The symptoms of urinary infection can vary greatly from one person to another and according to the location of the urinary system affected, which can be the urethra, bladder or kidneys. This article tells you the Symptoms and Types of Urinary Tract Infection according to Healthline experts....CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
However, the most classic symptoms include:
Pain or burning when urinating;
Feeling of heaviness in the bladder;
Frequent urge to urinate;
Urinating in small quantity;
Very dark and strong-smelling urine;
Constant low temperature.
Generally, urinary infection is caused by bacteria from the intestine that reach the urinary system, therefore it is more frequent in women due to the proximity of the anus with the urethra.
The treatment for urinary infection must be oriented by a urologist or a general practitioner and normally includes taking antibiotics, because when it is not correctly treated, it may reach the kidneys, being a more serious complication.
Types of urinary infection
Urinary tract infection can be classified as:
1. Urethritis: infection in the urethra
Urethritis arises when bacteria infect only the urethra, causing inflammation and symptoms such as:
Frequent urge to urinate;
Difficulty to start urinating;
Pain or burning to urinate;
Yellowish discharge from the urethra.
In these cases, it is advisable to consult a doctor to start antibiotic treatment in order to eliminate the bacteria from the urethra. However, one should also keep the intimate region clean and dry, as well as increase water intake.
2. Cystitis: bladder infection
Bladder infection is the most common form of urinary tract infection and happens when bacteria make it past the urethra and into the bladder, causing:
Urgent urge to urinate, but in small amounts;
Burning sensation when urinating;
Presence of blood in the urine;
Cloudy urine with a strong, unpleasant smell
Abdominal pain or heavy feeling in the bottom of the belly;
Fever up to 38ºC.
It is recommended to see a urologist or general practitioner as soon as one or more of these symptoms appear in order to start the appropriate treatment with antibiotics to prevent the infection reaching the kidneys.
In case of back pain, fever over 38 ºC or vomiting one should go immediately to the emergency room.
3. Pyelonephritis: infection in the kidneys
Most urinary infections affect only the urethra or the bladder, but in more serious cases bacteria can reach the kidneys and cause a more serious infection, which leads to:
Fever above 38.5º C;
Strong pain in belly, back or groin;
Pain or burning when urinating;
cloudy urine;
Presence of pus or blood in the urine;
Frequent urge to urinate.
Besides, chills, nausea, vomiting and excessive tiredness can also occur. In the elderly, this type of infection usually causes confusion even before the other symptoms appear.
If pyelonephritis is suspected, it is important to go immediately to the hospital to identify the problem and start treatment with antibiotics directly into the vein.
Symptoms of urinary infection in the baby
Identifying the symptoms of urinary infection in the baby can be difficult because babies and children cannot explain what they are feeling. However, in these cases the most common signs are:
Fever above 37.5ºC without apparent reason;
Crying when urinating;
Urine with intense smell;
Presence of blood in the nappy;
Constant irritability;
Decreased appetite.
Whenever these symptoms appear it is important to see the pediatrician to evaluate the possibility of the child developing a urinary infection.
Symptoms of urinary infection during pregnancy
The symptoms of urinary infection during pregnancy are the same as when one is not pregnant and many times the woman may be asymptomatic, only discovering it when doing a routine urine exam.
During pregnancy the infection is more common, due to the lowering of the immune system and the increase of protein in the urine that provokes a greater growth and development of bacteria.
Treatment for urinary infection in pregnancy can be done with antibiotic medicines that do not affect pregnancy and include Cephalexin and Nitrofurantoin.
How the diagnosis is made
The diagnosis is made through urine tests. Other exams can be done, such as urine culture and antibiogram to know which bacteria are involved in order to decide the best antibiotic.
Imaging exams, such as ultrasonography and magnetic resonance may be requested in case of pyelonephritis to identify the possible complications caused by the urinary infection.
These complications can happen when the treatment is not started as soon as the symptoms appear, and in case of people with weakened immune system, being a more difficult situation to happen.
What causes urinary infection
The cause of Urinary Infection is the entry of bacteria in the urinary system, among the most common are: Escherichia coli (about 70% of the cases), Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Proteus and Klebsiella species and Enterococcus faecalis.
These bacteria can enter through the urethra causing symptoms such as pain in the abdomen, burning sensation and urgency to urinate, and when they continue ascending, reaching the bladder and the kidneys, symptoms such as fever or chills appear, besides drops of blood in the urine.
Is urinary infection transmissible?
Urinary infection is not an easily transmitted disease, and although the person’s urethra has bacteria, these may not proliferate in his/her partner, however, this depends on the partner’s immune system.
Healthy people have little chance of being infected during a sexual intercourse, but the chances increase when they have a weakened immune system.
Treatment for urinary infection
The treatment is done with antibiotics indicated by the doctor, being the most indicated form of treatment. The treatment lasts 7-10 days, being important to take the medicine until the date informed by the doctor, even if the symptoms disappear before that.
It is also important to drink more water, because the more urine the body produces, the easier bacteria are eliminated through the urine.
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