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This infection commonly occurs during summer. Here's how to prevent it
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Radha came home from office today feeling a little tired. She had a nagging pain in the lower abdomen since morning. In the afternoon she had started going to the bathroom very frequently. She also started having pain every time she passed urine, particularly after emptying her bladder. She realised that she had developed a urinary infection.
What is a urinary tract infection?
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an inflammation in the urinary tract caused by bacteria. When the infection is confined to the bladder, the bladder will keep contracting and there is a constant urge to pass urine. If left untreated, the infection can travel upwards from the bladder and cause infection in the kidneys. This is called pyelonephritis. In this case, there will be fever and chills, along with pain in the flanks (over the kidney area).
How does it occur?
Urinary tract infection is the result of bacteria that multiply and spread in the urinary tract. These bacteria can cause:
Cystitis (bladder infection)
Pyelonephritis (kidney infection)
Urethritis (inflammation of the urethra, the tube that drains urine from the bladder) Bacteria that cause UTI often spread from the rectum to the urethra and then to the bladder or kidneys. Urinary tract infection is more common in women because the urethra is short, making it easy for bacteria to spread. Women may notice that they get UTI more often in the summer because they get dehydrated from not drinking enough water. Urinary tract infection is more likely to occur in women who:
are recently married
are past menopause
are pregnant
have a history of diabetes, stroke, kidney stones or any illness that causes the bladder to fail to empty completely
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of UTI may include:
pain or burning when urinating
pain in the lower pelvis, stomach, lower back or side
shaking chills
fever
sweats
nausea and vomiting
frequent need to urinate
leaking of urine (incontinence)
passing small quantities of
urine frequently
blood in the urine
How is it diagnosed?
To diagnose a urine infection, your doctor will review your symptoms and examine you. The exam may include a pelvic exam. She will check for tenderness of the bladder or the kidney area of your back. A sample of your urine will be tested for pus cells and bacteria. In the case of a urinary infection, the urine sample will contain 10 or more pus cells per high power field. A culture must also be done. Usually a urine culture report takes 48 hours to obtain. A culture identifies the bacteria, which are causing the infection. A culture will report the number of colonies of the bacteria (colony count). An infection is diagnosed if there is a colony count of more than 100,000. With the culture, a sensitivity test is also done. This will identify the antibiotics that the bacteria are susceptible to.
Some women develop repeated infections or symptoms that continue after treatment. In such cases they might need to have one or more of the following tests:
An intravenous pyelogram (IVP), which is a special type of x-ray of the kidneys, ureters and bladder.
An ultrasound scan to look at the urinary tract.
A cystoscopy which is an examination of the inside of the bladder with a small telescope. It is usually performed by a specialist called a urologist.
How is it treated?
Urinary infections are treated with an antibiotic. For uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women, usually a 3-5 day course of antibiotics is prescribed. It is important to complete the course otherwise the infection might return. The doctor might also prescribe medicine to reduce the pain.
What should be done to decrease the symptoms?
Drink plenty of fluids - water, juice, buttermilk
Do not take antibiotics unless a urine test has confirmed an infection.
Do not treat yourself.
Take Paracetamol if you have a fever
Preventing a urinary tract infection
You can help prevent UTIs if you:
Empty your bladder completely when you urinate
Drink plenty of fluids
DR. GITA ARJUN
(The author is a Chennai-based obstetrician and gynaecologist with an interest in women's health issues)
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