Urinary tract infection

A Urinary tract infection can occur at any age and is often noticeable through unpleasant symptoms. Usually, urinary tract infections are not a worrying diagnosis and can be treated well. The only problem is if a urinary tract infection is ignored for a long time and complications arise in the course of the disease. A urinary tract infection should be differentiated from a bladder infection.

What is a urinary tract infection?

The urinary tract infection is a disease of the urinary and urinary organs - it affects the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. Pathogenic microorganisms settle there and cause inflammation.

In many cases these are bacteria, less often fungi, viruses or parasites. The infection is often limited to the urethra and bladder; if it rises into the kidneys, rapid and targeted treatment is particularly important.

In rare, severe cases, urinary tract infections lead to the spread of pathogens via the bloodstream.

causes

The most common cause of urinary tract infections are intestinal bacteria that enter the urinary tract via the urethra. Deficiencies in the immune system or previous illnesses can promote infection or be the reason why the urinary tract infection is more difficult to treat.

If the urinary tract is narrowed due to anatomical abnormalities, enlarged prostate, kidney stones, catheterization or inflammatory processes, urinary tract infections are more likely to occur. Risk groups include diabetics, pregnant women, very young or elderly people, patients after surgery in the urinary tract, but also people who drink very little.

Sexual activity can sometimes cause infectious agents to move into the urinary tract. Not all causes of urinary tract infections are known today, some women have repeated infections whose triggers remain unclear.

Symptoms, ailments & signs

Characteristic signs of a urinary tract infection include burning pain when urinating or an increased need to urinate. The urine stream is usually weakened or suddenly stops when urinating. In addition, most people find it difficult to hold urine for a long time. An infection is always associated with pain in the lower abdomen.

Blood in the urine is also a typical symptom. The intense red color of the urine occurs particularly in the acute phase of the disease, but is relatively harmless. Serious symptoms can occur if the urinary tract infection is particularly severe. Then general symptoms such as fever and chills can be added to the problems with urinating.

Mostly severe pain occurs, which is localized in the lower abdomen, but can also radiate to the lateral abdominal area as well as to the perineum and genital area. Occasionally, symptoms that resemble the flu occur - such as tiredness and fatigue, difficulty concentrating and cardiovascular problems. A urinary tract infection usually occurs suddenly and gets worse as the disease progresses.

Provided that the treatment is prompt, the symptoms will subside after one to two weeks. The infection rarely spreads, during which chronic urinary problems can occur.

Diagnosis & course

The diagnosis of a urinary tract infection starts with the patient's perception. Typical symptoms are a constant need to urinate, pain and burning sensation when urinating, as well as cloudy, possibly bloody and foul-smelling urine. Abdominal pain and fever are also common, with nausea and vomiting being possible side effects.

Such symptoms should always lead the person concerned to the doctor. The doctor will need a urine sample from the patient after a general examination. A urinary tract infection can often be diagnosed or excluded in the practice using test strips and possibly a microscopic assessment.

If the doctor needs a detailed report, the sample goes to a laboratory. For the patient, the matter is usually done. More specific examinations are only necessary if the urinary tract infection is unusual or severe.

Complications

If a urinary tract infection is not recognized or adequately treated, bacteria can ascend through the ureters into the kidneys and cause kidney inflammation there. This usually manifests itself as blood in the urine, a general feeling of illness, pain in the kidney area and a fever.

If bacteria penetrate the bloodstream through the well-perfused kidney tissue, life-threatening blood poisoning (urosepsis) can result - the timely intake of a suitable antibiotic and adequate fluid intake prevents this serious complication.

If there is also a drainage disorder of the kidneys, the acute renal pelvic inflammation sometimes turns into a chronic form, which in the long term leads to a reduction in kidney function. In rare cases, the germs introduced through the bladder can cause a kidney abscess. During pregnancy, a urinary tract infection can, under unfavorable circumstances, trigger premature birth: pregnant women should therefore consult a doctor at the first signs.

In men, germs can get from the bladder via the vas deferens into the epididymis and cause epididymitis there - a serious complication can be a loss of fertility. If a urinary tract infection is treated with an antibiotic, the therapy must not be terminated prematurely: Otherwise the bacteria causing it will develop a resistance to the active ingredient, which can lead to a recurring occurrence of the urinary tract infection.

When should you go to the doctor?

If you notice stinging or burning pain when you urinate, it may be a urinary tract infection. Medical advice is needed if the symptoms do not subside within a few days or if further symptoms appear. If the pain radiates into the lower abdomen or if there is an increased urge to urinate, but only a small amount of urine escapes, a doctor must be consulted. If you have fever symptoms you should go to the hospital immediately.

Renal colic or inflammation of the renal pelvis may be the cause, which, if left untreated, can cause serious complications. Blood in the urine is also a warning sign of a serious illness that requires medical clarification. If the symptoms do not subside despite drug treatment, a specialist should be consulted.

