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What Causes Urinary Tract Infection?
Question: Hi, I want to ask about urinary tract infection. Someone I know recently suffered from it and she had to take bed rest for few days. What is the cause of this? What harmful effect does it have on the body? How can it be avoided? It seems to be very common in females. Also, can it have any consequences in terms of any other harmful developments in the body? Also, does the medication have any harmful side-effects? Please advise.
Brief Answer:
detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello .
Welcome to Healthcare Magic.
I read carefully your query and I can understand your concern for your friend but you don't need to worry.
An urinary tract infection is very common and usually it clears up without any complication.It can cause annoying symptoms like frequent urination and a burning feeling or pain during urination ,but it rarely causes serious problems.
An urinary infection occur when bacteria enter the urethra, start to multiply and can spread to bladder causing inflammation.
Urinary infections are more common in women and this because the female urethra is shorter and it is easier for the microorganisms to enter and cause an infection.
An uncomplicated UTI has no serious consequences in body.The problem is when it get's complicated with an upper urinary tract infection.This happens when the infection spreads and affects the kidneys.In this case ,it requires an immediate and aggressive treatment .
When a UTI is suspected , urinalysis is required to confirm the infection and then a short course of antibiotics is prescribed.
First line antibiotics to treat an urinary infection are:
-Sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (Bactrim)
-Nitrofurantoin
-Ciprofloxacin
It is important to drink plenty of fluids when you have an UTI.The symptoms will clear up within a few days of treatment.
Every drug can cause side effects but they happen rarely and can be managed.Possible side effects include stomach upset,diarrhea ,abdominal pain etc.
Hope it helps.
Please feel free to ask if you have any question or doubts to clarify.I would be happy to help.
Kind regards,
Dr.Rovena Murati
detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello .
Welcome to Healthcare Magic.
I read carefully your query and I can understand your concern for your friend but you don't need to worry.
An urinary tract infection is very common and usually it clears up without any complication.It can cause annoying symptoms like frequent urination and a burning feeling or pain during urination ,but it rarely causes serious problems.
An urinary infection occur when bacteria enter the urethra, start to multiply and can spread to bladder causing inflammation.
Urinary infections are more common in women and this because the female urethra is shorter and it is easier for the microorganisms to enter and cause an infection.
An uncomplicated UTI has no serious consequences in body.The problem is when it get's complicated with an upper urinary tract infection.This happens when the infection spreads and affects the kidneys.In this case ,it requires an immediate and aggressive treatment .
When a UTI is suspected , urinalysis is required to confirm the infection and then a short course of antibiotics is prescribed.
First line antibiotics to treat an urinary infection are:
-Sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (Bactrim)
-Nitrofurantoin
-Ciprofloxacin
It is important to drink plenty of fluids when you have an UTI.The symptoms will clear up within a few days of treatment.
Every drug can cause side effects but they happen rarely and can be managed.Possible side effects include stomach upset,diarrhea ,abdominal pain etc.
Hope it helps.
Please feel free to ask if you have any question or doubts to clarify.I would be happy to help.
Kind regards,
Dr.Rovena Murati
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks for a wonderfully detailed answer and explanation Dr. Rovena. You are very precise and seems, a perfectionist. Can you please tell me how UTI can be avoided both in females and males? What precautions need to be taken? Any specific diet or regimen (say, exercise, yoga, meditation, etc.) or anything else that can help avoid occurrence of UTI and makes the body immune to to it (increases immunity) or safeguards the body against it?
Also, what frequency of its occurrence (say, in an year) is considered normal in both males and females?
My mom recently had a bout and she was quite weak from it, unable to move around much or travel. It took more than a week's medication and rest for her to be healthy again. What can be the cause of this? Is it generally so debilitating? Look forward to your reply. Thanks a lot for being such a caring doctor!
Also, what frequency of its occurrence (say, in an year) is considered normal in both males and females?
My mom recently had a bout and she was quite weak from it, unable to move around much or travel. It took more than a week's medication and rest for her to be healthy again. What can be the cause of this? Is it generally so debilitating? Look forward to your reply. Thanks a lot for being such a caring doctor!
Brief Answer:
detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
Hope you are doing well.
