How To Treat A Bladder Or Kidney Infection

Is It Safe To Treat Utis Without Antibiotics

Antibiotics are effective treatments for UTIs. Sometimes, the body can resolve minor, uncomplicated UTIs on its own, without antibiotics.

Complicated UTIs require medical treatment. These are some factors that can make the infection complicated:

• changes in the urinary tract or organs, such as a swollen prostate or reduced flow of urine

Research And Statistics: How Many People Get Kidney Infections

The Cleveland Clinic estimates that each year between 3 and 7 out of 10,000 people in the United States develop a kidney infection.

Kidney infections are much more common among pregnant women, occurring in about 2 percent of pregnancies.

There are about 100,000 hospital visits for UTIs each year in the United States, most of which are related to kidney infections, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders .

One important area of research for kidney infection is antibiotic resistance when bacteria contain a way to block the effect of the drugs designed to kill them. Currently, guidelines for treating kidney infection recommend adding intravenous antibiotics to oral drugs when a certain percentage of bacteria from a urine sample show signs of resistance.

Treatment for kidney infections has largely stayed the same over the last several years, says Amin S. Herati, MD, an assistant professor of urology at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore. But, Dr. Herati says, there are some new therapies in the pipeline that are very exciting.

One promising potential treatment on the horizon, says Herati, is bacteriophage therapy, which involves injecting a virus that targets specific bacteria, causing them to burst and die. This approach could be useful for UTIs and kidney infections in which antibiotic resistance is a problem.

Also Check: Bladder Retraining For Urge Incontinence

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.

Don’t Miss: Loss Of Bladder Control During Pregnancy

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.

Causes Of Kidney Infection

A kidney infection usually happens when bacteria gets into the urethra. This is a tube that carries urine out of your body. The bacteria travel up to your bladder, causing cystitis, and then up into your kidneys.

E. coli bacteria normally live in your bowel, where they cause no harm. They can be transferred from your bottom to your genitals during sex. They can also be transferred if you’re not careful when wiping your bottom after going to the loo.

A kidney infection can sometimes develop without a bladder infection.

For example, if you have:

• a problem with your kidney, such as kidney stones
• a weakened immune system

Don’t Miss: Icd 10 Code For Neurogenic Bladder

Are There Risk Factors For Pyelonephritis

There are several developmental conditions that increase the risk of pyelonephritis:

• Ectopic ureters a condition in which the ureters do not attach to the bladder properly
• Vesicoureteral reflux backflow of urine from the bladder back into the ureters
• Renal dysplasia abnormal development of the kidneys

There are several medical conditions and medical procedures that increase the likelihood of urinary tract infection including:

• Diabetes mellitus
• Administration of medications containing steroids
• Catheterization of the urethra

Treating A Yeast Infection

Yeast infections are treated using antifungal medications. These are available in many forms, such as clotrimazole and miconazole, which are available over the counter. There is also an oral medication, fluconazole , available as a prescription if you prefer a pill to a vaginal cream or suppository.

You May Like: Different Types Of Bladder Infections

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.

Antibiotics For Treating Kidney Infections

Antibiotics are especially effective in treating bacterial infection. Kidney infection being mostly of bacterial origin, antibiotics are the best options, when it comes to treating it. If the disease is still in its initial stages, then oral intake of medicines is enough to treat it. However advanced cases require intravenously administered antibiotics. Here are the most widely used ones.

You May Like: How To Insert Catheter In Bladder

Recommended Reading: Bcg Dose For Bladder Cancer

What Is A Yeast Infection

Pregnancy, antibiotic use, or a weakened immune system increase a womans risk of developing a yeast infection. Yeast infections are also more common in women:

• With uncontrolled diabetes
• Using high-dose estrogen birth control
• Using douches or vaginal sprays
• Wearing tight underwear and synthetic clothes that dont breathe.

• Intense itching or irritation around the genital area
• A burning sensation, especially during intercourse or while urinating
• A thick, white, odor-free, discharge .

Although vaginal yeast infections are not considered a sexually transmitted infection, sexual intercourse can trigger or spread them. Women who arent sexually active can also get them. Some women are prone to yeast infections and get them relatively regularly.

