Urinary tract infections are a problem that mainly affects women, but there is a reason for that. Understand the subject better.
If you are a woman, a urinary tract infection may be an old acquaintance. This happens because urinary tract infections are more common in women than in men. Around 30% of women will experience mild or severe symptoms of the infection at some point in their lives.
Why women? It turns out that the female urinary tract anatomy is shorter when compared to that of men. This shortening facilitates the arrival of bacteria into the urethra, which facilitates the development of infection.
In fact, the infection can occur anywhere in the urinary system. Both in the kidneys and in the ureters, or in the bladder and also in the urethra. The last two are the most common in cases of infection.
Know the symptoms of urinary tract infection and how to treat it
1 – What are the symptoms?
Symptoms can often vary depending on the location being affected by the infection. But in general, the symptoms are: burning when urinating, pain in the stomach, constant urge to urinate and red urine, with the presence of blood.
2 – What are the types of infection?
As we already told you, the infection can affect any part of the urinary tract and therefore there are several ways in which it can manifest itself.
Cystitis is an infection that occurs in the bladder and lower part of the urinary tract. It is caused by a gastrointestinal bacteria called Escherichia coli, which is easier to reach the urinary tract due to women’s anatomy.
Urethritis is when the infection affects the urethra, which is responsible for carrying urine out of the body. It is also caused by gastrointestinal bacteria, which can be caused by other problems, such as: herpes, gonorrhea and chlamydia infection.
Pyelonephritis is a kidney infection that occurs after an infection in the urethra or bladder passes to the kidneys. If left untreated, the infection can permanently damage the kidneys or develop into a generalized infection.
3 – Diagnosis
Whenever you notice the symptoms of a urine infection, it is best to see a doctor. He will be the one who will indicate the necessary tests to confirm whether you really have the infection and the most appropriate treatment.
4 – Treatment
Treatment may vary from doctor to doctor, however, antibiotics are generally used. But there are cases in which painkillers are also indicated to reduce the pain and burning sensation when urinating.
Homemade treatments and teas are not efficient in eliminating bacteria on their own. However, consuming them during medical treatment can speed up the improvement process. Some of the teas that can help are basil, mastic and carqueja tea. Additionally, fruits like cranberry and watermelon can also help. And of course, drink lots of water because the more often you go to the bathroom, the greater the chances of expelling the bacteria.
5 – Risks of recurrent and untreated infection
Be careful with this delay in finding a doctor. Urine infection is not as harmless as it seems. As we told you, it can permanently damage the kidneys and can even cause a more serious infection in the blood. Therefore, whenever you notice symptoms, seek a doctor.
When you manage to treat the infection, the ideal is to continue drinking plenty of water and maintaining good hygiene in the intimate area. This way, the chances of the bacteria reaching the urinary canal decrease considerably. Also avoid very tight pants and panties made of synthetic fabrics, as they contribute to the proliferation of bacteria. And whenever you have sexual intercourse, urinate afterwards.
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Source: Gineco, Minha Vida, Saúde.
Images: Exame, TNH1, Catraca Livre, Foríssima, VivaBem, Opas, Nutrimental.
