Bladder Infection and Urinary Tract Infection ( UTI )
Bladder infection (bacterial cystitis) is a urinary tract infection. A urinary tract infection ( UTI ) is an inflammation of one or more organs of the urinary tract. The upper urinary tract includes the kidneys and the ureters and the lower urinary tract includes the bladder and urethra. Bladder infection is more common in women than in men.
Causes of Urinary Tract Infection ( UTI )
Escherichia coli bacteria (E. coli) are the immediate cause of 75 to 90 percent of urinary tract infections. Other bacteria causing UTIs (urinary tract infections) include species of staphylococcus saprophyticus, klebsiella, proteus mirabilis, enterococci and citrobacter.
E. coli are normally harmless and already present in the gastrointestinal tract (digestive system) and to a lesser extent, on the skin around the rectum and genitals. They do not belong in the urinary tract where they can cause infection, however.
E. coli have many minute hairs called cilia enabling them to climb from the skin around the genitals up the urethra and into the bladder. The urethra is shorter in women, making it easier for the E. coli to reach the bladder.
In rare cases, E. coli make their way from the blood stream to the kidneys and down the ureters to the bladder where they can multiply and cause infection.
Signs and Symptoms of Urinary Tract Infection ( UTI )
The number and severity of symptoms increase with further progression of the infection up the urinary tract. If you have any symptoms of a urinary tract infection, you need to see a doctor immediately.
Bladder Infection Symptoms
If you have any of the following symptoms you might have a bladder infection:
- Pain, half way up the back and to one side, even when not urinating
- Lower abdominal (lower stomach) pain especially when urinating
- Uncomfortable pressure just above the pubic bone (experienced by women)
- Occasional abnormal urine color (dark, cloudy, milky and in some cases bloody)
- Strong or foul urine odor
- Frequent urge to urinate (particularly at night), but urinating only in small amounts, often accompanied by a burning sensation
- Fatigue, discomfort and bladder spasms
- Slight fever in rarer cases
- Painful or uncomfortable sexual intercourse
- Elderly people may experience incontinence and mental confusion
Warning: Lower urinary tract infection symptoms can disappear (even without UTI treatment) while the infection continues. Make sure your doctor gives you a prompt and thorough examination. Relatives must not overlook the gradual onset of UTI symptoms in young children and in elderly people.
Kidney Infection Symptoms
The following symptoms strongly suggest that a lower urinary tract infection has become a kidney infection:
- Persistent high fever (usually 101°F) accompanied by sweating and chills
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Back pain just above the waist
- Frequent, cloudy, foul smelling or bloody urine, and a painful burning sensation during urination
- All the symptoms of a lower urinary tract infection
Warning: a kidney infection can lead to reduced kidney function, kidney failure and death. You must seek UTI treatment promptly.
Clearly, this condition is more serious than a bladder infection. Although bladder infections do not always cause kidney infections, the risk of kidney infection is significant.
Risk Factors
Sexually transmitted diseases such as herpes, chlamydia, mycoplasma and gonorrhea can cause UTIs.
Any disorder such as diabetes or HIV that suppresses the immune system raises the risk of a urinary infection.
Occasionally the fungal organism (yeast infection) candida albicans causes UTIs.
When to See a Doctor
If you have any symptoms of a urinary tract infection, you will need to see a doctor immediately.
Screening and Diagnosis of Urinary Tract Infections
The doctor or urologist will refer to your medical history, ask about your symptoms and then press on your abdomen and lower back to check for tenderness and signs of bladder or kidney enlargements. Female patients might also require a pelvic examination.
To facilitate diagnosis, doctors often use some of the following tests:
- Blood sample
- Ultrasound
- Penile discharge sampling
- Prostate examination
Your doctor might want to repeat the diagnostic tests after you have finished the course of UTI treatment to ascertain success of the treatment.
Discuss with your doctor the advantages of a thorough examination in the first place as there are other conditions having symptoms similar to urinary tract infection including: interstitial cystitis, eosinophilic cystitis, radiation cystitis, hemorrhagic cystitis, bladder cancer, kidney stones, irritable bladder, gonorrhea and vaginal infection.
