Life has a way of throwing up stings and pricks every now and then. The thing is, most of the gnarly elements responsible for them give you prior notice. And if you’re ready, you can make a run for it before it’s too late. But there’s no running from UTI. UTI is a clingy, stingy little predicament, and there’s only one way to part ways with it. Ahoy, medical help.
Urinary tract infection, or UTI as it is better known, is a form of infection caused by bacteria that evade the urethra and creep up into adjacent organs like the bladder and kidneys. Women with short urethras are especially susceptible to forms of UTI, but the reality is that the condition is more common than you think. In fact, your risk of developing a UTI in your lifetime is about 50%, and some women find themselves experiencing recurrent episodes of the condition.
Causes of UTI
UTI typically spreads when loose anal bacteria such as E.coli enter the urethra and proliferate to other organs like the kidneys and the bladder. Specific causes include:
Symptoms of UTI
UTI can manifest in various ways, some subtle and some, outright obvious. Here’s a round-up of the most common symptoms:
Typical Diagnosis + Treatment Cycle for UTI
Some women self-diagnose themselves with UTI based on broad symptoms. If you do suspect that you have the condition, schedule an appointment with a gynaecologist, pronto. A diagnosis and treatment cycle for a case of UTI typically includes the following steps:
Must Read: How to Prevent Urinary Tract Infections
If you’ve experienced prolonged episodes of UTI, you may have an underlying condition in your urinary tract. Anomalies and obstructions are the most common triggers for UTI. If your doctor suspects either, you may need to undergo tests to identify the exact cause.
An ultrasound can prove vital in projecting an image of the organs surrounding your urinary tract. It uses ultrasound waves that gauge distance, shape, size and blockages.
An intravenous pyelogram, or IVP, is a procedure where dye is injected into the body. When the dye permeates the urinary tract, an X-ray of the abdomen is taken. The dye helps to highlight obstructions and anomalies.
To Know More: About Ways to Treat Urinary Tract Infections
A cystoscopy offers an internal view of the pelvic cavity. The procedure involves the insertion of a small camera through the urethra and into the bladder. The objective of a cystoscopy is to evaluate the health of the bladder and to check for its correlation with symptoms exhibited.
Must Read: How to Break Free from Urinary Incontinence
With close monitoring, a consistent treatment plan and lifestyle modifications, UTIs can be considerably restrained. Following basic steps like wearing loose-fitting clothes, choosing breathable underwear and drinking lots of water can win you half the battle. Count on Cloudnine to help you win the rest.
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You will know your UTI is clearing up when the symptoms get better. You may notice that the burning sensation when you urinate is less, the urine doesn’t smell too much now, and the frequency of urination has also decreased. If you were suffering from a fever or nausea, it would also decrease.
If a UTI is not treated in time, it can progress quickly and lead to sepsis or urosepsis. This is the final stage of a UTI where the infection spreads to the bloodstream and triggers a systemic response from the body or causes kidney damage.
To stop a urinary infection quickly, consult a urologist. Take the antibiotics or other medications they prescribe after thoroughly evaluating you and your symptoms. Never try to fix the infection yourself through self-medication or untested home remedies.
If it hurts or burns when you urinate, or if your urination frequency has increased, it an indicate an infection. If your urine colour or smell changes, it is a strong indication of a urinary tract infection.
