Blog

Know More About UTI’s And Its Prevention

With the low level of cleanliness we have in some public washrooms, it is almost impossible for women to use them. There is always a threat to their hygiene and a high chance of catching a infection from using dirty toilet seats. One such infection that as a woman you have to be wary of is the Urinary Tract Infection. Urinary Tract Infections are a big problem with women all over the world. Chances are that in your lifetime, you will have had a UTI at some point in your life or another. We will talk about what  a UTI is, what it feels like and what you can do about it. Shrikhande IVF and Fertility Center in Nagpur has an excellent Urology department.  If you notice some of the symptoms listed below  then chances are that you may have a UTI and you should definitely have it looked at.

If you have the following symptoms then you should definitely consult your urology specialist.

• Burning sensation when you urinate
• Frequent urge to urinate
• Pain in your lower back
• Strange smelling urine
• Fever or chills (this may be if your infection has reached your kidneys)

A UTI is typically contracted when bacteria enters the urinary tract through the urethra. As mentioned above dirty toilet seats and not cleaning your private parts can lead to a UTI. The urinary systems typically work long hours to ensure that there are no microscopic invaders entering our body. But sometimes our defenses fail leading to an infection.

There are two types of UTI’s that occur quite frequently in women. These are:

Infection Of  The Bladder (Cystitis):  Caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli), which is also found in the gastrointestinal tract. Unfortunately due to the proximity of the anal cavity and the urethra it might be possible to pass on these bacteria to the urethral opening.  Sexual intercourse could also be a method on contracting Cystitis UTI’s. It is extremely important to keep your body clean at all times, especially your sexual organs.

Infection of Urethra (Urethritis): Because the female urethra is close to the vagina, sexually transmitted infections, such as herpes, gonorrhea, chlamydia and mycoplasma, can cause urethritis. This form of UTI  can occur when GI bacteria spread from the anus to the urethra.

Complications From A UTI:

A UTI when treated in a timely manner can usually be prevented from causing more harm, however, in some cases additional complication can occur due to a UTI. These include:

Recurrent UTI Infections:

If you have had an UTI which was treated but the problems resurfaces within a period of 6 months this could be an issue that needs to be looked into at greater depth.

Kidney Failure:

A typical UTI only infects the urethra. However if the UTI is left unchecked for long periods of time then the infection could spread to the kidneys. This could cause a lot of problems, even Kidney failure. That is why it is essential to know the signs of an UTI as soon as possible.

Premature Births:

UTI’s can put pregnant women at the risk of delivering premature babies and children born at a lower weight. We have already written about the risks of having a premature child.

Sepsis:

Potentially a life-threatening complication of an infection, especially if the infection works its way up your urinary tract to your kidneys

Prevention Of UTI’s

Drinking Lots Of Water.

Drinking Cranberry Juice.

Empty Your Bladder Soon After Intercourse.

Do Not Use Feminine Products That Cause Vaginal Irritation or Inflammation

Treatment of UTI’s:

If you have a feeling that you may have contracted an UTI, (which is definitely possible in spite of your precaution), you have to get it treated immediately. Speak to your local urology specialist who will be able to look into the problem and provide the best course of action. In most cases the doctor will prescribe you with a set of antibiotics built specially for the problems. Please do not try and self-medicate because that could lead to further complication which are totally unnecessary. Book and appointment with Dr Anil Shrikhande the leading urology specialist in Nagpur today.

Tags: Curing UTI, Urology Problems, UTI and Its Prevention