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Suggest Treatment For Persistent UTI And Headache While On Cephalexin And Ciprofloxacin
Question: I was treated for urinary tract infection about 6 weeks ago I was given cephalexin and Ciprofloxacin in the last three weeks and no improvement to date. I take ibuprofen and Tylenol 3 to get rid of my headaches. The last culture about 3 days ago told the nurse practitioner that I still had bacterial infection maybe in my bladder. I still get mild headaches and slight fever since then. I was given 72 to see if ciprofloxacin will work to rid the headaches and fever.
Brief Answer:
a diagnosis is required
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
having a urinary tract infection for so long is not acceptable, particularly if proper treatment was given. Even if you had prostatitis (which takes longer to heal) you should have been all right by now. In patients like you I always ask for an antibiogram to find out which antibiotic works better for the involved pathogen. If the pathogen is susceptible to ciprofloxacin (which is very likely if you were not exposed to ciprofloxacin in the past) then other causes would have to be investigated. If the pathogen is resistant to ciprofloxacin then an appropriate treatment would have to be instituted.
What's certain, is that a thorough investigation of the urinary tract is required. An ultrasound scan of the whole tract is the first test to be ordered.
Please contact me again, if you'd like like further information or clarifications.
Kind Regards!
a diagnosis is required
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
having a urinary tract infection for so long is not acceptable, particularly if proper treatment was given. Even if you had prostatitis (which takes longer to heal) you should have been all right by now. In patients like you I always ask for an antibiogram to find out which antibiotic works better for the involved pathogen. If the pathogen is susceptible to ciprofloxacin (which is very likely if you were not exposed to ciprofloxacin in the past) then other causes would have to be investigated. If the pathogen is resistant to ciprofloxacin then an appropriate treatment would have to be instituted.
What's certain, is that a thorough investigation of the urinary tract is required. An ultrasound scan of the whole tract is the first test to be ordered.
Please contact me again, if you'd like like further information or clarifications.
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
The headaches comes in the nights with some fever and I take either painkillers. This helps me from 6 to 12 hours and the symptoms are back. The headache always feels warm and mild and the fever is there for not over an hour when I take the painkillers. I had a catheter placed for two weeks for and after they took it off the symptoms started like 4 or 5 days later. So can you have an idea if it is anything else. The symptoms were slight the first two weeks and now I need to take the painkillers more.
Brief Answer:
have you done any tests? Urine culture? Antibiogram? Other tests?
Detailed Answer:
First of all it's normal for the fever to disappear after taking painkillers because one of their actions is to suppress fever. I can't say anything about the cause of headache. Headache commonly accompanies fever but many disorders may also cause it.
It would help a lot to see any reports you may have from recent tests. For example: urine culture, antibiogram, C-reactive protein, full blood count, ultrasound scan of the urinary tract, etc.
I'll send the answer to your email too, just in case you can't read it here. If you can upload any reports then please send them directly to my email address.
Kind Regards!
have you done any tests? Urine culture? Antibiogram? Other tests?
Detailed Answer:
First of all it's normal for the fever to disappear after taking painkillers because one of their actions is to suppress fever. I can't say anything about the cause of headache. Headache commonly accompanies fever but many disorders may also cause it.
It would help a lot to see any reports you may have from recent tests. For example: urine culture, antibiogram, C-reactive protein, full blood count, ultrasound scan of the urinary tract, etc.
I'll send the answer to your email too, just in case you can't read it here. If you can upload any reports then please send them directly to my email address.
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
The nurse practitioner on Tuesday of this week conducted urine and blood tests. She said my blood, kidneys and liver were good. My cholesterol was good. She said there was still some bacteria in my urine, most likely in my bladder. I was first put on Keflex and then ciprofloxacin on this Thursday. She said to see what it will do in 72 hours to see if the headaches and fever like symptoms will go away. I feel good most of the days when I take painkillers but when it wears out it gets mild and I need to take them.
Brief Answer:
what about the antibiogram?
Detailed Answer:
I see... did she also order an antibiogram? The antibiogram is very important for patients who don't respond to treatment. I doubt that it's a simple cystitis because cystitis is not supposed to cause fever and be so persistent. If it's a urinary tract infection it has to be either pyelonephritis or prostatitis. You've talked about a nurse but you haven't still seen a doctor???
what about the antibiogram?
Detailed Answer:
I see... did she also order an antibiogram? The antibiogram is very important for patients who don't respond to treatment. I doubt that it's a simple cystitis because cystitis is not supposed to cause fever and be so persistent. If it's a urinary tract infection it has to be either pyelonephritis or prostatitis. You've talked about a nurse but you haven't still seen a doctor???
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I was just saying I was put on ciprofloxacin on Thursday of this week. My blood, kidneys and liver were good. My cholesterol was good. She said to see if the ciprofloxacin would take the headaches and fever like symptoms in 72 hours. My fevers are not evident only subjective. My temp never goes above 98.6
I just talked to a doctor about my headaches and fevers which are recurring intermittently. The fevers are subjective. My temperature does not go about 98.6 F. I was saying that a had a catheter removed about 6 weeks ago and the headaches and chills came after 4 or 5 days. Once I take the painkillers I feel about 90% better.
I just talked to a doctor about my headaches and fevers which are recurring intermittently. The fevers are subjective. My temperature does not go about 98.6 F. I was saying that a had a catheter removed about 6 weeks ago and the headaches and chills came after 4 or 5 days. Once I take the painkillers I feel about 90% better.
Brief Answer:
so no fever...
Detailed Answer:
I see... if the fever is subjective then it's no fever! There are cases where the axillary temperature can be normal in febrile patients but this only occurs in pretty serious septic patients. The headaches are not related to simple afebrile urinary tract infections. Other causes will have to be investigated. If the headache also causes nausea or vomiting or if it's severe or if you have any kind of neurological problems then a CT scan of the brain would be recommended. Otherwise simple painkillers (starting with acetaminophen) should suffice. If the headache becomes persistent then you won't avoid the scan.
Kind Regards!
so no fever...
Detailed Answer:
I see... if the fever is subjective then it's no fever! There are cases where the axillary temperature can be normal in febrile patients but this only occurs in pretty serious septic patients. The headaches are not related to simple afebrile urinary tract infections. Other causes will have to be investigated. If the headache also causes nausea or vomiting or if it's severe or if you have any kind of neurological problems then a CT scan of the brain would be recommended. Otherwise simple painkillers (starting with acetaminophen) should suffice. If the headache becomes persistent then you won't avoid the scan.
Kind Regards!
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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