How Do You Know If I Have A Bladder Infection

Uti Or Yeast Infection

UTIs and yeast infections are very different. UTIs result from bacteria growing in the urinary tract and can be caused by a number of things including improper wiping , wearing a wet bathing suit for too long, and excess moisture surrounding your genitals. The most common symptoms of a UTI are a frequent urge to urinate and a burning sensation when you do. By no means is a UTI on its own considered contagious. But that doesnt mean the bacteria wont spread. It is possible to pass the bacteria that caused the UTI to your partner and vice versa, which is why doctors recommend waiting to have sex.

A yeast infection is the result of an overgrowth of a fungus called candida. Candida lives healthily in your body all the time but can begin to cause problems if it multiplies. Things like stress, lack of sleep, poor eating habits, and a hormonal imbalance can cause the candida fungus to multiply and lead to infection. Also, certain antibiotics have been found to cause yeast infections. Yeast infections are not considered STIs because other things can cause them, but it is possible to get a yeast infection from a partner who has one.

What Are The Causes Of Yeast Infection

The main reasons for this yeast overgrowth include:

• Hormone tablets or contraceptives that increases the estrogen level in the body
• Use of antibiotics that can disturb the natural vaginal components
• Diabetes which is not controlled properly

How is Yeast Infection Treated?

Yeast infection treatment is typically administered through antifungal medication. Your doctor will prescribe an oral tablet, a topical cream, or a suppository, depending on the severity. The duration of the treatment also varies accordingly.

Favorite Sites To Find Docs

SWIU is all about supporting women urologists and the urologic issues that impact women. One of our favorite SWIU perks is their searchable database for prospective patients to find a local female urologist.

An excellent source for overall urinary health info, UCF also offers a tool to help would-be patients find a urologist near them. You can search by zip code, distance, and through eight urinary specialties, including pediatric urology.

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Are Bladder Infections Common

Bladder infections are very common and can affect anyone, however they tend to be more prevalent in women . This is largely because the female urethra is shorter than the male urethra, therefore, bacteria can enter the bladder more easily.

Bladder infections are also more common in people who:

• Have kidney stones, or any condition that blocks the urinary tract
• Have difficulty emptying their bladder
• Have a weakened immune system
• Use a contraceptive diaphragm or spermicidal lubricants/condoms
• Use a urinary catheter
• Men with an enlarged prostate, as described above, and women have who been through the menopause can also be prone to bladder infections.

How Can I Prevent Utis

If you have repeated UTIs, try these self-help measures to prevent recurring infections:

• Drink more fluids to help flush out bacteria.
• Urinate as soon as you feel the need.
• Urinate immediately after intercourse.
• Wear cotton underwear and loose-fitting pants.
• Find an alternative method of birth control if you use spermicides.
• Dont use perfumed soaps, talcum powder or deodorant around the genital area.
• Avoid constipation.
• Use lubricant gel with intercourse if the vaginal area is dry.

There is conflicting evidence for drinking cranberry juice to prevent UTIs. If you want to try cranberry products, ask your doctor for advice.

If infections are an ongoing problem, you may need to be referred to an urologist for further treatment.

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Uti And Yeast Infection Prevention: Can You Prevent Utis And Yeast Infections

Lets face it, weve all been there: the itching, the burning, the general body-related discomfort that comes with a yeast infection.

Then when we go to the bathroom, we find that a yeast infection has taken hold of us.

So how can you prevent UTIs and yeast infections?

The root cause of the UTI and yeast infection is the same.

Fungal infection in the gut, known as Candida, has infested our intestines.

To eliminate this infection, you must treat the underlying problem.

So now that you know the cause of the UTI and yeast infection, you need to tackle the causes.

Avoid stress can be eliminated by meditation.

Stress can aggravate your symptoms by weakening your immune system.

It can also promote candida in the first place.

Stress can be reduced with yoga.

Yoga will help your body to release chemicals that fight the yeast.

You will also reduce the pain that comes with stress.

Here is how you can prevent UTI and yeast infections and avoid candida infection altogether.

Fruits and vegetables can help your body eliminate toxins and help maintain a healthy colon.

