UTI Causes & Treatments
What is it?
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection that takes place in the urinary system and can appear at any part of it, including your kidneys, uterer, urethra, and/or bladder. The lower urinary tract, which includes the bladder and the urethra, is most at risk for becoming infected. While the upper tract, where the kidneys and uterer are located, may also get infected, these are usually more severe infections. A UTI is one of the most common infections, and it is usually caused by microbes—mostly bacteria.
What causes it?
UTIs happen when bacteria enter the urinary tract through the urethra and multiply in the bladder. Although our bodies usually keep out microbe invaders, sometimes this does not happen as our defenses may fail. When this is the case, bacteria can grow into a full blown infection in the urinary tract.
The bladder is usually infected by Escherichia Coli (E.Coli) which is a bacteria commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract (GI). It is likely that through this you may develop cystitis, and the likelihood of that increases for women who are sexually active. However, due to female anatomy and the close distance between the anus and the urethra, the risk of cystitis is always present. This also means that the urethra can become infected, as bacteria from the anus may spread to the urethra. Sexually transmitted diseases such as herpes, gonorrhea or chlamydia and mycoplasma may also cause urethritis.
Some UTIs can also be the result of fungi and more rarely by viruses.
What are the symptoms?
You should remember that UTIs don’t always come with symptoms, and the symptoms are different between lower tract infections and upper tract ones.
Upper Tract Symptoms:
- Fever and nausea
- Chills
- Pain in upper back and sides
- Vomiting
Lower Tract Symptoms:
- Strong urge to urinate, usually doesn’t go away
- Burning sensation upon urinating
- Increased frequency of urination without much urine
- Bloody and/or cloudy urine
- Strong-smelling urine
- Pelvic pain in women
- Rectal pain in men
How can I treat it?
The most common way to treat a simple UTI is with prescribed antibiotics, but the type and treatment always depends on the type of UTI and where it’s located.
Simple UTIs are usually treated with drugs such as trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, Fosfomycin, Nitrofurantoin, cephalexin or ceftriaxone. Symptoms may clear up in the first few days of taking the antibiotic, but you may need to continue it for a week or more. You should always follow your doctor’s orders on taking the antibiotics and take the full course as prescribed.
Upper tract UTIs and long-term infections will most likely require different treatments, and even though there are some preventative measures you can take for UTIs, there are no home remedies that can fully treat them.
To prevent UTIs, it is suggested that you have a high water intake and drink plenty of liquids. You can also drink cranberry juice, though studies have no conclusive evidence that cranberry juice alone prevents UTIs. You should also empty your bladder soon after intercourse, and always wipe from front to back to eliminate the chance that GI bacteria will reach the urethra. You should also avoid potentially irritating feminine products and consider changing your birth control method—especially if it is a diaphragm or unlubricated condoms as those contribute to bacterial growth.