How Can I Take Care Of Myself

• Follow your healthcare provider’s treatment. Take all of the antibiotic that your healthcare provider prescribes, even when you feel better. Do not take medicine left over from previous prescriptions.
• Drink more fluids, especially water, to help flush bacteria from your system.
• If you have a fever:
• Take aspirin or acetaminophen to control the fever. Check with your healthcare provider before you give any medicine that contains aspirin or salicylates to a child or teen. This includes medicines like baby aspirin, some cold medicines, and Pepto Bismol. Children and teens who take aspirin are at risk for a serious illness called Reye’s syndrome.
• Keep a daily record of your temperature.

Also Check: Does Medicare Cover Botox For Overactive Bladder

How Do Health Care Professionals Treat A Bladder Infection

If you have a bladder infection caused by bacteria, a health care professional is likely to prescribe antibiotics. If the diagnosis is not certain, based on your symptoms or lab test results, you may not need antibiotics. Instead, your health care professional will work to find the cause and the best treatment for your symptoms.

When To See A Doctor For A Uti

Always go to your primary care physician immediately if there is blood in the urine, if you have a fever, and/or low back pain with your UTI symptoms, Sajdak advises. UTIs can move fast, so its better to go sooner than later.

Although natural remedies can be beneficial for alleviating UTI symptoms and preventing recurrent UTIs, they may not be effective in treating the infection.

If symptoms still persist after three days then it is time to move on to antibiotics, says Ivy Branin, ND, a naturopathic doctor in New York City who specializes in womens health. I often recommend a patient to see their doctor for a UA and a prescription for antibiotics just in case and to fill it if they have no improvement after three days.

Leaving a UTI untreated can cause additional health problems. Bacteria can reach the ureters or kidneys and cause kidney infections. Untreated UTIs during pregnancy can also potentially cause early labor and low birth weight. Seeking treatment for UTI that isnt going awayor one that keeps coming backis always a good thing.

Also Check: Anti Inflammatory For Ear Infection

Don’t Miss: How To Regain Bladder Control After Prostate Surgery

How Do Health Care Professionals Treat Kidney Infections

If you have a kidney infection, a health care professional will prescribe antibiotics. Even before your test results are in, the health care professional may prescribe an antibiotic that fights the most common types of bacteria. Although you may feel relief from your symptoms, make sure to take the entire antibiotic treatment that your health care professional prescribes.

Once your lab results are in, the health care professional may switch the antibiotic to one that better treats the type of infection you have. You may take these antibiotics by mouth, through a vein in your arm, called by IV, or both.

If you are very sick from your kidney infection, you may go to a hospital for bed rest. A health care professional may give you fluids through an IV.

If something such as a kidney stone or an enlarged prostate is blocking your urinary tract, a doctor can sometimes treat the problem with surgery or another procedure.

Can I Become Immune To The Antibiotics Used To Treat A Uti

Your body can actually get used to the antibiotics typically used to treat a urinary tract infection . This happens in people who have very frequent infections. With each UTI and use of antibiotics to treat it, the infection adapts and becomes harder to fight. This is called an antibiotic-resistant infection. Because of this, your healthcare provider may suggest alternative treatments if you have frequent UTIs. These could include:

• Waiting: Your provider may suggest that you watch your symptoms and wait. During this time, you may be encouraged to drink plenty of fluids in an effort to flush out your system.
• Intravenous treatment: In some very complicated cases, where the UTI is resistant to antibiotics or the infection has moved to your kidneys, you may need to be treated in the hospital. The medicine will be given to you directly in your vein . Once youre home, you will be prescribed antibiotics for a period of time to fully get rid of the infection.

Don’t Miss: Natural Ways To Help A Bladder Infection

Symptoms Of A Kidney Infection

Kidney infection symptoms usually appear about 2 days after initial infection and can vary between children and adults. Common symptoms among adults include:

• pain in your abdomen, back, groin, or side
• frequent urination or the sensation of needing to urinate
• burning or pain while urinating
• blood or pus in your urine
• cloudy or foul-smelling urine

In children under 2 years old, a kidney infection may only come with a high fever as a symptom. Adults over 65 may only experience mental confusion and jumbled speech as their symptoms.

If a kidney infection isnt treated swiftly or appropriately, symptoms can become severe and result in , which is a life threatening condition. Sepsis symptoms include:

Causes And Risk Factors Of A Kidney Infection

Kidney infections can be caused by bacteria or viruses that spread in your urinary tract, but bacterial infections are much more common.

