kidney problems.
  • Use a heating pad on your belly, back, or side.

How Long Does A Uti Last

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If you have a UTI, its best to get it treated right away before any complications develop . Its possible for a UTI to get better on its own, but most of the time, it wont. While home remedies can help ease some of the discomfort, a doctor can prescribe you an antibiotic that is a much quicker and more effective treatment. An antibiotic will start working immediately and, depending on how complicated your UTI is, may clear it up in a matter of days. Be sure to always take your medication how your doctor prescribes.

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What Medications Cause Overactive Bladder

An overactive bladder involves an uncontrolled urge or sudden need to urinate. Most of us have increased our fluid intake at some point, which led to more trips to the bathroom. But an overactive bladder is different. It does not occur due to an increase in fluids. Although, some medications can cause this. So, what medications cause overactive bladder? We will take a look shortly.

An overactive bladder is not the same thing as urinary incontinence. Urinary incontinence occurs when urine leaks out involuntary. Either condition can develop on its own, but they can also occur together. An overactive bladder can often lead to urinary incontinence.

What Causes A Kidney Infection

Kidney infections are caused by bacteria or viruses.

Scientists believe that most kidney infections start as a bladder infection that moves upstream to infect one or both of your kidneys. Most often, the infection is caused by bacteria that normally live in your bowel. The urinary tract has several ways to prevent infection from moving up the urinary tract. For example, urination most often flushes out bacteria before it reaches the bladder. Sometimes your body cant fight the bacteria and the bacteria cause a UTI. If you dont get medical treatment to stop the infection, the bacteria may infect your kidneys.

In some cases, your blood can carry bacteria or viruses from another part of your body to your kidneys.

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How Can I Prevent A Kidney Infection

You may be able to lower your chance of getting a kidney infection by:

  • Drinking plenty of water
  • Urinating as soon as you feel the need to
  • Urinating after having sex
  • Wiping from front to back after going to the bathroom, if you are a woman. This helps to keep bacteria from your vagina or anus from getting into your urethra.
  • Avoiding the use of deodorant sprays or douches in your genital area
  • Getting treatment for constipation . Constipation is not a symptom of kidney infection but it can increase your chance of having bacteria in your urinary tract because it can make it difficult to empty your bladder fully.

What To Do If You See It

UTI – Bladder and kidney infections

It sounds strange, but you may not always know that you have blood in your urine. Sometimes, thereâs so little that it only shows up under a microscope when your doctor is testing you for something else. When you can see it, it can be alarming. But most of the time, the causes arenât serious. In some cases, though, the symptom points to a bigger health problem.So you should always let your doctor know about it.

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You Can Get A Uti From Having Sex

There is a clear link between UTIs and sex. For many people, having sex causes UTIs to occur over and over again. Data shows that UTI symptoms most often begin about 2 days after having sexual intercourse.

Sex can cause a UTI. This is because the friction involved in sexual activity pushes bacteria toward the urethra. Anything that allows or encourages bacteria to enter the urinary tract increases the risk of UTI.

UTIs should be treated to keep them from getting worse. This usually requires a prescription for antibiotics. Since going to see your healthcare provider every time you have sex isnt a reasonable option for many people, its helpful to think ahead. There are things you can do to prevent a UTI before it starts.

Blood In Urine Treatment

The treatment will obviously depend on the underlying cause for the blood in your urine. More information can be found in the separate individual leaflets on the various conditions that can cause blood in your urine.

If no cause can be found then you should still report any further bleeding to your GP who may want to you to undergo more tests. You should not ignore any blood in your urine even if you have had normal tests in the past.

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What Is A Bladder Infection

Bladder infections are the most common type of UTI. Your doctor may refer to a bladder infection as bacterial cystitis, which means inflammation of the bladder caused by bacteria. For most people, bladder infections arent serious medical conditions, but they can cause very uncomfortable symptoms and do require medical treatment.

When Should I Call My Healthcare Provider

Kidney Infection (Upper Urinary Tract Infection)
  • Fever.
  • Back pain.
  • Vomiting.

If you have any of these symptoms, or your other symptoms continue after treatment, call your healthcare provider. A UTI can spread throughout your urinary tract and into other parts of your body. However, treatment is very effective and can quickly relieve your symptoms.

