Urinary Tract Infection: Treatment, Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

Women have a higher risk of suffering from a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) as compared to men. This is because women have a much shorter urethra. This makes it easier for bacteria to enter the bladder. These infections typically affect the urethra and the bladder. It can be the cause of great discomfort and pain, but the good news is that UTI can be easily treated. But what is more important is the UTIs can also be prevented. To do this, one must first understand the factors that can cause UTIs which include:

1. Sexual Intercourse: During the course of having sex, bacteria may be transferred from the vaginal cavity or bowels to the urethra. This can lead to cystitis. To reduce the risk of catching a UTI during the intercourse, women are advised to urinate within half an hour of having sex. It is also advisable for both partners to wash the genital area after having intercourse.
2. Constipation: A person suffering from constipation will be unable to completely empty their bladder. This encourages the growth of bacteria and can cause an infection. The easiest way to prevent constipation is to eat plenty of fibrous foods and drink plenty of water. After passing stool, always wash the area from front to back and not the other way around.
3. Urinary Tract Abnormalities: Some babies may be born with an abnormal urinary tract. If this prevents urine from leaving the body, it could be the cause of recurring urinary tract infections. In this case, surgery may be needed to correct the abnormality.
4. Diabetes: It is a myth that eating too much sugar causes UTIs. However, in the case of diabetic patients, high sugar levels could promote the growth of bacteria in the urethra. This is because excessive sugar is removed from the body through urine.
5. Bad Hygiene: Not keeping the genital area clean can also contribute towards urinary tract infections. Hence, always wash yourself well after urinating and passing stool. If possible, have a shower instead of a bath. Avoid using feminine washes and douches as they can increase the irritation. Keep the genital area dry and favour cotton underwear. This allows the skin to breathe and does not allow bacteria to grow.
6. Dehydration: Not drinking enough water affects the body in a number of ways. It can also cause UTIs. This is because water helps flush toxins from the body. Without enough water, bacteria and toxins remain in the body and multiply. Ideally, one must drink at least 8-10 glasses of water a day to stay hydrated. Aerated drinks may satiate thirst but cannot be included in the daily water intake. Rather than hydrating the body, these drinks aggravate dehydration. Instead, one may infuse water with herbs and fruits to improve its flavour.

Urology is a branch of medicine that deals with the diseases and disorders of the male and female urinary system and the male reproductive organs. It is a specialized branch of medicine that has been in existence for a long time and has advanced in many ways over the past two decades, courtesy the introduction of the laser technology. Laser technology has helped urologists tremendously and they have been able to treat a number of patients through laser-assisted surgery. The use of lasers has made it possible for the urologists to utilize endoscopic instruments with small-diameter that allow them to see the minutest details of the urinary tract and treat the complex cases with ease.

• Laser in bladder outlet obstruction: Bladder outlet obstruction is a blockage at the base of the bladder, which slows down or stops the flow of urine to the urethra, causing discomfort to the patient. Most men in their old age suffer from this problem and laser technology helps in conducting the surgical procedure to remove this blockage. It has been found that laser-assisted surgery results in lesser loss of blood as compared to open surgery. In some cases, blood transfusion after surgery is not required at all. Also, the hospital stay post operation is shorter, which ensures more comfort to the patient.
• Laser in urolithiasis: The formation of kidney stones in the urinary tract is known as urolithiasis. Treatment of this conditions requires surgical intervention and it is nowadays done with the help of endoscopic intracorporeal laser lithotripsy. This technique uses strong beams of laser light to locate the stones, fragment them, and remove them from the urinary tract. The laser technology is safe and can be used in the case of pregnant women too. It can easily access the hard stones present in difficult locations.
• Laser in benign prostatic hyperplasia: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) refers to the enlargement of the prostate. Some of the symptoms of this condition include a frequent urge to urinate, problems in urination, inability to urinate, and loss of bladder control. It can also lead to UTI (urinary tract infection) and stones. It can be treated with photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) in which the excess prostate tissues are melted away and the prostate shrinks back to its original state. Holmium laser ablation of the prostate (HoLAP) also does the same but holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) cuts the excess tissue blocking the urethra.
• Laser in bladder cancer and urinary tract strictures: Bladder cancer refers to the abnormal growth of cells in the urinary tract and this is mostly found in the form of tumors. The tumors can be cancerous and transurethral bladder tumor resection (TURBT) laser technology can help in diagnosis, staging, as well as the treatment of malignant tumors. It makes use of cystoscope to remove the tumor. In case of urinary tract strictures, the urethra becomes narrow, hindering the passage of urine. It can be caused due to an infection or injury. With endoscopic urethrotomy and usage of the cystoscope, the urologist removes the stricture or makes it evaporate with the help of a laser.

Laser technology is of immense value to urologists and offers many advantages to the patients as well. It is more comfortable and with more advances being made in this field, the future looks even brighter for the doctors as well as patients. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

UTI stands for urinary tract infections. In children a urinary tract infection (UTI) is a very common condition caused by bacteria. Bacteria that enter the urethra are flushed out through urination. But, when bacteria aren’t excluded out of the urethra, they may grow in the urinary tract and cause infections. The Survey state that up to 8% of girls and 2% of boys will get a UTI at an early age. Sometimes the symptoms of UTI are hard to detect in kids so it is better to get your child treated, as it turn into serious kidney diseases. With a right treatment your child will feel better within few days. 

Symptoms of a UTI include: 

1. Burning and pain during micturation. 
2. Urgent need to go, but having a few drops of urine. 
3. Fever and vomiting commonly occur during UTI. 
4. Foul smell and cloudy urine. 