It is not always possible to prevent urinary tract infection but drinking plenty of water ,keeping a very good personal hygiene ,a healthy diet and lifestyle that will improve immune system can help.
Usually an uncomplicated episode of an urinary tract infection doesn't cause systematic symptoms like debilitating fatigue but it might have been a more serious infection in your mother's case.
If a person has a persistent urinary tract infection or very frequent ones (every 1-2 months) ,further investigations are necessary to understand the cause.
Take care.
Dr.Rovena
detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
Hope you are doing well.
It is not always possible to prevent urinary tract infection but drinking plenty of water ,keeping a very good personal hygiene ,a healthy diet and lifestyle that will improve immune system can help.
Usually an uncomplicated episode of an urinary tract infection doesn't cause systematic symptoms like debilitating fatigue but it might have been a more serious infection in your mother's case.
If a person has a persistent urinary tract infection or very frequent ones (every 1-2 months) ,further investigations are necessary to understand the cause.
Take care.
Dr.Rovena
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks doctor. That was again very detailed and helpful. Also, thanks for such a prompt reply. Can UTI lead to cysts or any such formation inside the body of a female? If so, what is it and if its a cyst or a development like that, till what size is it considered normal and after what size is it a cause of concern? Also, can you please help me understand what happens exactly in a UTI inside the body - the mechanism, and the science behind it - how the body is impacted? And how is it different, if so, for males and females? Would it be possible for you to attach a picture or image showing how UTI looks from inside and the mechanism - i.e. what is happening inside? If you can't attach an image, can you send a URL for that so I can see and understand? Can it be completely eradicated so that it never occurs again in a person?
Brief Answer:
detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
An Urinary tract infection is an inflammation of the urinary tract mucosa (urethra,bladder,ureters , kidney ).In an uncomplicated UTI only the lower part of the tract (urethra and bladder) is affected.
When a microorganism enters in urethra ,it multiplies and causes a reaction from our immune system.It causes inflammation of the mucosal lining ,which is responsible for all the symptoms and signs of a UTI.
When the infection is not treated ,it can progress and affect the upper part of the urinary tract (the kidneys).This is a serious complication and has a very clear clinical aspect with a severe back pain and high fever .
Urinary tract infections don't cause the formation of cysts or masses inside urinary tract organs.The opposite is true ,a cyst on these organs can cause an UTI.
Urinary tract infections are very common and it is impossible to totally prevent them.Even if an UTI is successfully ,no one can say it will not happen again in the future.
Hope it helps.
Take care.
Dr.Rovena
detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
An Urinary tract infection is an inflammation of the urinary tract mucosa (urethra,bladder,ureters , kidney ).In an uncomplicated UTI only the lower part of the tract (urethra and bladder) is affected.
When a microorganism enters in urethra ,it multiplies and causes a reaction from our immune system.It causes inflammation of the mucosal lining ,which is responsible for all the symptoms and signs of a UTI.
When the infection is not treated ,it can progress and affect the upper part of the urinary tract (the kidneys).This is a serious complication and has a very clear clinical aspect with a severe back pain and high fever .
Urinary tract infections don't cause the formation of cysts or masses inside urinary tract organs.The opposite is true ,a cyst on these organs can cause an UTI.
Urinary tract infections are very common and it is impossible to totally prevent them.Even if an UTI is successfully ,no one can say it will not happen again in the future.
Hope it helps.
Take care.
Dr.Rovena
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks doctor, your answers have been really very very useful. I would definitely choose to ask you a question again if I need to ask one. One last question: if I want to continue this same thread next time while asking you a question - i.e. take it forward from our last conversation, how can I do that? Is there a way? Thanks once again for being such a caring doctor! You are truly a 5 star Physician! :)
Brief Answer:
you are welcome.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
Thank you very much for your good words.I really appreciate.
If you close the thread now , you can reopen the question later and continue the discussion or you can ask another question directed to me.
I wish you all the best.
Take care.
Dr.Rovena
you are welcome.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
Thank you very much for your good words.I really appreciate.
If you close the thread now , you can reopen the question later and continue the discussion or you can ask another question directed to me.
I wish you all the best.
Take care.
Dr.Rovena
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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