Urinary tract infection

Urinary tract infection is a condition that causes the urinary tract lining to become red and irritated, resulting in symptoms such as pain, blood in the urine, and a frequent need to urinate. If the infection spreads to your kidneys, it can become a serious health problem.

There are no bacteria (germs) in normal urine. Often, bacteria from outside the body enter the urinary tract and cause infection and inflammation. It is named according to the area where the infection is located. The infection may involve the urethra (a condition called urethritis), the kidneys (a condition called pyelonephritis), or the bladder (a condition called cystitis).

Cystitis is the most common type of urinary tract infection. More than 90 percent of cystitis cases are caused by E.coli, a bacteria normally found in the intestines.

Symptoms:

Urinary tract infection often causes symptoms. These are:

Frequent desire to urinate, itching-inflammation during urination, feeling of fullness in the bladder, cloudy urine, blood in the urine, foul-smelling urine, pain during sexual intercourse, pain in the lower abdomen, urinary tract. It should bring to mind infection.

The elderly and children may not be able to express these symptoms. Urinary tract infection should be considered in the elderly and children, especially if there are symptoms such as unexplained nausea, weakness, fever and loss of appetite. If the urinary tract infection is left untreated: If the infection spreads from the bladder, it can reach the upper parts of the urinary system, such as the kidneys and ureters. In this case, a serious situation may occur, which we call urosepsis, where the infection enters the blood, leading to coma, failure of all organs and death. Urosepsis is a life-threatening condition that needs to be treated quickly.

Why does urinary tract infection occur?

Urinary tract infection occurs after the spread of bacteria from the urethra. This bacteria can reach the urethra due to inadequate hygiene and improper genital cleaning, during sexual intercourse, or due to structural or functional problems in the bladder. Since women's urethra is shorter, they are more prone than men.

WHO IS AT THE RISK OF URINARY TRACT INFECTION?

People over 65 years of age, Diabetes patients, those with structural or acquired health problems such as kidney and urinary system stones, prostate enlargement, uterine prolapse, kidney cysts, babies with congenital urine reflux from the bladder to the kidneys, those who retain a lot of urine, and women who have started sexual life are patient groups with an increased risk of urinary tract infection. .

Excessive urination retention is the most dangerous attitude and behavior.

The fact that urination training is given with great pressure and the mother very meticulously warns the child not to use public toilets leads to the establishment of wrong habits in children and young people, such as holding urine almost all day long. While this condition disrupts the bladder structure, it causes urine to leak back into the kidneys, causing infection to develop in urine that has been waiting too long.

 

DIAGNOSIS METHOD FOR URINARY TRACT INFECTION

Urinary tract infection is diagnosed by the presence of leukocytes in the urine analysis and the growth of infectious bacteria/fungi in the urine culture.

Ultrasonography is helpful in examining the urinary tract. With computed tomography, information about the kidneys and surrounding tissue can be obtained. Blood culture can be performed to determine the source of the infection.

Children who have frequent urinary tract infections should definitely undergo further examination. Congenital anatomical and functional problems should be investigated with imaging methods such as ultrasonography and voiding cystoureterography.

TREATMENT OF URINARY TRACT INFECTION

When caught early, urinary tract infection can be easily treated with oral antibiotics. is done. Additionally, increasing fluid intake helps flush the urinary tract.

HOW TO PREVENT URINARY TRACT INFECTION?

• Cleaning from front to back after the toilet

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• Washing hands before and after going to the toilet

• Wearing cotton underwear

• Adequate daily water intake

• Urinating immediately after sexual activity

• Do not wait too long when urinating

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