Chronic Urinary Tract Infection

Chronic UTI

A chronic UTI is a condition in which the infection does not react to any treatment. Despite treatment, you may continue to have the infection or it may recur after the treatment has been administered.

When the infection is limited to the urinary tract it is easy to treat, but it gets complicated if it spreads to the kidneys. Though UTIs may affect anyone at any age, it occurs more in women.

Causes and Types

UTIs are basically bacterial infections that are caused when bacteria enter the urinary tract via the urethra and multiply within the bladder.

There are two types of infections. They are as follows:

1. Bladder infections

Cystitis is an infection in the bladder caused by a bacterial species called E.Coli. These bacteria are present in animal and human intestines, which is normal. It causes an infection only when it exits the intestines. Proper cleaning and wiping after using the washroom and after anal intercourse is very important to prevent the E.Coli from remaining and multiplying.

2. Urethral infections

This is also known as urethritis and it could also be caused by E.Coli. However, urethritis could also be transmitted sexually like gonorrhoea, chlamydia or herpes.

Why are women more prevalent?

Chronic UTIs occur easily in women because the urethra is much shorter in women than it is in men, which makse it easier for bacteria to enter the bladder.  Also, the urethra lies close to the rectum where E.coli may easily pass to the urethra while washing or wiping or if either are not done properly.

Symptoms

Symptoms that your bladder is being affected by a UTI are as follows:

1. Frequent urination
2. Dark or bloody urine
3. Pain in the kidneys area
4. Burning sensation when urinating

In case the infection spreads to the kidney, you may experience the following:

5. Mental disorientation
6. Fatigue
7. Fever
8. Chills
9. Nausea & vomiting

Diagnosis

To reach a diagnosis, a urine sample is performed and checked to see  if bacteria are present.

If idney damage is suspected, kidney scans and X-rays are done to confirm the same.

For recurring UTIs, a cystoscopy is performed. A thin, long tube attached to a small lens at one end is used to observe the bladder and urethra.

Treatment

UTIs can be treated in a week’s time with antibiotics. However, for chronic UTIs, antibiotics with low doses are prescribed for a long term treatment. This may reduce the recurrence of symptoms. Additionally, regular urine tests are done in order to check if there are any infections.

Women who have UTIs due to menopause  must discuss this with the doctor for an appropriate treatment plan.

Pain medications are prescribed for people who experience burning sensations while urinating to numb the urethra. For a temporary home remedy, a hot water bag placed against the bladder can be used to ease pain.

Prevention of Recurring Infections

The following tips will be useful to prevent the recurrence of UTIs for those who are susceptible to them.

1. Never hold back your urine and urinate as frequently as needed.
2. Drink lots of water
3. Wipe from front to the back after you urinate
4. Try not to wear tight-fitting trousers
5. Wear cotton underwear
6. Don’t go for bubble baths
7. Do not use spermicides or diaphragms as measures of birth control

Complications Involved in Chronic UTIs

The following complications may be involved in people with recurring UTIs:

1. Septicemia – when the bacteria start entering the bloodstream
2. Sepsis – harmful bacteria and their toxins
3. Kidney related issues- kidney damage, kidney infections, etc.
4. Risk of having a premature delivery and having an underweight baby born

Outlook for Chronic UTI

UTIs are easily treatable at the early stages. Seek immediate medical attention in case you notice the symptoms returning. Try not to complicate the issue by allowing it to pass on to the next stage.

Bladder Infection: Causes and Treatment

Cystitis or bladder infection is an infection that affects part of the urinary tract. When it affects the lower urinary tract it is known as a simple bladder infection and when it affects the upper urinary tract it is known as pyelonephritis, a kidney infection. Symptoms of a lower urinary tract infection include painful urination and either frequent urination, the constant urge to urinate or both. The symptoms of pyelonephritis include fever and flank pain, in addition to the symptoms of a lower UTI.

