What is a urinary tract infection?
It consists of bacterial inflammation in the urinary tract, which is the most common type of urinary tract infection. This infection arises when bacteria enter the bladder or kidneys, multiplying in the urine.
If left untreated, it can cause permanent damage to the bladder and kidneys.
Symptoms of urinary tract infection
There are several symptoms that characterize a urinary tract infection, some of them would be:
- Needing to urinate more frequently than usual.
- Pain or burning when urinating
- Incontinence, bloody or foul-smelling urine
- Mild fever, sweats or chills
- Pain in the side, abdomen or pelvic area
- Tiredness
What are the causes of urinary tract infection?
There are several reasons that can cause an infection. Some of them are as follows:
- A new sexual partner or multiple partners
- More frequent sexual intercourse
- Diabetes, kidney stones, or any problem that causes the bladder to not empty completely
- Being pregnant increases the risk of infection
- Waiting too long to urinate
Can it be prevented?
There is no foolproof method but there are several recommendations that reduce the chances of infection:
- Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water daily.
- Eliminate refined foods, sugar, alcohol and caffeine.
- Take vitamin C and zinc
- Urinate before and after sexual intercourse
- Avoid wearing tight pants
- Urinating when needed and emptying the bladder completely.
What is the treatment?
Antibiotics, medicines that kill bacteria, are used to treat urinary tract infections. The doctor may prescribe a single dose of antibiotics or for several days, and it is important to follow his or her instructions, even if the symptoms have ceased, as the infection may return.
Pyridium, which relieves painful urination during treatment of the infection, may be prescribed as an adjunct.