In fact, about 90 percent of kidney infections are caused by a single type of bacteria, Eschericia coli, or E. coli, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

The infection is thought to occur from bacteria that travel from your gastrointestinal tract to your skin surface, through your urethra to your bladder, then through the tubes that connect your bladder and kidneys.

Normally, urine flushes any potentially harmful bacteria out of your ureters before they can cause an infection. But sometimes this doesnt happen due to the following conditions:

• Structural abnormalities in your ureters or kidneys
• Enlarged prostate
• Urine backflow from your bladder to your kidneys

Its also possible for bacteria from your bloodstream to enter your kidneys and cause an infection. This happens most commonly with staphylococcus, or staph, bacteria.

Kidney infections that spread from your bloodstream tend to develop after surgery or as a consequence of another infection elsewhere in the body. For example, if an artificial joint or heart valve becomes infected, the kidneys can become secondarily infected.

Its very uncommon for kidney surgery to lead to a kidney infection.

A number of factors can increase your risk of developing a kidney infection:

This reduced urine flow can make it easier for bacteria in your bladder to migrate into your kidneys.

Also Check: Bladder Infection In Elderly Man

Natural Home Remedies For Kidney Infection Relief

• 6. Parsley Juice

When the human kidneys work the way they should, they obviously play a crucial role in keeping the body strong, clean, and well-functioning. Conversely, if the kidneys have infection or failure, it will put the human body at risk, letting waste accumulate and wreak havoc, which explains why it is a good idea to do a kidney cleanse regularly. Normally, healthy people will have two kidneys which are about the size of a fist and situated close to the waste at either side of the spine. Kidneys have a basic role in assisting the body in detoxifying by removing waste products. They also help control blood pressure, eliminate toxins or drugs, regulate hormones, and maintain strong bones. So, maintaining healthy kidneys is very important if you want your body to function well. This article will show the best natural home remedies for kidney infection at home without drugs. Lets get started!

Up Your Vitamin C Intake

Theres some scientific evidence that increasing your vitamin C intake can help your body fight off infections, including those in the urinary tract. Thats because vitamin C can increase urine acidity, giving it antibacterial capabilities.

In one study, pregnant women who took 100 mg of vitamin C had less than half the risk of developing a UTI than the control group.

If you want to use vitamin C to treat or prevent a UTI, talk to your provider, who can help you decide how much to supplement. Another way to increase vitamin C intake is by eating foods that are rich in the vitamin, like red peppers, kiwi, and citrus fruits.

If you have a current UTI, citrus fruit and juice may irritate your bladder, so be sure to monitor your symptoms if you decide to up your vitamin C intake.

Read Also: How To Get A Bigger Bladder

Staying Hydrated Is Key

Drinking plenty of fluids is a vital part of passing kidney stones and preventing new stones from forming. Not only does the liquid flush out toxins, but it also helps move stones and grit through your urinary tract.

Although water alone may be enough to do the trick, adding certain ingredients can be beneficial. Be sure to drink one 8-ounce glass of water immediately after drinking any flavored remedy. This can help move the ingredients through your system.

Talk to your doctor before getting started with any of the home remedies listed below. They can assess whether home treatment is right for you or if it could lead to additional complications.

If youre pregnant or breastfeeding, avoid using any remedies. Your doctor can determine whether a juice may cause side effects for you or your baby.

What Is A Urinary Tract Infection

A urinary tract infection occurs anywhere in the urinary tract system, which is made up of several different organs. To understand what a urinary tract infection is, we must first understand the urinary tract and the organs that comprise it.

The urinary tract organs are meant to extract, hold, and transport waste from your system in the form of urine. They include:

• The kidneys: These two organs sit on each side of your body, generally around the waist. They filter out excess water and waste from your blood to create urine.
• The ureters: These two thin tubes run between the kidney and bladder, transporting urine to the bladder.
• The bladder: This organ stores urine until you feel the need to pee. The body involuntarily contracts the muscles that line the bladder to urinate.
• The urethra: This tube connects the bladder to the outside of the body. When you pee, a muscle called the urinary sphincter relaxes as your bladder contracts to remove urine from your body.

The urethra and bladder make up the lower urinary tract, and the ureters and kidneys the upper urinary tract. A bacterial infection in any of these four areas is considered a UTI. This includes both bladder and kidney infections.

Also Check: How To Make A Weak Bladder Stronger