Urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection of any point
along the urinary tract, from the urethra (in the penis) known as urethritis
through the bladder (cystitis) to the kidneys (pyelonephritis).
In adults, women are more likely to have UTI than men,
probably due to their having a shorter urethra (for passing out urine) than the
longer one in men, which allows shorter and easier migration of disease-causing
microorganisms up along their urinary tract.
You may be having a urinary tract infection if you're
experiencing some of these below:
1. Feeling a burning sensation whenever you're urinating. In
addition, there may be this need to always go urinate and an increase in the
number of times you urinate in a day, all of which you never experienced
before.
2. A feeling that your bladder is full every time or pain
somewhere near your pubic hair area or on either side of your lower abdomen
towards your back near the rib cage.
3. In some cases, people with UTI may see streaks of blood
in their urine.
4. Because it is an infection, some people with UTI do have
fever, chills and generalized body weakness.
If you're experiencing some of the above, especially the
first two, quickly visit a good hospital near you to see a doctor. Any good hospital should be able
to recommend and, in most cases, carry out the following tests on you after the
doctor has asked you series of questions and examined you:
1. Urinalysis: this analyses your urine with special
chemicals or a strip of paper (dipstick) for things like white blood cells,
protein, and other chemicals called nitrite and leucocyte esterase, which
indicate you may be having a UTI if they are found in the urine.
2. Urine Microscopy, Culture and Sensitivity: this test
examines your urine under the microscope for white and red blood cells; part of
the urine is also cultured for the particular microorganism causing the UTI,
and the identified microorganism is now tested against a batch of antibiotics
to find which ones are most effective against it.
Once the causative microorganism has been identified, the
most effective antibiotics will be prescribed by the doctor. And you will be
instructed to comply with the prescribed antibiotics for effective treatment of
the UTI.
Failure to complete the prescribed antibiotics as
instructed, even if all the symptoms you were having resolved in the first two
days, the UTI will not be treated effectively; and there's a very high chance
the UTI will reoccur and this time will be more difficult to treat due to the
microorganism developing resistance to the antibiotics.
Also, while on treatment for UTI, endeavour to drink enough water
as this makes you urinate more which helps wash your urinary tract of
microorganisms that may cause urinary tract infection. Women should urinate
immediately after sexual intercourse to lower the risk of
intercourse-associated bacteria migrating into the bladder where they can cause
urinary tract infection.
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