Another important step is to drink enough water every day.

Many people with diabetes have found relief from UTI and yeast infections by drinking eight to ten glasses of water.

Water also flushes out the system and helps maintain a healthy digestive system.

Children suffering from UTI and yeast infections also need to be fed a diet that includes protein, vitamins, and minerals.

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Urinary Tract Infections In Babies And Young Children

Babies and children are at risk of UTIs. These infections always need to be investigated as they may indicate a serious underlying condition, such as urinary reflux. Reflux is caused by a bladder valve problem allowing urine to flow back into the kidneys from the bladder. Reflux can cause the urine to stay inside the body increasing the risk of infection. It may lead to kidney scarring, which in turn leads to high blood pressure and sometimes kidney problems.

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Causes Of Utis And Bladder Infections In Men

Women are more likely to get urinary tract infections and bladder infections than men because they have a shorter urethra located closer to their rectum.

For them, sexual activity or even wearing a pair of underwear for too long can cause bacteria like E. coli to come in contact with the urinary tract.

Men can get UTIs too, but in their case, its usually due to genetics, prostate changes with age, or an abnormal immune response. STDs such as chlamydia are another frequent cause of UTIs in men.

Approach To The Asymptomatic Patient

A therapeutic challenge arises when a patient has urinalysis findings or culture results that are consistent with UTI, yet does not experience any urinary symptoms. The prevalence of this condition, known as asymptomatic bacteriuria, increases with age.6,7Asymptomatic bacteriuria has been reported in 50% of women in long-term care facilities, and the prevalence in men drastically increases in those older than 60 years.6 Routine screening of asymptomatic patients is not recommended, according to the Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines.6 The only populations with a proven benefit from urinalysis and culture screening are pregnant patients and patients with a planned transurethral resection of the prostate or other urologic procedure in which mucosal bleeding is expected.6 Treatment also may be considered in women with bacteriuria more than 48 hours after catheter removal.6,8 If asymptomatic bacteriuria is identified in a patient from one of these populations, treatment should be initiated as described in TABLE 2.6,8-11 Antibiotic therapy should be started empirically, but it may require modification depending upon the organism identified in the urine culture.

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How Are Urinary Tract Infections Treated

You will need to treat a urinary tract infection. Antibiotics are medicines that kill bacteria and fight an infection. Antibiotics are typically used to treat urinary tract infections. Your healthcare provider will pick a drug that best treats the particular bacteria thats causing your infection. Some commonly used antibiotics can include:

• Nitrofurantoin.

Its very important that you follow your healthcare providers directions for taking the medicine. Dont stop taking the antibiotic because your symptoms go away and you start feeling better. If the infection is not treated completely with the full course of antibiotics, it can return.

If you have a history of frequent urinary tract infections, you may be given a prescription for antibiotics that you would take at the first onset of symptoms. Other patients may be given antibiotics to take every day, every other day, or after sexual intercourse to prevent the infection. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best treatment option for you if you have a history of frequent UTIs.

What Is A Uti Anyway

A UTI, or urinary tract infection, happens when bacteria enters into any part of your urinary system, which includes the urethra, the bladder, the kidneys or the uterus. If not flushed out of the system, the bacteria can lead to an infection, or a UTI.

If youve ever had a UTI , you probably havent forgotten the symptoms. UTIs are very unpleasant, to say the least, and are often accompanied with one or more of the following:

• A burning sensation when urinating

• A strong urge to urinate often, usually passing only small amounts of urine at a time.

• Cloudy and/or strong smelling urine

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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

• 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, and antibiotic treatment is usually required for weeks.

A variety of drugs can relieve symptoms, especially the frequent, insistent urge to urinate and painful urination. Phenazopyridine may help reduce the pain by soothing the inflamed tissues and can be taken for a couple of days, until antibiotics control the infection.

Uti Treatment: How To Treat A Uti

As soon as you notice a problem in your urinary tract, you should start an immediate course of action for a UTI treatment.

Some will say that antibiotics are the best approach, but many patients have found this ineffective and instead, will opt for natural treatments.