UTI treatment
Your doctor will choose the appropriate antibiotic based on the results of your urine culture and medical history.
Antibiotics help to control infection by killing bacteria, but you must be alert to the side effects and risks.
Unfortunately, antibiotics do not kill all the E. coli in the urinary tract. Many can survive by reverting to a dormant state. Further, antibiotics will kill many good bacteria including those that help prevent infection such as Lactobacilli bacteria. For example, infections return in 15% to 30% percent of women apparently cured by antibiotics.
Some patients experience side effects such as vomiting, stomach pain, nausea, diarrhoea, headache, vaginal yeast infection, allergic reactions and possible re-infection.
Over-prescription of antibiotics can lead to bacteria developing drug resistant strains.
Your doctor may also prescribe Pyridium, a medicine that helps reduce the pain and spasm of the bladder during the first couple of days.
Your doctor may prescribe low-dose antibiotics after acute symptoms have subsided.
Important:
- It is vital that you finish the entire course of prescribed antibiotics, even though the symptoms have long since passed.
- Failure to adhere precisely to the doctor’s directions may result in re-infection and potentially hazardous complications.
- Remember to drink plenty of water during UTI treatment. Also, stick to simple foods, eat little and often. Take your medicine at regular intervals (or as prescribed by your doctor) to retain steady levels of the antibiotic in your body.
- If you are having any hospital or dental treatment, be certain that the physician knows which medicines you are taking.
- Do not drink alcohol until after you have finished the course of medication and the doctor has given you the all clear to drink alcohol.
- Avoid sexual intercourse until your symptoms have been gone for at least two weeks.
- If you miss a dose, simply take that dose when you do remember, but do not take two doses at once.
- Keep your doctor informed of any side effects you experience. Only your doctor can determine whether it is safe for you to continue taking the medication.
- Make sure the doctor prescribing the antibiotics knows about any other medicines, herbal or homeopathic medicines you are taking or intend to take (including oral contraceptives).
- Always read the information leaflet that comes with your medicine.
- Never give antibiotics or medication to others even if they appear to have the same condition as yours.
- Keep all medicines out of sight and beyond access to children. Store in a cool, dry place and away from direct heat and light.
- Discard all out of date and unwanted medicines immediately and beyond access to children.
Ask you doctor any questions you have about the prescribed antibiotics. If there is no improvement after completing the course of treatment, contact your doctor.
To get the most out of your treatment, seek your doctor’s advice on the suitability of herbal medicines (given your medical history and current medical status).
Prevention
Precautions to reduce the likelihood of UTI:
- Increase your intake of fluids.
- Urinate frequently.
- Drink pure unsweetened cranberry juice or take cranberry extract tablets as directed.
- Keep the genital area clean.
- After defecating, wipe from front to back.
- Do not use bleached or scented toilet paper.
- Take showers instead of tub baths.
- Avoid feminine hygiene sprays and douches.
- Avoid bubble baths and strong soaps.
- Avoid wet or tight clothing.
- Do not wear a wet bathing suit for long.
- Wear cotton underwear.
- With respect to intercourse:
- Clean the genital area beforehand
- Use condoms
- Lubricate adequately
- Thoroughly wash the dildo (if used).
- Face your partner throughout
- Minimize friction on the urethra.
- Change condoms immediately if it makes anal contact
- Urinate immediately afterwards
Self-Care
Drink pure unsweetened cranberry juice or take cranberry extract tablets as directed on the label.
"For urinary tract infection prevention, the recommended doses range from 90 to 480 milliliters (3 to 16 ounces) of cranberry cocktail twice daily, or 15 to 30 milliliters of unsweetened 100% cranberry juice daily. 300 milliliters per day (10 ounces) of commercially available cranberry cocktail (Ocean Spray®) has been used in well-designed research.
Other forms of cranberry used include capsules, concentrate and tinctures. Between one and six 300 to 400 milligram capsules of hard gelatin concentrated cranberry juice extract, twice daily by mouth, given with water 1 hour before meals or 2 hours after meals has been used. One and a half ounces of frozen juice concentrate twice daily by mouth has been used, as well as 4 to 5 milliliters of cranberry tincture three times daily by mouth."
