Table of content
- UTI: A to Z about it from the best urologist in Vadodara
- Why are females more prone to urinary tract infections?
- Types of urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- What causes urinary tract infection?
- What are the symptoms of a urinary tract infection?
- Why should you go to a urologist in Vadodara for a urinary tract infection rather than conducting the strip test yourself?
- How are urinary tract infections treated?
- What should you do to prevent a urinary tract infection?
- Who is at more risk of urinary tract infections?
- When should you approach a urologist in Vadodara for a urinary tract infection?
Have you ever felt a need to urinate frequently or pass the urine only in small quantities? If yes, you aren’t alone. Don’t worry, it is not a kidney failure!!!! It can be a urinary tract infection.
According to a statistical report “The overall prevalence of urinary tract infections was 33.54% of which 66.78% were females and 33.22% were from males.”
According to the same report, urine infections can occur at any age but they are more prominent in females and crop up at later ages.
Many studies are going on as to why women are more prone to it. As a urologist in Vadodara, I come across cases of urinary tract infections that are complicated.
People generally don’t bother much about urinary tract infections and prefer to visit their MD Physician for this problem. Uncomplicated cases can be dealt with by them but in case of complications, you need to visit a urologist.
In our hospital, we have a team of qualified urologists who can guide you to deal with the problem in a better way. Today we wish to discuss with you certain facts which will help you to deal with urinary tract infections effectively.
What is a urinary tract infection (UTI)?
Before we understand what urinary tract infection is, it is necessary to understand the structure of the urinary system. The kidney acts as a filter house and filters out the waste products from our body.
The ureter acts as a connecting link between the kidney and the bladder. The urine travels through the ureter and enters the bladder. As soon as the bladder is full, it sends a signal to our nervous system and we feel the urge to urinate.
What happens in case of a urinary tract infection is that the bacteria Escherichia coli commonly called E.coli enters the urinary system. E Coli bacteria is normally found in the gut of humans and animals.
Apart from that, it is also present in our bowels. That is why we need to be extra careful and wash our hands thoroughly after passing stools. Women should particularly try to clean the anus from the front to the backside. This will avoid the bacteria from getting into the vagina and prevent it from entering the system.
Why are females more prone to urinary tract infections?
A close look at the diagram of the reproductive organs of males and females explains why females are more prone to urinary tract infections. As kidneys are away from the bladder so chances of males being infected by a urinary tract infection are minimum.
As one of the best urologist in Vadodara, I would suggest some preventive measures to stay away from urinary tract infections. These suggestions apply to both males and females.
- Always wipe the area from front to back after you pass stools. This will prevent the E Coli in faeces from entering the urinary tract.
- Maintain proper genital hygiene.
- You should stay hydrated always and pee frequently during the day.
- Manage Your Resources
- Females should wash their vagina after sex
- If possible you should pee after sex
- Change the pads, tampons or nappies at proper times.
You might think that why should you go to a urologist doctor in Vadodara when even a simple MBBS physician can heal it? You are partially right. Depending on where the infection has spread, you need specialized treatment.
Here are the basic types of urinary tract infections that need to be dealt with differently.
Types of urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Urinary tract infections are caused by microorganisms or bacteria. The different types of UTIs can include:
- urethritis – This includes the infection of the urethra. This is the most common infection.
- cystitis – This includes the infection of the bladder. As a urology hospital in Vadodara, we frequently deal with it.
- pyelonephritis –This is a more serious kind of infection and it causes infection of the kidneys. If you are diagnosed with it, you need to visit the best urologist in Vadodara - at the earliest!
- vaginitis – infection of the vagina. This can be treated by a physician and can be treated with antibiotics.
What causes urinary tract infection?
Males and females both are prone to urinary tract infections. As a urologist doctor in Vadodara, I often try to ascertain the cause of it. This helps us to treat it effectively and also to take preventive steps so that it does not reoccur again. Here are a few causes that we’ve come across in case of urinary tract infections.
- Postmenopausal women are prone to urinary tract infections due to a lack of estrogen hormone.
- Males who have sexual intercourse with multiple partners can catch sexually transmitted diseases(STDs) Which makes them prone to urinary tract infections.