The main cause of both types of infections is Escherichia coli, though other bacteria, viruses or fungi may rarely be the cause. Urinary tract infections occur more commonly in women than men, with half of those women will have at least one infection at some point in their lives. Risk factors include female anatomy, sexual intercourse and family history. Pyelonephritis, if it occurs, usually follows a bladder infection but may also result from a blood-borne infection. Diagnosis in young healthy women can be based on symptoms alone. In those with vague symptoms, diagnosis can be difficult because bacteria may be present without there being an infection. In complicated cases or if treatment has failed, a urine culture may be useful. In those with frequent infections, a low dose of antibiotics may be prescribed as a preventative measure.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms are burning when urinating and the need to urinate frequently and pain above the pubic bone or in the lower back may be present. People experiencing an upper urinary tract infection, or pyelonephritis, may experience flank pain, fever, nausea and vomiting in addition to the classic symptoms of a lower urinary tract infection. In some cases, the urine may appear bloody or contain visible pus. These symptoms may vary from mild to severe and in healthy women last an average of six days.

Treatment

The main way to treat a UTI is to use antibiotics. For those with recurrent infections, taking a short course of antibiotics when each infection occurs may be the course of treatment that your doctor prescribes.  A prolonged course of daily antibiotics is also effective.

In cases where the infection is related to intercourse, taking antibiotics afterwards may be useful. In post-menopausal women, topical vaginal estrogen has been found to help.

Prevention

A number of reasons that are believed to cause UTIs, but have not been confirmed include: urinating immediately after intercourse, the type of underwear worn, personal hygiene methods after urinating or defecating, or whether a person typically bathes or showers. There is similarly a lack of evidence of the effect of holding one’s urine, tampon use, and douching may cause. If you suffer from frequent urinary tract infections and use spermicide or a diaphragm as a method of contraception, it is advised to use alternative methods.

UTI (Urinary Tract Infection) in Children

Urinary infections in children usually go away quickly if you treat them right away. If your child keeps getting infections, your doctor may suggest some medical tests to rule out more serious problems. Urinary infections can lead to a serious infection throughout the body called sepsis. Problems from a urinary infection are more likely to happen in babies born prematurely, newborns, and infants who have something blocking the flow of their urine.

Germs that live in the large intestine and in stool can get in the urethra. This is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. Then germs can get into the bladder and kidneys. Keep in mind that babies and young children may not have the most common symptoms, such as pain or burning when they urinate.

Symptoms

A child with a UTI may not have any symptoms. When symptoms are present, they can range from mild to severe. UTI symptoms can include:

• fever
• pain or burning during urination
• few drops of urine at a time
• irritability
• lack of apetite
• nausea
• diarrhea
• vomiting
• cloudy, dark, bloody, or foul-smelling urine
• urinating often
• pain in the back or side below the ribs
• urine leakage or bedding in older children

Tests

If it seems that a baby or child may have a urine infection, the urine will need to be examined under a microscope and a culture will be done. A culture is performed bacteria is grown in special gel. This is how it will be possible to tell what the germ is and which antibiotics will get rid of it. This may take a day or so, and the doctor may not be able to start treatment until the results of this test have been determined.

Another way is to dip test strips in the urine and these will show if a urine infection is present. However, these are usually not enough to be sure, unless the child has had infections before. The test strip results may be normal even if a child has an infection. Collecting clean urine for this test from young children can be difficult and a special bag may be used. Sometimes the urine is collected in other ways, such as using a catheter. If a urine infection is found, more tests will usually be performed to see if the bladder, ureters, urethra and kidneys are infected as well. Usually, the first test done will be an ultrasound.

Treatment

Most children with urinary tract infections will need antibiotics. These may be given orally if the child is not too unwell, but sometimes they need to be given by injection.

If the child many and recurring infections and the urinary tract is malformed, an operation may be recommended. Before this is done, the baby or child is likely to be given a low dose of antibiotics, usually once a day, to prevent further infections after the surgery.

Having a urinary tract infection is painful. The urine becomes acidic and causes a burning pain when the child passes urine, and there can be pain in the lower abdomen and a need to pass urine often. It may be useful to give the child medication which neutralises the acid and several types are available at pharmacies. The doctor will be able to help you figure out the ones that are suitable for a child.