A urinary tract infection (UTI) is most often caused by bacteria that get into your bladder, kidneys, ureters, and urethra, which are all part of your urinary tract and are common, especially in women.
If you’re a woman, your chance of getting a urinary tract infection is high. Some experts rank your lifetime risk of getting one as high as 1 in 2, suggesting a 50% chance, with many women having repeat infections, sometimes for years.
Women get UTIs more often because a woman’s urethra (the tube from the bladder to where the urine comes out of the body) is shorter than a man’s. This anatomy makes it easier for bacteria to get into the bladder.
As the world marks World Toilet Day today, November 19, here is everything you should know about this dreaded disease.
ALSO READ: #WorldToiletDay: 7 Tips You Should Follow When Using A Public Toilet
Symptoms
- Pain or burning when urinating
- An urge to urinate often, but not much comes out when you go
- Pressure in your lower abdomen
- Urine that smells bad or looks milky or cloudy
- Blood in the urine. This condition is more common in younger women. If you notice blood in your urine, please inform a doctor or nurse promptly.
- You may experience symptoms such as fatigue, shakiness, confusion, or weakness. This condition is more common in older women.
- Having a fever, which may mean the infection has reached your kidneys
Causes
UTIs are caused by bacteria called E. coli, found in the digestive tract of humans, that finds its way into the urinary tract. Women pick up this organism when they use dirty public toilets or clean their anus from back to front.
E. coli enters through the urethra and begins to multiply in the bladder. The defense system designed to keep out the microbes fails, and the bacteria take hold and grow into a full-blown infection, which, if the infection isn’t treated, can continue on to infect your kidneys.
Secondly, some women are more likely to get UTIs because of their genes. The shape of their urinary tracts increases the likelihood of infection in others. Furthermore, women with diabetes and other conditions like multiple sclerosis may be at higher risk because their weakened immune systems make them less able to fight off infections.
Types
An infection can happen in different parts of your urinary tract. Each type has a different name, based on where it is.
- Cystitis (bladder): It occurs when your bladder becomes inflamed due to infection by bacteria. You may experience frequent urges to urinate, or discomfort or pain during urination. You might also have lower belly pain and cloudy or bloody urine.
- Pyelonephritis (kidneys): This condition is the riskiest form of urinary tract infection, as it can lead to permanent kidney damage and death. The condition can be either acute or chronic, depending on the frequency of reinfection. It can cause fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, and pain in your upper back or side.
- Urethritis (urethra): Urethritis commonly occurs due to bacteria, which cause inflammation and irritation of the urethra. This condition can cause a discharge and burning when you pee.
Diagnosis
If you suspect that you have a urinary tract infection, go to the doctor. You’ll give a urine sample to test for UTI-causing bacteria.
If you get frequent UTIs and your doctor suspects a problem in your urinary tract, they might take a closer look with an ultrasound, a CT scan, or an MRI scan. They might also use a long, flexible tube called a cystoscope to look inside your urethra and bladder.
Treatment
UTIs are treated with medications that kill the bacteria causing the infection. These drugs must be prescribed by your doctor. The drugs most often used to treat UTI infections are tablets typically taken for 3 days. More complicated infections are treated for about 7-10 days or more with antibiotics, depending on the bacteria causing the infection, the drug used, and your medical history.
You can also try some home remedies.
Prevention
There are many preventive steps you can take to prevent recurrence.
- Urinate as soon as you feel the urge, as holding in the urine encourages the bacteria to stay in the body and multiply.
- Always wipe from front to back after using the toilet.
- Drink lots of water, as much as 6-8 glasses daily, to encourage frequent urination, which helps in flushing out the bacteria from your urethra.
- Avoid feminine hygiene sprays, scented douches, and scented or harsh bath soaps, as they’ll only increase irritation.
- Keep your genital area dry by wearing cotton underwear and loose-fitting clothes. Don’t wear tight jeans and nylon underwear; they can trap moisture, creating the perfect environment for bacterial growth.
- Practice good sexual hygiene by cleaning your genitals and urinating before sex, and also urinating after sex.
- Take unsweetened cranberry juice, as cranberries prevent bacteria from attaching to the walls of your urinary tract, therefore preventing infections. Cranberry also has antioxidants with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory features.
- Take probiotics to promote a healthy balance of bacteria in your body. The common sources of probiotics include probiotic yogurt or probiotic supplements. Probiotics work by preventing harmful bacteria from attaching to the urinary tract, have antibacterial properties, and lower the pH of the urine.
