Guest Author - A. Maria Hester, M.D.
Urinary Tract Infections, also called UTIs for short, are very common, especially among women. A high percentage of women develop a UTI at some time in their life. Ladies are more prone to UTIs than men. This can be explained by simple anatomy. The urethra (tube from the bladder to the outside) is much shorter in women than in men. Therefore, the bacteria outside the body has a much shorter distance to travel to infect a woman’s bladder than a man’s. Unlike the case with women, in men the bacterial must be able to travel all the way up the penis before coming to rest in the urinary bladder. As a matter of fact, when a young man does develop a UTI his doctor often undertakes further investigation to find out if he has some anatomical abnormality that put him at risk.
Common Symptoms of a UTI
Common symptoms include burning upon urination, a sensation of pressure over the bladder, urinary frequency or a sudden urgency to go, only to find that only a few drops come out. Some women also experience low back pain, smelly urine, or blood in the urine. As long as the infection is contained in the bladder and has not migrated up to the kidneys (a much more serious condition) the temperature usually does not get too high. However, if you have a high fever, or flank pain (right or left back region near lower ribs), or if you develop nausea and vomiting the infection may have traveled further up the urinary tract to the kidneys. This requires urgent medical attention!
Prevention
Drinking plenty of water helps flush out the bladder. Also, always be sure to wipe from front to back, since in most cases the bacteria that cause the UTI comes from the anal region (stool is FULL of bacteria). Also, emptying the bladder after intercourse may help since bacteria is sometimes accidentally transferred to the tip of the urethra by the penis during foreplay.
Treatment
Sometimes a simple UTI clears on its own. For some, cranberry juice helps. However, an antibiotic is often required. If you develop suspicious symptoms you should contact your doctor. Chances are, she might call in an antibiotic without evening requiring you to make an office visit. Also, over-the-counter medicine is now available to help with the discomfort of a UTI. It is important to note that this is NOT an antibiotic and does not take the place of an antibiotic.
Prognosis
Most UTIs are very easy to treat. However, as with all infections, there are exceptions. Bacteria are becoming smart. They often mutate to escape susceptibility to antibiotics. Therefore, if you do receive a prescription for an antibiotic without giving a urine specimen for culture, be sure that your symptoms are improving within a day or two. If not, you may have an organism that is resistant to that particular antibiotic and you might require a different drug. Always let your doctor know if you are not improving as anticipated.
