Urinary tract infections are quite common, second only to respiratory infections. This condition affects women at a rate more than 10 times that of men.
Causes and Complications
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| Women should drink plenty of water daily to prevent urinary tract infections (Image: ehponline) |
Normal urine is sterile. It contains fluids, salts, and waste products, but it does not contain bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Infections occur when microorganisms, usually bacteria from the digestive tract, attach to the opening of the urethra and begin to multiply.
Most infections start from a type of bacteria called E. coli, which normally resides in the rectum. In most cases, the bacteria first multiply in the urethra, invade the bladder, and cause bladder infection. If not treated promptly, the bacteria can ascend the ureters and cause kidney infections.
Chlamydia and mycoplasma bacteria can also cause urinary infections in both men and women, but they tend to self-limit to the urethra and the reproductive system.
The disease can cause acute complications: painful urination, frequent urges to urinate, and discomfort that prevents patients from sleeping and leads to weakness. Usually, bladder inflammation does not cause high fever, but if the infection ascends to the kidneys, it can cause acute pyelonephritis and potentially lead to sepsis, which can be life-threatening if untreated. Chronic complications can lead to cystitis with fibrosis, where the bladder shrinks and increases the risk of ascending infections to the kidneys; kidneys may shrink, leading to renal failure, which is life-threatening.
Drink Plenty of Water
Not everyone with a urinary infection shows symptoms, but most have at least a few abnormal signs. These symptoms include a strong urge to urinate, difficulty urinating, and a burning sensation in the bladder or urethra while urinating. Patients may feel fatigued, shivery, pale, or experience pain even when not urinating. Women often feel heaviness or discomfort under the pubic bone, while some men may feel fullness in the rectum.
Patients with urinary infections often complain that they can only urinate a small amount despite a strong urge. Urine may appear cloudy or have clots, and may even be slightly reddish if blood is present: A fever indicates that the infection has reached the kidneys.
Those at higher risk include: pregnant women; diabetes patients; older women post-menopause; those who have had multiple pregnancies; and individuals with conditions that obstruct the urinary tract, such as stones, tumors, or congenital abnormalities…
Some Methods for Women to Prevent Infections
– Drink plenty of water every day. Supplementing with vitamin C can also help.
– Urinate as soon as you feel the urge; do not hold it in.
– Wipe from front to back to prevent bacteria around the anus from entering the vagina or urethra.
– Take showers instead of baths.
– Clean the genital area before sexual intercourse.
– Urinate immediately before and after sexual intercourse.
Common Condition in Children
Although common, this condition is often overlooked due to vague symptoms. It is also one of the important causes of prolonged fever. If not treated appropriately, it can lead to dangerous complications such as sepsis, kidney failure, and high blood pressure.
Suspicion of a urinary tract infection should arise when a child appears uncomfortable, has poor appetite, experiences persistent fever of unclear origin, has uncontrolled urination (bedwetting), diarrhea, or shows signs of poor growth. Children should see a doctor if they exhibit these symptoms, especially if there are unusual changes in their urine.
This condition is more common in girls than boys and is likely to occur in children who frequently sit on the ground without clothes or wear overly thin clothing. In children with untreated pinworms, the worms can carry bacteria from the anus to the front. Particularly vulnerable to urinary infections are children with abnormalities in the urinary system (such as urinary obstruction or kidney stones).
In children, the symptoms of this condition are often vague and change with age:
– Infants: May have a fever, or conversely, a body temperature below 36°C, poor feeding, vomiting, diarrhea, or simply prolonged jaundice.
– Children under 2-3 years: Prolonged fever of unclear origin, poor appetite, or simply not gaining weight.
– Older children: May show typical symptoms such as painful urination, frequent urination, cloudy urine, high fever, back pain, and abdominal pain in upper urinary tract infections (also known as pyelonephritis). If they have chronic pyelonephritis, children often show no symptoms, only experiencing high blood pressure when there is scarring in the kidneys due to healed abscesses.
In addition to maintaining good hygiene in the genital area and ensuring children are clean after each urination, the best prevention is to avoid allowing children to sit on the ground. Dress children appropriately, whether they are boys or girls; perform regular deworming.
Additionally, encourage drinking plenty of water and eating more fruits.
