UTI – Urinary Tract Infection In Women
Here are five signs that can help you identify a UTI before it gets worse
Urinary incontinence and frequent urination
You may have a UTI if you have the following symptoms:
- Frequent urge to go to the urinal or washroom as soon as you are done
- Inflammation when urinating.
- Bladder fullness or feeling of discomfort in the lower abdomen.
- Bleeding along with urine, or tea or cola colored urine.
“A lot of things change the color of urine, including the things we eat, the medications we take and the concentration on our urine,” said Dr. Lisa Howes, a urologist with Chesapeake Urology Associates. However, “often with UTI, the urine is cloudy with small white debris.”
Fever, nausea, upper back pain
For diagnosis, the urinary tract is classified as the upper urinary tract and the lower urinary tract. The upper passages contain the bladder and kidneys, while the lower passages contain the urethra and bladder. There may be some additional symptoms in addition to the discomfort of urination when you have an infection in your upper tract. UTIs often end with a severe kidney infection and symptoms such as fever, nausea, and back pain should resolve immediately.
Honeymoon cystitis
“Because the urethra is next to the vagina, the bacteria in the vagina travels around the bladder and into the bladder,” said Daniela Karusi, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Honeymoon cystitis is a condition caused by frequent sex over a short period of time. Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a bacterium that enters the urethra and gets trapped in the bladder. Apart from sexual intercourse, the other common way is through toilet paper. The length of a woman’s bladder is 4 cm, which allows bacteria to reach the bladder quickly. Therefore, for women who are sexually active, it is advisable to get checked regularly to prevent infection.
Stress, cramps and abdominal pain
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases in the United States, especially older women who suffer from UTI have cramps, stress and abdominal pain. However, muscle aches and cramps are more common in some cases, regardless of age. These symptoms are often overlooked and considered minor problems. If any of these symptoms are favorable to your condition, it is important to seek the opinion of a physician.
Extreme fatigue, lack of appetite
Infection often impairs the proper functioning of the body. The infected area becomes inflamed. The result is that the body begins to take protective measures to fight infection, which triggers the release of interleukins and white blood cells that cause fatigue and pain. Lack of appetite, loss of appetite, frequent urination as well as in more severe cases of UTI are symptoms that are more profound and a sign that the infection has spread to the kidneys.
Urinary Tract Infection Diagnosis
If you have abdominal pain, blood in the urine, burning sensation when urinating and other UTI symptoms you should see a gynecologist immediately. For diagnosis, the laboratory requires a urine sample to test for microorganisms. Then your doctor should try to detect the presence of bacteria, virus or fungus because it can identify the cause of the infection. Also, the presence of white blood cells (WBC) in your sample indicates a urinary tract infection.
In some cases, additional tests may be needed on suspicion of the virus and accordingly. It is most commonly seen during organ transplants and in conditions where a weakened immune system is activated.
Microbial infection is referred to as urinary tract infection (UTI). It is one of the most common infections in humans and is caused by fungi, bacteria and viruses.
For diagnosis, the urinary tract is classified as the upper urinary tract and the lower urinary tract. The upper passages contain the bladder and kidneys, while the lower passages contain the urethra and bladder. Urinary tract infections are more common in the lower extremities than in the upper extremities.
Treatment of urinary tract infection
Dr. Padmaja said that UTI can be prevented through regular health check-ups .
Dr. Padmaja shared some things about common UTI cases.
“Richa is on her way to pick up her daughter from school. As soon as she got out of the cab she seemed to be pulling a strange muscle. The pain lasted for a few days. Later, Richa started experiencing a burning sensation while urinating and luckily Richa’s mother brought her to me. Abdominal pain should not be ignored at the age of 40 years. The symptoms are clear. ”
Let’s look at some other features of UTI.
Symptoms of infection in the lower extremities:
- Sensation when urinating
- Frequent urination
- Blood in the urine
- Urine that looks like cola or teal
- Abdominal pain
Symptoms of infection in the upper tract:
- Pain (in the upper back and sides)
- Fever
- Cold
- Nausea
When Richa came to me, she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Diabetes is a cause for UTI and Richa has confirmed other symptoms along with it. Therefore, it is important to get regular medical checkups and lead a healthy life.
Some causes of UTI are:
- Decreased mobility after surgery or chronic bed rest
- Kidney stones
- Previous UTI
- Diabetes, especially if not properly controlled, can lead to UTI
- Pregnancy
- Weakened immune system
- Unhygienic washrooms
- Multiple sexual partners
“Bacterial infections are the most common cause of urinary tract infections and are treated with antibiotics. However, the current standard test for urinary tract infections fails to detect patient bacteria in at least one-fifth of cases. As a result, many patients do not receive any treatment. ”
What happens if UTI is not treated?
“Infections can get worse if left untreated for 2-3 weeks. Upper tract infection is very rare and its treatment is more complicated. Infections of the lower extremities can spread to the upper extremities and eventually cause sepsis in your blood. Therefore, it is advisable to resolve the symptoms quickly. ”