- If anyone has an existing health condition that prevents him/her from fully emptying the bladder then it can result in a urinary tract infection.
- Diabetes
- Usage of the diaphragm as a birth control tool
- Intake of medicines that affect the bacterial environment of the vagina.
- In the case of women, wiping the rectal area from the back to the front side makes them more prone to urinary tract infections.
You might be wondering, does a simple burning sensation in urine indicate a urine infection? Not always. It can happen if you drink less water. But it can be one of the symptoms of urinary tract infection. Here are some symptoms of a urinary tract infection.
What are the symptoms of a urinary tract infection?
Symptoms of urinary tract infection can vary from person to person. However, certain symptoms are common to it.
- Persistent urge to urinate
- Burning sensation while urinating
- Unable to empty the bladder fully
- Traces of blood in the urine
- Smelly urine
- Pelvic pain
Nowadays people use Google to identify a particular medical problem and try to deal with it themselves. With the UTI Strip Test Indicators, you can detect a urine infection at home.
However, as a urology hospital in Vadodara, we advise you not to do so. The results can be misleading. It can further add to the problem.
Here’s a quick look at what UTI strip indicators mean:(Source)
Indicator | Why Is It Used? What does it indicate? |
pH Level | If your urine pH is outside the normal range of 5-7, there could be an issue, or your urine pH may have been temporarily altered by something you ate or drank. |
Protein | in the urine (proteinuria) can indicate kidney disease or other health issues, but it can also be caused by: – Urinary tract infection – Dehydration – Stress or strenuous exercise – Exposure to extreme cold – Fever |
Sugar | The most common cause of sugar in the urine is diabetes, but it can also indicate other rare health conditions. |
Ketone | Ketones in the urine can also be caused by diabetes, but can also be a result of a state of ketosis, where the body burns fat instead of sugar for fuel. |
Bilirubin | in the urine may be an early indicator of liver damage, however, this indicator is known to be highly inaccurate. |
Urobilinogen | is a by-product of Bilirubin production and may indicate issues with the liver, among other health issues. |
Nitrite | Some bacteria that cause UTIs to make an enzyme that changes urinary nitrates into nitrites. So if the strip is positive for nitrites, the conclusion is that you have a bacterial UTI. Note that many bacteria do not create nitrites in your urine. |
Red blood cells (erythrocytes) | Blood can appear in urine due to strenuous exercise, but generally, blood in the urine is taken to be a sign of infection, inflammation, disease, or injury to the urinary tract. |
White blood cells (leukocytes esterase) | A positive strip result for white blood cells in your urine indicates an infection in your urinary tract, or possibly, kidney disease. |
Why should you go to a urologist in Vadodara for a urinary tract infection rather than conducting the strip test yourself?
As urologists in Vadodara, we often recommend a complete urine analysis for our patients. During a thorough urine analysis, a pathologist considers:
- Colour and appearance (blurred, transparent, traces of blood)
- Chemical findings (various values)
- Microscopic findings (other data that is of vital importance)
Normal colour of our urine is yellow. The shades can vary from person to person. It also depends on what you eat, drink or some medications that you might be taking.
The Colour of the urine can be the guiding factor for a urologist doctor in Vadodara. Often the red colour in urine indicates the presence of blood. It is indicative of the fact that something is wrong with the urinary tract.
Cloudy urine occurs because of many factors like
- Sperm in the urine
- Skin cells
- Dehydration
- Urinary tract infection
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Kidney stones
- Diabetes
For finding out the chemical imbalances in the urine the pathologist often uses a dipstick. A dipstick changes its colour based on the impurities present in the urine.
A dipstick can guide about:
- Protein urine test
- Urine pH level test
- Ketones
- Glucose
- Bilirubin
- Nitrate
- Leukocyte
- Urine specific gravity test
In case of microscopic examination of urine, a pathologist tries to find:
- Cells
- Cell Fragments
- Urinary Casts
- Presence of mucus
- Bacteria
- Crystals/stones
Microscopic results reveal
- RBCs - Detection of RBCs in urine is a strong indication of urinary tract infection, or kidney or bladder problem. As urologist doctors in Vadodara, we need to find out where the problem exactly lies.
