Urinary Tract Infection: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

In this blog, we will provide valuable information and tips on how to prevent and manage urinary tract infections or UTIs. We will also discuss the causes, symptoms, and treatment options of UTIs and ways to prevent them from occurring. 

What is Urinary Tract Infection?

A urinary system infection is called a urinary tract infection (UTI). This kind of infection can affect your urethra (called urethritis), your kidneys (called pyelonephritis), or your bladder, a condition called cystitis. 

Urine usually doesn't contain microorganisms (germs). The urine comes from our kidneys when they filter blood. Urine is generally clean. However, foreign germs can enter the urinary tract and cause infection and irritation. This is an infection of the urinary tract (UTI).

Causes of UTI

Most urinary tract infections occur when bacteria get into your urinary tract through the urethra and start to spread in the bladder. The urinary system is made to keep bacteria from getting in. But sometimes, the defenses don't work. Bacteria can take root and grow into a full-blown infection in the urinary tract if this occurs.

Women experience UTIs more than men because their urethras are shorter than men. This makes it easier for bacteria to get to the bladder.

The following are the causes of UTIs:

1. Body Elements

When you go through menopause, the lining of your uterus changes, and you no longer have the protection against UTIs that estrogen gives. Also, you are more likely to get UTIs as a woman because your genes or urinary tracts make it easy for bacteria to stick. The frequency with which you get UTIs can also be affected by how often you engage in sexual activity.

2. Contraceptives

It has also been found that when you use diaphragms, you are more likely to get UTIs than when you use other birth control forms. If you use condoms with spermicidal foam, you are also more likely to get UTIs.

3. Abnormal Anatomy

You can get a UTI if something is wrong with your urinary tract or if a device is put in it, like a catheter tube, to drain fluid from the bladder. You also have a higher chance of getting a UTI if you can't urinate normally because of a blockage.

4. Immune System

When you have immune system problems like diabetes (high blood sugar), you are also more likely to get UTIs because your body can't fight off germs as well.

Signs of UTI

The lining of the urinary tract gets red and irritated when you have a urinary tract infection. This is called inflammation, which can cause symptoms:

• Pain in the side and stomach,
• Pressure in the bottom of the pelvis
• Frequent need to urinate even at night, and incontinence (urine leakage)
• Dysuria, which means urinating hurts.
• Urine that is a strange color (cloudy) and smells strong or bad
  

Another sign that you could have a UTI infection:

• Sexual discomfort
• Penis pain
• Lower back pain UTI
• Fatigue
• Fever (temperature over 100 degrees Fahrenheit) and chills
• Vomiting
• Changes in the mind or confusion

Further, the signs of a urinary tract infection (UTI) can differ for each person. Still, some of the UTI symptoms in women are

• Urine that looks cloudy, smelly, or has blood, which should be checked out.
• Lower stomach pain or discomfort is also among the bladder infection symptoms
• Feeling weak or tired
• Chills or fever (in more severe cases)

UTI symptoms in women also include pain in the pelvis, especially if the infection has spread to the bladder or kidneys. Not all UTIs cause symptoms; other women can have asymptomatic UTIs, which can still cause long-term damage if not treated.

See a doctor if you have a UTI to receive a precise diagnosis and the best course of treatment. Your physician can give you antibiotics to help clear up the infection and give you tips on how to avoid getting another UTI.

How to Treat a UTI?

A UTI treatment is inevitable if you are suffering. Antibiotics are medicines that fight infections such as UTIs by killing bacteria. Your doctor will choose a drug that works best against the bacteria causing an infection. The following antibiotics are often used:

• Cephalosporins.
• The brand name for this medicine is Bactrim®.
• Nitrofurantoin.
• Sulfonamides (sulfa drugs) (sulfa drugs).
• Amoxicillin.
• Doxycycline.
• Quinolones (such as ciprofloxacin [Cipro®]).

You must take the medication exactly as your doctor prescribes, so pay close attention to their instructions. If your symptoms disappear and you start to feel better, don't stop taking the antibiotic. If you don't take the full course of antibiotics, the infection could return.

A prescription for low-dose antibiotics you would take at the first sign of symptoms can be prescribed if you have a history of recurrent urinary tract infections. 

Patients at higher risk for developing the illness can be recommended antibiotics daily, every other day, or immediately following sexual activity. If you have a history of getting UTIs often, talk to your doctor about the best way to treat you.

Prevention

Several actions can be taken to lower the chance of getting a UTI, as follows:

• Drinking 6–8 8-ounce glasses of water a day, 
• Urinating after sexual activity, 
• Emptying the bladder when you urinate.
• Wear clothes that are loose-fitting and underwear made of cotton. 
• Keeping the genital area clean and not using scented products there.

It is recommended that instead of taking baths, you should take showers and avoid douching.

For women, you should wipe from the front to the rear to prevent bacteria from the rectum to the vagina. Also, suppose you get UTIs often or repeatedly due to your birth control methods such as cervical caps and diaphragms. Talk to your doctor about changing your birth control method.

Check with your physician if you have symptoms of a UTI, especially if they also have signs of a possible kidney infection.

Discover how we can help you with UTIs!

If you are searching for "doctors near me" or "health clinics in Sacramento," AllMed Medical Center is the right place for you. Our Sacramento physicians prioritize building relationships with patients and providing great care in a single visit.

The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The content of this blog is based on research and personal experience, and while every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy, it should not be relied upon as a medical opinion. If you suspect you have a urinary tract infection or any other medical condition, please call us at 1-833-255-6332 for proper diagnosis and treatment.

We'll be pleased to help you find the right treatment. You can also select the clinic of your choice from this list.