More information
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-cranberry.html
"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not strictly regulate herbs and supplements. There is no guarantee of strength, purity or safety of products, and effects may vary. You should always read product labels. If you have a medical condition, or are taking other drugs, herbs, or supplements, you should speak with a qualified healthcare provider before starting a new therapy. Consult a healthcare provider immediately if you experience side effects. "
References
MayoClinic.com
L B White, S Foster, I Banks (2000) The Herbal Drug Store. Rodale.
M Ang-Lee,MD. J Moss, MD, PhD. C Yuan (2001) Herbal medicines and perioperative care. JAMA;286(2):208-216.
J E Robbers, V E Tyler, DSc (1997) Tylers Herbs of Choice: The Therapeutic Use of Phytochemicals. Hayworth Press
G Schindler, U Patzak, B Brinkhaus, A von Niecieck, J Wittig, N Krahmer, I Glockl, M Veit (2002) Urinary excretion and metabolism of arbutin after oral administration of Arctostaphylos uvae ursi extract as film-coated tablets and aqueous solution in healthy humans. J Clin Pharmacol. 42.8: 920-927.
J Quintus, K A Kovar, P Link, H Hamacher (2005) Urinary excretion of arbutin metabolites after oral administration of bearberry leaf extracts. Planta Med. 71.2: 147-152.
C Siegers, C Bodinet, S S Ali, C P Siegers (2003) Bacterial deconjugation of arbutin by Escherichia coli. Phytomedicine. 10 Suppl 4: 58-60. Updated: February 13, 2007.
B Kligler, MD, MPH (2003)Echinacea. American Family Physician. Jan1; 67(1): 77-80
Links
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-cranberry.html
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/urinarytractinfections.html
Glossary
Bacterial cystitis (Bladder infection).Bacterial cystitis is an inflamation of the bladder. [RETURN]
Bladder infection (Bacterial cystitis): Bladder infection is an inflammation of the bladder. [RETURN]
Inflammation: A type of nonspecific immune response by the body reacting to infection, irritation or injury. Characterized by redness, swelling and pain. [RETURN]
Kidney: The body has two kidneys, one on either side of the abdomen. The kidneys filter toxins from the blood, make substances that help control blood pressure and regulate the formation of red blood cells, regulate acid concentration, and remove excess water by excreting urine. The urine then passes through connecting tubes (ureters) into the bladder. The bladder stores the urine until a convenient moment. The bladder muscles then constrict the bladder, discharging the urine from the body through the urethra. [RETURN]
Kidney infection (Nephritis or pyelonephritis): A bacterial infection (or inflammation) of the kidneys, an upper urinary tract infection. [RETURN]
Lower urinary tract: The lower urinary tract is the medical term used to describe the bladder and urethra. [RETURN]
Upper urinary tract: The upper urinary tract is the medical term used to describe the kidneys and ureters. [RETURN]
Ureter: A Ureter is a narrow tubular organ carrying urine from one of the kidneys to the bladder. There is one ureter for each of the two kidneys. [RETURN]
Urethra: The Urethra is a tube leading from the bladder to transport urine outside the body. In males, the urethra travels through the penis. In females, the urethra emerges above the vaginal opening. [RETURN]
Urinary bladder: An elastic, muscular sac situated in the lower abdomen that stores urine before excretion. The term “bladder” refers to the urinary bladder - not the gall bladder. [RETURN]
Urinary tract: The urinary tract is the organs of the body that produce and discharge urine. These include the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. [RETURN]
Urinary tract infection ( UTI ): A urinary tract infection is an inflammation of the urinary tract. [RETURN]
The information in this website is not personal medical advice or instruction. Take no action solely on the contents of this website. Consult appropriate health professionals on any matter relating to your health and well-being. We believe the information and opinions provided here are accurate and sound, based on the best judgment available to the authors, but readers who fail to consult appropriate health authorities assume the risk of any injuries. The publisher and the authors are not responsible for errors or omissions. [RETURN]
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