What is Good for Urinary Tract Infection? What are the symptoms?
Urine and urinary tracts are sterile under normal conditions in a healthy individual. Urinary tract infection may develop if a person is infected with microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and viruses. Urinary tract infections, also known as urinary tract infections, can develop in the kidneys, bladder, and other parts of the urinary tract. Although urinary tract infection is more common in women, pregnant women, babies and children, almost the entire population has had a urinary tract infection at some point in their lives. This disorder usually manifests itself with symptoms such as burning and pain during urination. The diagnosis of urinary tract infection is made by physicians by evaluating laboratory tests, screening and imaging tests. Although urinary tract infection is a common disease and thought to be relatively easy, the most appropriate treatment method must be applied to the patient by a specialist. Antibiotic group drugs are generally preferred in treatment. In addition, eating a regular and healthy diet and consuming plenty of water helps reduce infection.
What is Urinary Tract Infection?
Urinary tract infections are divided into three groups: lower urinary tract, upper urinary tract and asymptomatic bacteriuria infections. Upper urinary tract infections refer to kidney and ureter infections, and lower urinary tract infections refer to bladder and urethra infections. Asymptomatic bacteriuria is defined as the presence of serious levels of bacteria in the urine culture without showing any symptoms of urinary tract infection. Direct spread through neighborhood, as the name suggests, occurs when the infection that develops in areas of the body such as appendicitis is transmitted to the urinary system.
Urinary tract infections are the most common infectious disease in childhood after respiratory tract infections. Although it is a more common disorder in boys in the first 2 years, it is more common in girls after 2 years. It is more common in adult individuals, women and pregnant women, compared to men.
What Causes Urinary Tract Infection?
Although urinary tract infection, also known as urinary tract infection, usually occurs as a bacterial disorder, it can also rarely develop due to fungal, viral and parasitic organisms. The most common bacterial group enterobacteria a member of the group Escherichia coli direction. Staphylococcus Saprophyticus Although bacteria is the second most common agent, the severity of the infection it causes is higher.
Unhygienic conditions, urinary tract abnormalities, sexual contact, pregnancy, weak immune system, presence of stones in the urinary tract and use of catheters may cause infection. Urinary tract infection, which is common in women because the urethra is short and close to the anus, is a rare disorder in men due to the long urethra and the bactericidal properties of prostate fluid.
Bacteria can reach the urinary system in four different ways. These pathways can be listed as ascending, hematogenous, lymphatic and adjacent pathways. The most common way of transmission is through the ascending route, and it is especially transmitted to girls under the age of 10. Hematogenous spread occurs by passing from any infection site in the body to the urinary system through blood. Lymphatic spread rarely occurs, and colon and cervix infections pass to the urinary system this way.
What are the symptoms of urinary tract infection?
Symptoms of urinary tract infection vary depending on the person’s age, the way the infection is transmitted, and the region where it develops. Failure to properly evaluate symptoms may cause the disease to progress and treatment to be difficult. Symptoms of urinary tract infection can be basically listed as follows:
- Vomiting,
- weight loss,
- Difficulty sucking in babies,
- Unrest,
- Diarrhea,
- Bad smelling urine,
- High fever,
- Stomach ache,
- Sudden and frequent urination,
- Constipation (constipation),
- urination disorders,
- feeding difficulties,
- Prolonged jaundice in newborns,
- developmental delay,
- No feeling of emptying in the bladder,
- Painful urination (dysuria).
What is Good for Urinary Tract Infection?
When the person shows symptoms of urinary tract infection and applies to a health institution, various tests and examinations are performed. Following these tests, the presence of significant levels of bacteria in the urine indicates a urinary tract infection. Other methods that may be good for urinary tract infection can be listed as follows:
- It is necessary to consume plenty of water to relieve the symptoms of urinary tract infection, remove toxins from the body, and prevent dehydration due to frequent urination in case of infection.