It is important to remember that there are benefits to each of these treatments.

The first kind of treatment for a UTI is taking antibiotics.

Usually, this is recommended as soon as the urine sample is collected, and immediately before surgery.

Although the antibiotics will clear up most of the bacteria that causes the infection.

They will often also reduce the level of enzymes that help to digest protein.

Another way to approach this problem is to use natural remedies.

Taking supplements rich in iron, magnesium, vitamin C, and other vitamins can help to strengthen the immune system.

And also help the body to digest protein more easily.

These kinds of supplements will also help to restore the normal balance.

Vitamin C is often a big help in the treatment of a UTI.

While taking a supplement with vitamin C may not be a quick fix.

It can certainly give some relief from the pain and discomfort that are often associated with this infection.

If the infection has progressed to a more serious stage, an anti-inflammatory drug may be prescribed by your doctor.

As soon as you start to notice any symptoms associated with a UTI, it is best to try and understand how to treat a UTI naturally.

Lightweight.

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Related Conditions And Causes Of Uti

There are a number of health conditions that share some symptoms with urinary tract infections, including:

The following conditions may make you more susceptible to developing a UTI and increase the severity of symptoms:

Type 2 diabetes

And having a UTI can increase a man’s risk for benign prostatic hyperplasia .

Bladder Infections Vs Other Utis

It is possible to have a more serious type of urinary tract infection that affects your upper urinary tract, a.ka. your kidneys. This typically happens as a result of an untreated UTI in your bladder.

A kidney infection causes symptoms like fever, nausea or vomiting, and one-sided back pain. It is serious and requires immediate medical intervention to avoid complications like scarring of the kidney.

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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.

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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What Are The Symptoms Of A Bladder Infection

The symptoms of a water infection vary depending upon its severity. However, most people experience the following:

• Needing to urinate more often than usual
• Pain or a burning/stinging sensation while urinating
• The sudden urge to urinate
• Feeling as though you cannot fully empty your bladder
• Foul-smelling, cloudy or bloody urine
• Feeling achy, tired and unwell

On their own, these symptoms typically point to a lower UTI such as cystitis. This means that the infection has only affected the urethra and/or bladder. If the infection spreads further up the urinary tract to the ureters or kidneys this is known as an upper UTI. An upper UTI is more serious than a lower UTI, and its symptoms include:

• Agitation and restlessness

Left untreated, an upper UTI can seriously damage the kidneys and spread to the bloodstream. When you start experiencing these symptoms, you should contact a doctor.

Interpretation Of Urinalysis And Urine Culture For Uti Treatment

Brittany N. Bates, PharmD, BCPSClinical Assistant Professor of Pharmacy PracticeOhio Northern UniversityLima, OhioUS Pharm.

ABSTRACT: Urinary tract infection is one of the most commonly diagnosed infections in both outpatient and inpatient populations. In order to make an accurate diagnosis, it is essential for practitioners to understand the value and limitations of urinalysis and urine culture. Use of these tests in conjunction with an assessment of urinary symptoms will yield a diagnosis of either asymptomatic bacteriuria or symptomatic UTI. Pharmacists can play a key role in recommending that antibiotic therapy be withheld when it is not indicated, in addition to providing guidance on appropriate antibiotic selection when treatment is warranted.

Urinalysis is a valuable diagnostic tool for many common disease states. Urinalysis is the most frequently used test for the evaluation of potential urinary tract infection . In addition, it can provide useful information related to screening and diagnosis of other conditions, including malignancy, proteinuria, glycosuria, ketonuria, and renal calculi.1 Accurate interpretation of urinalysis results is a key concept for health care providers in order to diagnose and treat patients appropriately. This article will focus primarily on the interpretation of urinalysis and subsequent urine culture in the diagnosis and treatment of UTIs.

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Eating Diet & Nutrition

Experts dont think eating, diet, and nutrition play a role in preventing or treating bladder infections. If you have any type of UTI, talk with a health care professional about how much to drink each day to help prevent or relieve your infection.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and other components of the National Institutes of Health conduct and support research into many diseases and conditions.