A more detailed diagnosis is necessary as there may be a different underlying condition. People who repeatedly develop urinary tract infections should also have this examined. In addition to the family doctor, the urologist or a specialist in internal medicine can be consulted.

Doctors & therapists in your area

Treatment & Therapy

The aim of treating a urinary tract infection is to quickly relieve symptoms and remove harmful microorganisms. Once the diagnosis has been made and there are no contraindications, the doctor usually prescribes an antibiotic.

For the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections, there are proven preparations that are taken orally and are well tolerated. It is important that the patient does not stop treatment prematurely, even if the symptoms have subsided. The doctor will often recommend accompanying measures. This includes drinking a lot (it should be about two liters a day) and frequent emptying of the bladder. Diuretic teas help flush the urinary tract and keep the affected area warm soothe inflammation.

If the urinary tract infection is very painful, you can ask the doctor about a suitable pain reliever, but the symptoms usually subside soon after taking the antibiotic. If it turns out that the infection is more persistent, a laboratory test of the urine will be arranged now at the latest and the choice of antibiotic changed if necessary. Only in exceptional cases is outpatient treatment insufficient for a urinary tract infection and the patient must be cared for in the clinic.

Outlook & forecast

The urinary tract infection has a good prognosis. The disease can be treated well and usually heals completely within a few weeks. After just a few days, the symptoms clearly regress. Medical care is not always necessary for the patient.

In the case of a slight urinary tract infection, the patient can already achieve relief of the symptoms and subsequent freedom from symptoms with bladder teas and natural medicinal herbs. For a quick recovery, it is important to have enough fluids and good thermal protection.

In many cases, this prevents the pathogens from spreading and helps remove dead bacteria from the organism. With a healthy immune system, sufficient defenses are often mobilized so that no further measures have to be taken.

If you have a severe urinary tract infection and have a weakened immune system or an enlarged prostate, the use of drug treatment is important for a good prognosis. The administration of the medicinal products kill the pathogens and stabilize the patient's health.

If there are no further complications, symptoms will be free within two weeks. A new urinary tract infection can occur at any time in the course of life. If the symptoms return, the prognosis remains favorable.

prevention

Anyone who has had a urinary tract infection may be more susceptible to a new illness in the future. So prevention is a good idea. Sufficient drinking, regular, complete emptying of the bladder, as well as avoiding cold in the bladder and kidney region support the health of the urinary tract.

The effectiveness of different home remedies against urinary tract infections could not be proven in studies and they in no way replace antibiotic therapy. For prevention, however, everyone can try out what works for them, but it should be clarified by consulting the doctor whether the application suits the individual health situation.

Aftercare

Follow-up care for a cystitis is very important. Bladder infections that are not completely healed can spread to the upper urinary tract and cause serious problems. Possible consequences of a bladder infection are inflammation of the kidney pelvis. To rule out a recurrence and / or spread of the bacteria, the patient should attend a follow-up appointment after the treatment.

Follow-up care can be provided by the attending family doctor or a urologist. To do this, the doctor will conduct an anamnesis and examine the patient physically. As a rule, a rapid urine test is also carried out in the practice to determine whether there is blood and / or bacteria in the urine. If this is the case, the therapy may have to be extended.

The patient himself should take it easy after a urinary tract infection and protect the kidney area from tension. Swimming in very cold water should therefore be avoided for the first two weeks. Hypothermia on the feet should also be counteracted by wearing thick socks. In addition, it is important that the patient drinks a lot after a urinary tract infection. Adequate intake of fluids is essential for the kidneys to be able to excrete harmful substances and bacteria in the urine.

Urinary tract infections often have to be treated with antibiotics. This usually kills not only the bacteria that are responsible for the urinary tract infection, but also positively-minded intestinal inhabitants, which are essential for the immune system. Some patients complain of diarrhea and stomach cramps after antibiotic therapy. In this case, an intestinal rehabilitation can help.

You can do that yourself

In the case of a urinary tract infection, the doctor usually prescribes an antibiotic and recommends accompanying measures. The most effective means of self-help is to drink a lot (at least two to three liters per day) and to empty the bladder regularly. Diuretic teas help to flush the urinary tract and to move the pathogens out of the body. In addition, the herbs contained have an antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory effect.

What to avoid: Coffee, alcohol and other irritating drinks and foods that could irritate the urinary tract. This also includes sugary foods and sodas. Cranberry juice is considered a miracle cure, as it can prevent the infection from spreading and reliably prevent cystitis from occurring again.

Acute relief is achieved by placing a hot water bottle or warm compresses on the skin. Foot baths can also help. At the same time, those affected should take it easy and avoid cool seats. In addition, increased body and intimate hygiene is recommended to prevent the infection from spreading.

In severe cases - such as when blood is noticed in the urine or the symptoms last longer than three days - a doctor should be consulted again about the urinary tract infection.