- Probiotic products can be used after consulting a physician. Probiotics support intestinal health by removing harmful bacteria and toxins.
- To strengthen the immune system, it is necessary to have a balanced and healthy diet. Food items especially rich in vitamin C can prevent urinary tract infection by strengthening the immune system.
- Heating pads can be applied to relieve lower abdominal pain, which is one of the symptoms of infection.
- It is necessary to ensure hygiene by paying attention to personal cleanliness.
- Consumption of tea and coffee rich in caffeine should be reduced.
What is Good for Urinary Tract Infection in Babies and Children?
Urinary tract infections are among the common diseases in infants and children. Urinary tract infections, which are more common in boys in the first three months of life, become more common in girls in later periods. Symptoms of urinary tract infection in infants and children may vary depending on the age group. While nonspecific symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and fever are observed in children under two years of age, specific symptoms of urinary tract infection develop at older ages.
Antibiotics are generally used to treat infections in infants and children. Paying attention to the treatment procedure deemed appropriate by physicians and taking medications at the appropriate time and in appropriate doses are extremely important in ensuring effective treatment. Since the immune systems of babies and children are more susceptible to infections, importance should be given to general hygiene rules and genital area cleaning. Children should be educated about not holding their urine, going to the toilet frequently and keeping their urinary tract clean. The urinary tract should be cleared of toxins and bacteria by ensuring that they consume plenty of water. Tight and synthetic underwear should not be preferred, and non-tight cotton underwear suitable for the size of the baby and child should be preferred.
What is Good for Urinary Tract Infection in Pregnant Women?
The most common infections in pregnant women are urinary tract infections. As a result of the difference in urine content and some hormonal and physiological changes during pregnancy, bacteria cause infections to occur more easily in the urinary system. If urinary tract infection is not treated during pregnancy, serious complications such as respiratory failure may develop. In addition, infection may cause undesirable conditions such as premature birth. Urinary tract infection is diagnosed if significant levels of bacteria are detected in the urine culture taken from pregnant women. Microbiological and clinical results should be evaluated together when discussing the diagnosis.
Pregnancy is an extremely sensitive process. Therefore, a rational approach to treatment needs to be followed. Drugs for the treatment of urinary tract infection during pregnancy are expected to reach high urinary and serum serum concentrations and affect only the disease-causing pathogen. However, some of the drugs can cause serious complications during pregnancy. For this reason, it is recommended not to use any medication without a doctor’s advice.
Eating a balanced and healthy diet, consuming plenty of water, urinating regularly, consuming natural probiotics, and paying attention to personal hygiene can prevent the development of a urinary tract infection or relieve the symptoms of an already developed urinary tract infection. However, if you show or suspect symptoms of urinary tract infection during pregnancy, you should definitely consult a doctor. It is recommended that you follow the treatment procedure that your doctor deems appropriate for you.
Various antibiotic drugs are used as first-line treatment in the treatment of urinary tract infection. If there is no adequate response to treatment, combined drug treatments can be used. If antibiotics are used for inappropriate periods or doses, resistance to these drugs may develop. This may cause treatment not to be provided effectively. However, with proper use of medications, disturbing symptoms will subside within a few days. In this case, medication use should not be discontinued. Drug use should be continued for as long as the physician deems appropriate.
How to Prevent Urinary Tract Infection?
Although urinary tract infection is more common in women, it is a disease that almost every individual in society experiences at least once in their lifetime. However, it is possible to reduce the risk of infection by taking some precautions. These precautions include urinating regularly, choosing cotton and body-appropriate underwear, consuming vitamin C and probiotic-containing nutrients, paying attention to personal hygiene, consuming plenty of water, undergoing regular health checks, not consuming antibiotic drugs unconsciously, and keeping the genital area clean and dry. can be listed as follows.
If symptoms of urinary tract infection are observed, it is recommended to consult a physician and initiate the treatment determined by the physician that is most appropriate for the patient’s age and general health condition. Because this disease can cause more serious complications if left untreated.