- WBCs - Indicate that there is some infection present in the body
- Epithelial cells - It is normal to have some epithelial cells in urine as they cover the urinary tract. But more epithelial cells indicate infection, inflammation or cancer in the urinary tract.
- Urinary casts - They indicate problems with your kidneys. If other things are normal then the possibility can be ruled out.
All of the above tests cannot be done by you at home nor can you judge the clinical significance of the above tests. Hence, it is better to refer your case to a urology hospital in Vadodara.
Going a step ahead, in case you have repeated urinary tract infections, then the doctor can recommend a urine culture test. A urine culture test takes time and a pathologist tries to grow the bacteria that are found in your urine.
That way they search for the bacteria that are causing the problem and then I, as the best urologist in Vadodara, prescribe medicines to deal with it.
In addition to the urine culture, depending on the complexity of the case a urologist doctor in Vadodara, I often advise following additional tests.
- Ultrasound
- Cystoscopy
- CT Scan
How are urinary tract infections treated?
Depending on the complexity of the case we decide whether antibiotics will be able to cure you or if some other procedures are required.
For normal urinary tract infections, we prescribe the antibiotics like
- Nitrofurantoin.
- Sulfonamides (sulfa drugs).
- Amoxicillin
- Cephalosporins.
- Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim®).
- Doxycycline
- Quinolones (such as ciprofloxacin [Cipro®])
However, these medicines are not available across the counter and can be availed by you only after it is prescribed by the urologist doctor.
For severe cases of urinary tract infection, we prescribe intravenous injections or need to get the patient admitted to the hospital.
What should you do to prevent a urinary tract infection?
Sometimes urinary tract infections occur for no fault of yours. But you can always take some precautions to prevent them. Some of the precautions include:
- Stay hydrated to flush out toxins from the urinary system
- Avoid using the diaphragm as a birth control device
- Never hold the urine
- Empty your bladder
- Clean your vagina after sex
- Practice good hygiene
- Empty your bladder frequently to prevent bladder irritation
- Wear loose undergarments. This prevents the bacteria from growing in the urinary tract.
Who is at more risk of urinary tract infections?
- Women - Because their urethra is very close to the anus.
- Patients who are using catheters
- Diabetic patients are more vulnerable to urinary tract infections
- Men with prostate problems cannot empty their bladder fully and hence are more vulnerable to urinary tract infections.
- Children born with congenital abnormalities of urinary systems are also vulnerable. Particularly if children develop urinary reflux, then it can be extremely dangerous.
When should you approach a urologist in Vadodara for a urinary tract infection?
As said earlier you should not risk your life by taking urinary tract infections lightly. Self-diagnosis can at times prove dangerous if the infection spreads to the kidneys.
It is always better to approach a urology hospital if you are getting infected by urinary tract infections repeatedly. Also if you notice some changes in your urine like its colour, odour or consistency then you should approach the urology hospital in Vadodara.
Persistent feeling to urinate, and burning sensation in urine which does not feel better even after you drink lots of water is a cause of concern and needs treatment from a urologist in Vadodara.
At Janvi hospital we are always there to guide you. Our sincere advice is don’t do self-medication for any disease. You never know the complications that may arise because of certain medicines.
We are just a call away. Take care of yourself! Let us know whether this write-up was useful to you or any other thing you want to share/ask, with us in the comment section.
References:
Why Your UTI Test May Be Negative Even When You Have Symptoms
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/17893-urinalysis
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9135-urinary-tract-infections
https://www.healthgrades.com/right-care/kidneys-and-the-urinary-system/urinary-tract-infections
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/urinary-tract-infection/symptoms-causes/syc-20353447
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/urinary-tract-infection/symptoms-causes/syc-20353447
https://www.healthline.com/health/mens-health/uti-in-men#prevention
Why UTIs Happen Differently in Men and Women
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/urinary-tract-infections-utis/
https://www.urologycenterofflorida.com/blog/myths-and-facts-about-male-utis
https://www.alz.org/blog/alz/october_2011/sudden_change_in_behavior_urinary_tract_infection
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/urinary-tract-infections-uti
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000521.htm
https://healthcenter.indiana.edu/health-answers/gyn-health/uti.html
Difference Between Male and Female Urethra