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How Are Utis Diagnosed

Only a health care provider can treat urinary tract infections. The first thing a doctor will do is confirm that a person has a UTI by taking a clean-catch urine specimen. At the doctor’s office, you’ll be asked to clean your genital area with disposable wipes and then pee into a sterile cup.

The sample may be used for a urinalysis or a urine culture . Knowing what bacteria are causing the infection can help your doctor choose the best treatment.

Why Are Women More Likely To Get A Uti

The reason that women get urinary tract infections more often is due to their anatomy. Their urethras are much shorter than mens urethras, allowing the bacteria to reach the bladder easier. A womans urethra is also closer to her anus, making it easier for the bacteria to enter the urinary system.

Through improper wiping, sexual intercourse, and even toilet backsplash, E. coli can potentially end up in your urinary system.

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What Can Happen If A Uti Is Not Treated

If treated right away, a UTI is not likely to damage your urinary tract. But if your UTI is not treated, the infection can spread to the kidneys and other parts of your body. The most common symptoms of kidney infection are fever and pain in the back where the kidneys are located. Antibiotics can also treat kidney infections.

Sometimes the infection can get in the bloodstream. This is rare but life-threatening.

Treatment Of Kidney Infection

Juicing for Bladder and Kidneys : Help for Urinary Tract Infections

Most kidney infections need prompt treatment with antibiotics to stop the infection damaging the kidneys or spreading to the bloodstream.

You may also need painkillers.

If you’re especially vulnerable to the effects of an infection , you may be admitted to hospital and treated with antibiotics through a drip.

Most people who are diagnosed and treated promptly with antibiotics feel completely better after about 2 weeks.

People who are older or have underlying conditions may take longer to recover.

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Does Cranberry Juice Prevent A Urinary Tract Infection

Many people say that cranberry juice can help treat, or even prevent, a UTI. Researchers are currently looking into the topic, but havent found a definitive answer yet. Healthcare providers recommend drinking lots of fluids if you have, or have a history of getting, a UTI. Adding a glass of unsweetened cranberry juice to your diet isnt a proven way to prevent a UTI, but it typically wont hurt you either.

When To See A Doctor For Kidney Stones

People often seek immediate medical attention for kidney stones due to the excruciating pain and nausea theyre experiencing. If they havent had stones before, their symptoms can be quite daunting. A lot will say, I thought I was dying, says Dr. Pearle. Always seek immediate medical attention if you have severe pain, vomiting, bleeding, or signs of infection.

Smaller stones often pass on their own. How long it takes to pass a kidney stone varies from person to person and by the size and location of the stone. If a stone is too large to pass on its own or is causing other problems, you may need to have it removed with lithotripsy or kidney stone surgery. If left untreated, kidney stones could lead to kidney damage if they block the flow of urine.

Some doctors suggest taking painkillers and boosting daily water intake to help flush out the troublesome mass. If youre vomiting, youre probably dehydrated anyway, so additional fluid cant hurt. And staying well hydrated does reduce the risk of developing future kidney stones. A type of muscle relaxing medicine called an alpha blocker may also be prescribed to help speed up kidney stone passage and reduce pain.

Even if you think the stone has passed, always follow up with a doctor because symptoms can come and go.

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Utis And Menstrual Bleeding: Can A Urinary Tract Infection Delay Or Affect Your Period

While science now shows that men have a hormonal cycle of sorts, much as women do, they dont menstruate meaning that most women between puberty and menopause deal with monthly bleeding that men do not.

As if that isnt enough of an issue for women, with cramps in their uterus and ovaries that can range from annoying to debilitating, women are also more prone to urinary tract infections, or UTIs, with about 50 percent of women experiencing at least one UTI in their lifetime. Of course, a UTI can have complications that eventually affect more than just the urinary tract.

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Overview Of Urinary Tract Infection

Saving Our Sons: UTI Resource Page

Urinary tract infections are a huge public health problem particularly among women, whose lifetime risk of having at least one UTI is higher than 50 percent. In women alone, the nearly 12.8 million urinary tract infections each year cost close to $2.5 billion in medical care. Adding the cost for men raises the total to $3.5 billion, while nearly $100 million is spent on 3.3 million prescriptions.

