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Friday, December 23, 2005
What is UTI?
By Henrylito D. Tacio
Health 101
KATHERINE, 25, is an executive lady in one of biggest marketing firms in Metro Manila. Lately, however, it seems she can't get to the bathroom fast enough or often enough. And when she does urinate, she experiences pain or a burning sensation, and just a small amount of urine is passed. When she consulted a doctor about what she's suffering from, the doctor told her that the symptoms she's experiencing are typical with a urinary tract infection (UTI).
Such infections are ten times more common in women than in men. "The reason is the difference in anatomy between the two sexes," explains Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld, the American author of the best-selling "The Best Treatment." "The tube through which urine leaves the body (called urethra) from the bladder is shorter in women than in men. So an infection or irritation of the urethra--resulting from vigorous intercourse or poor personal hygiene, or wiping from the anal area toward the vagina after a bowel movement, thus introducing bowel organisms into the urinary tract--is more easily spread to the bladder, where it hangs on unless treated."
Bacteria, viruses, fungi or a variety of parasites may cause UTIs. But the usual frequent culprit is Escherichia coli (E. coli) or other colon bacteria. E. coli normally lives in the large intestine. Sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea are another cause of UTIs.
Among women, age may also a part. "As a woman approaches menopause, the vaginal walls become dry because of deficiency of female hormone (estrogen). This loss of moisture leaves the area prone to UTI, especially after the friction and trauma to the vagina associated with sex," points out Dr Rosenfeld.
The most common type of UTI is bladder infection (cystitis).
Sometimes, the urethra also becomes infected (urethritis). These lower tract infections usually clear up with prompt antibiotic treatment.
Occasionally, bacteria that have infected the bladder move to the upper tract through the ureters and cause a kidney infection (phylonephritis), a more serious infection. Typical symptoms of kidney infection include side, back or abdominal pain, high fever (over 101 degrees), chills, nausea and vomiting.
However, men are not spared from UTIs. "With men, a UTI is often the result of obstructed urine flow," explains the Minnesota-based Mayo Clinic. "With the obstruction, urine left in the bladder can be an ideal breeding ground for bacteria."
The symptoms of UTI among women may include pain or discomfort (burning sensation) while urinating, frequent urge to urinate (although passing only small amounts), pressure in the lower part of the abdomen, and bloody and foul-smelling urine.
"UTIs are a special concern during pregnancy, and the symptoms can be confusing because of the changes with pregnancy," the Mayo Clinic says. "If you are pregnant and concerned about a UTI, contact your doctor."
Meanwhile, "the symptoms in men are similar to those experienced by women--they need to urinate very frequently and urgently several times a night, and have the sense that they have never quite emptied the bladder," says Dr Rosenfeld.
An uncomplicated UTI is commonly treated with antibiotics. "Sulfa" drugs have traditionally been the first line of treatment, but other antibiotics may also be used.
Some women have recurrent UTIs. "If you have more than six episodes a year, your doctor may recommend preventive therapy. Some women reduce their infections by taking one dose of an antibiotic immediately following intercourse," the Mayo Clinic informs.
"The Doctors Book of Home Remedies" (Bantam Books) shares the following advices on how to get your urinary tract on the right track again.
* Fill up on fluids. "Absolutely the best thing a woman can do is drink fluids to flush out the bacteria that are causing the inflammation," says Dr. Elliot Cohen, assistant professor of clinical urology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. That's because the more non-alcoholic beverages you drink, the more often you'll urinate. And the more often you urinate, the faster you'll flush the bacteria from your system.
* Up your vitamin C intake. "About 1,000 milligrams taken throughout the day will acidify the urine enough to interfere with bacterial growth," says Dr. Richard Macchia, chairman of the Department of Urology at the State University of New York Health Science Center. He recommends vitamin C especially if you have a recurrent problem with UTIs. But, he cautions, check with your doctor if you're taking antibiotics prescribed for bladder infections; some of them don't work well when urine is highly acidic.
* Use pads instead of tampons. "I advise those of my patients experiencing chronic infection at the time of menstruation to quit using tampons and replace them with pads," says Dr Joseph Corriere, director of the Division of Urology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. For the same reason, he cautions that some women may want to reconsider use of a diaphragm.
* Wipe from front to back. Front-to-back wiping is a form of prevention that is often recommended to keep UTIs (as well as yeast infections and other problems) from getting out of hand, according to Dr. Jack McAninch, chief of urology at San Francisco General Hospital. "It's common advice for women with recurrent infections," he says.
* Give your libido a rest. "No one's absolutely certain why certain women seem more susceptible to reinfection, but vaginal manipulation of some sort--sex, using a diaphragm, putting a tampon--always seems to precede it," says Dr. Corriere.
For comments, write me at tasy02002@yahoo.com
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (December 23, 2005 issue)
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