Causes 

1. Bladder outlet obstruction like posterior urethral valve in males 
2. Vesico ureteric reflux (VUR) 
3. Uretero pelvic junction obstruction (UPJ Obstruction) 
4. Constipation: Being constipated makes difficult to empty your bladder, which means trapped bacteria which increases risk of UTI. So in order to reduce the UTI risk, avoid constipation 
5. Dehydration: Drinking water not only quenches your thirst, but it also avoids the risk of getting UTI. We should drink enough water so that we can flush out bacteria that can cause UTI. Drinking water also avoids the constipation problem. 
6. Holding urine: Holding urine for 6 hours make UTI more common as bacteria in the bladder has lots of time to grow and cause infection. So ask your child to pass urine after few hours. 

Prevention 

1. Avoid tight fitting clothes, especially for girl children. 
2. Drink more and more liquids and eat fibre rich food. 
3. Change the diaper of young child frequently. 
4. Ask your child to go for urine immediately rather than holding. 
5. Don’t give bubble bath to the child as it is a major source of bacteria. 

Investigations: 

1. USG (KUB) 
2. Urine routine examination and culture sensitivity 
3. MCU (Micturating Cysto Urethrogram) 
4. Urodynamic study 
5. DTPA Scan 
6. DMSA Scan 

Treatments 
The most common antibiotics used for treatment are:Amoxicillin and clavulanic acid, Sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, Ofloxacin, Cefixime etc Sometimes hospitalization is necessary in younger than 6 months old, if: 

• The Child has a high fever and not improving. 
• The child is vomiting and having dehydration.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

UTI is an infection that occurs in the urinary tract. It is more common in males than in females and it occurs in both the sexes contrary to popular belief. It usually is the work of a bacterium known as E.coli (Escherichia coli) although other bacterium and fungi may also be responsible for the same, very rarely do they actually cause it. UTI is not a sexually transmitted disease (STD) but it can pose a risk factor during sexual intercourse. So you need to be careful.

Since UTI is caused by a bacteria you can catch it from a number of sources. People who live in unhygienic conditions, lower income groups and the like are more prone to contracting UTI. UTI can cause a number of complications depending on the kind of infection you contract. It can affect the kidneys, which is the upper urinary tract, resulting in pyelonephritis as well as the bladder, the lower urinary tract resulting in cystitis. The simplest of UTI can be handled using a range of antibiotics but it can get further aggravated at which point it needs to be treated with intravenous antibiotics. There is a fair chance of mortality stemming from this disease and the lack of awareness about how it is caused does not help either. Thus, here is a quick guide to the causes of UTI that you can and should keep an eye out for:

1. Constipation: Constipation makes it very easy for bacteria cultures to develop in your bladder. Since you cannot empty your body of the toxins as it does when you defecate, there is enough time and place for the bacteria to multiply and cause UTI. On the other hand, diarrhoea or faecal incontinence increase your chances of contracting UTI as the bacterium from the stool can stay stuck to your vagina and urethra. Be careful to wash up well after a bowel movement.
2. Dehydration: Water helps in eliminating the body harmful toxins from the body that might cause infections and such. If you do not drink enough water and stay hydrated then your body becomes a breeding ground for bacteria that can cause UTI. Not drinking enough water can also lead to kidney stones which in turn stop your urine flow and nurture bacteria growth.
3. Birth control and feminine hygiene products: The use of contraception and feminine hygiene products during menstruation like tampons and sanitary napkins can lead to UTI if not carefully monitored. Frequently changing your birth control is not advised as it can cause hormonal changes and affect the normal bacteria in your vagina. On the other hand, change your tampons as frequently as possible so as not to harbour bacteria growth.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Urinary Tract Infection or UTI is a common symptom that arises in pregnant women. If such is the case with you, then without much ado, you should take the advice of a medical practitioner. Urinary Tract Infections if left untreated for too long, may develop into serious kidney infections and may hamper many body metabolism processes. 

What is cause of urinary tract infection? 

Urinary tract infections are usually caused by bacteria which find their way through to the urine. They can present in different ways. 

1. Asymptomatic, wherein the bacteria present in the urine does not manifest any outward symptoms. 
2. In bladder infection, you may experience pain while passing urine, urinate quite often, there may be blood in urine or you may have high temperature. 
3. Urinary tract infection may also present in form of Kidney infection in pregnant women. 

Symptoms of such infections would include pain in the lower abdomen/loin, high grade fever with chills, blood in the urine, feeling nauseous and have vomiting. 

How does urinary tract infection affect pregnancy? 

Urinary infection may affect pregnancy in different ways. If you are suffering from urinary tract infection which is left untreated, you may have an early delivery. A kidney infection is not uncommon in pregnant women and may develop following bladder infection. Regular check-ups, with your medical practitioner, is advisable during pregnancy for early detection of urinary tract infection. In case, you experience any of the symptoms of urinary tract infection, you must visit a doctor and they would advise you for a urine sample test. Based on the test, your diagnosis is made. Even if you do not feel any symptoms, doctors often ask pregnant women to give a sample for urine test periodically. This is because even if an asymptomatic infection develops, you need to be treated early for it. 

Treatment of urinary tract infection during pregnancy: 

1. Drink enough water to flush out the bacteria. However many are also against it stating it would lead to an increased number of painful trips. But if you are suffering from fever due to infection it would help in keeping your body hydrated. 
2. Alkalisers and painkillers: These are prescribed whenever indicated. 
3. Antibiotic: These are the mainstay treatment for curing urinary tract infection. Care is taken that they do not harm the development and growth of the baby under any circumstance. Be aware of the facts of urinary tract infection during your pregnancy. 

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!