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Infections Can Also Be Caused By:

  • Kidney stones, enlarged prostates, and other conditions that obstruct the urinary tract, preventing proper emptying of urine from the body
  • Spinal cord injury and other conditions that prevent you from properly emptying your bladder
  • Menopause or medications that alter the hormones in your body, thus changing the bacterial environment in your urinary tract system
  • Any condition that suppresses the immune system
  • Certain sexually transmitted infections, including chlamydia, herpes, gonorrhea, and mycoplasma

In rare cases, a virus or fungus can cause UTIs.

Duration Of Kidney Infection

The onset of pain from a kidney infection is typically quite fast. It typically does not last any longer than a kidney infection lasts. This makes kidney pain acute. Typically, a kidney infection is resolved by the passing of a kidney stone or treatment of the infection. As soon as these things happen, the pain disappears completely. If you experience back trauma or a muscle spasm or sprain, the pain typically endures much longer than a kidney infection.

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Finding The Cause Of Cystitis

It is important for doctors to find the cause of cystitis in several different groups. The cause should be found in

  • Children

  • Analgesics as needed

  • Sometimes surgery

Cystitis is usually treated with antibiotics. Before prescribing antibiotics, the doctor determines whether the person has a condition that would make cystitis more severe, such as diabetes or a weakened immune system , or more difficult to eliminate, such as a structural abnormality. Such conditions may require more potent antibiotics taken for a longer period of time, particularly because the infection is likely to return as soon as the person stops taking antibiotics. People with such conditions may also have infections caused by fungi or unusual bacteria and may thus require something other than the most commonly used antibiotics.

For women, taking an antibiotic by mouth for 3 days is usually effective if the infection has not led to any complications, although some doctors prefer to give a single dose. For more stubborn infections, an antibiotic is usually taken for 7 to 10 days. For men, cystitis usually is caused by prostatitis Prostatitis Prostatitis is pain and swelling, inflammation, or both of the prostate gland. The cause is sometimes a bacterial infection. Pain can occur in the area between the scrotum and anus or in the… read more , and antibiotic treatment is usually required for weeks.

How Long Does Back Pain Last With A Uti

UTI Bladder |Kidney Infections |Chronic Renal Disease Best Herbal Cure

Minor back pain may accompany UTIs. Once antibiotics are started, you should feel better within 12 to 24 hours.

However, untreated UTIs can cause severe infection and complications. Constant, dull, or severe pain can signify a kidney infection. Unlike muscular pain, this pain will be persistent and unrelieved by any alleviating factors.

UTI back pain will last until you begin antibiotic treatment for your UTI.

A UTI that has spread to the kidneys is a serious infection that will typically not go away on its own. Its extremely dangerous for an infection of this nature to go untreated.

If you are experiencing back pain from a UTI seek medical attention immediately, youll likely need antibiotics.

UTIs typically cause lower abdominal pain and not back pain. Lower abdominal pain can last 2-3 days with a UTI and longer for untreated UTIs.

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Ok So How Do I Make Sure I Never Get A Uti Or A Kidney Infection

As they say, prevention is the best cure! And there are many things you can do to ensure that youre reducing your risk for an infection, and preventing build up from occurring in the kidneys.

  • Practice good hygiene. Always wipe from front to back, keep your genital area clean, wash before and after sex. Basically, do your best to keep bacteria from even having a chance of getting into the urinary system in the first place.

  • Drink lots of water. If youre dehydrated, youre not only increasing your chance of a UTI, but youre also decreasing your urine output, meaning that more minerals have a chance to build up and settle in the urinary tract or kidneys.

  • Make sure to urinate whenever you feel you have to go. Dont hold it in. This concentrates the urine allowing bacteria to build up and spread.

  • Alter your diet if you find youre prone to kidney stones. Cut down on certain meats and shellfish and opting instead for more vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Avoid consuming too much sugar. Cut back on sodium, and eat more oxalate-rich foods .

And if you do start experiencing any of the symptoms above, be sure to see a doctor right away. UTIs, kidney infections, and kidney stones can usually be treated fairly easily, but its important to seek medical attention before any complications develop.

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