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Your health urinary tract infectionsUTIs: Treatable and preventable
Urinary tract infections might be a common complaint, but this doesn't make them any less painful, uncomfortable or inconvenient! Here's how to recognize the symptoms to ensure prompt, proper treatment.Any woman who's ever had a urinary tract infection (UTI) knows the pain and discomfort that they can cause, often at the most inconvenient times! They're a common complaint, and one in five women has a urinary tract infection in her lifetime. However, there's no need to worry as they're treatable and, in most cases, preventable. CystitisChances are, if you're female, you've had cystitis at least once or know someone else who has. Cystitis is a fancy word for bladder infection, a type of urinary tract infection that is common among women. In fact, some women have repeat infections and may have them frequently. See the box to check out the signs of cystitis. Cystitis is caused by bacteria that makes its way into the bladder. Bacteria from the bowel live on the skin near the rectum or vagina and can spread and enter the urinary tract. It's easy to find out if you have cystitis. Your doctor can do a simple test called urinalysis to check for blood and bacteria in your urine. Most cases of cystitis are not serious and can be easily treated with antibiotics. But it's important to take the entire prescription, even if symptoms get better before you're done. This is to prevent the bacteria from returning and infecting you again. It doesn't happen often, but sometimes bacteria that has infected the bladder can travel further up the body into the kidneys. Infection of the kidneys can be serious and should be treated right away. It's important not to ignore signs of cystitis. Though it is usually more annoying than dangerous, cystitis that isn't treated can be very serious indeed. And the good news is that prompt treatment generally takes care of cystitis right away. Most symptoms go away just one or two days after you start taking antibiotics. What is a UTI?A UTI is, quite simply, an infection in any part of your urinary tract. The urinary tract includes:
Women tend to have more UTIs than men because their urethra is shorter, which makes it easier for bacteria to enter the body, and spread upwards into the urinary tract. Most UTIs start in your lower urinary tract, made up of the urethra and the bladder. Although it's not a pleasant experience, these infections aren't a serious problem, and can be treated with a short course of antibiotics. However, if infection spreads into the upper urinary tract, made up of the kidneys and ureters, it can become a more serious illness, which may require hospital treatment. Signs of kidney infection include chills, fever, nausea, back pain and vomiting. The symptoms of UTIs:
Signs of a more serious kidney infection include:
What should I do if I have a UTI?If you have one or more symptoms of a UTI (see box), make an appointment with your doctor. You could be asked for a urine sample, which helps your doctor to test for infection (i.e. how much bacteria is found in the urine). This should take a couple of minutes. You might also need a physical exam. In most cases, UTIs are treated with antibiotic medicines. Symptoms often go away within one to two days, and you may be prescribed medication to numb and relieve the pain in the urinary tract. How can I prevent UTIs?The good news is that you can help prevent UTIs. Try the following:
Helpful LinksAmerican Urological Association – www.auanet.org/Related articles |
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