Understanding UTIs: Common Symptoms, Causes & How to Treat Them

During a urinary tract infection, the lining of the urinary tract becomes red, irritated, and inflamed and it could lead to the following symptoms:

• Experiencing pain in the side (flank), abdomen, or pelvic area.
• Feeling pressure in the lower pelvis.
• Feeling the need to urinate frequently, or having an urgent need to urinate
• Incontinence or urine leakage
• Pain during urination or seeing blood in urine
• Having abnormal urine color or a strong, foul-smelling urine.

Following are some other symptoms that could be linked to urinary tract infections:

• Experiencing pain during sex
• Pain in the penis
• Pain in the flank (side of the body) or having lower back pain
• Fatigue
• Fever and chills
• Vomiting
• Experiencing mental changes or confusion

If you experience these symptoms, it is important to consult a doctor. If you get urinary tract infections, you might need to undertake a few tests to find out if diabetes or an abnormal urinary system is the cause of frequent infections.

After the symptoms which indicate the existence of a UTI infection are clear, it is always preferred to start a UTI treatment as soon as possible. The course of your UTI treatment will depend on the severity of your UTI. One commonly used method for urine infection treatment is antibiotics. Urinary tract infections are treated through antibiotics that help kill bacteria and fight infection. After you consult a doctor, he/she will pick an antibiotic for you that can best treat the specific bacteria that are causing your infection. Some of the commonly used antibiotics for urinary tract infection treatment include Nitrofurantoin, Sulfonamides, Amoxicillin, and Cephalosporins, among others. Once you start your urinary tract infection treatment, it is important to continue the antibiotic course as prescribed by the doctor. If you stop taking the antibiotics when the symptoms go away or once you start feeling better without completing the full course, it can lead to the infection returning. This is exactly why involving an expert during a urine infection treatment becomes a must. Pain reliever medicines may get prescribed for a urine infection treatment. Medicines like paracetamol can also be prescribed for UTI treatment. While antibiotics prove to be the best course for a UTI treatment, some cases of mild UTI can be easily treated through home remedies. A wide range of home remedies is available for UTI treatments. These include solutions like integrating the use of a heating pad near your pelvic region. Uti treatment at home can also be done by increasing your take of vitamin C and cranberries. Simple methods like increasing your intake of drinking water and probiotics are also helpful for undergoing UTI treatments at home. While a lot of UTI treatments at home are available on the internet, it is generally not advisable to undergo a UTI treatment by trusting unknown sources on the internet.

As mentioned earlier, urinary tract infections occur when bacteria enter the urethra and start to spread in the bladder. One of the UTI causes can also be being sexually active since it can lead to bladder infections. Having an infection of the urethra can also be caused by sexually transmitted infections, which can include herpes, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and mycoplasma. This happens because a woman’s urethra is so close to the vagina. Following are some risk factors that could cause UTIs in women:

• The Female anatomy – Given that women have a shorter urethra than men do, it’s easier for bacteria from the anus to reach the bladder because of less distance.
• Sexual activity – Being sexually active or having a new sexual partner also increases the risk of getting a urinary tract infection.
• Certain types of birth control – Using birth control devices such as diaphragms and spermicidal agents can also be one of the causes of UTI.
• Menopause – After menopause, there is a decline in the circulating estrogen, which can cause changes in the urinary tract and can be one of the UTI causes.

Some other risk factors for UTIs that are not specific to women include

• Urinary tract problems – This is when babies are born with problems in their urinary tracts and may have trouble urinating.
• When there are blockages in the urinary tract because of kidney stones or an enlarged prostate
• When one has a suppressed immune system because of diabetes or other diseases. This reduces the body’s ability to fight against germs and can be one of the UTI causes.
• Use of catheters also increases the risk of UTIs.
• If someone has had a recent urinary procedure, it can also become one of the UTI causes. The use of medical instruments for urinary surgery or an exam of your urinary tract can also increase the risk of a urinary tract infection.

It is possible to prevent urinary tract infections by practicing a few lifestyle changes and keeping some tips in mind. Here are some of them:

• Maintain Good Hygiene: Practicing good personal hygiene is one of the first and most important steps to remember. It is recommended to wipe from front to back after a bowel movement to ensure that the bacteria from your rectum do not enter your body. Changing pads and tampons frequently during menstruation is also important to avoid infections.
• Drink Plenty of Fluids: Drinking more fluids, especially water, can remove the bacteria from your urinary tract. Thus, to prevent urinary tract infections, one should drink six to eight glasses of water per day.
• Change Your Urination Habits: Drinking enough water and urinating frequently can reduce your risk of developing a urinary tract infection. It is also a good practice to urinate immediately after sex to ensure that any bacteria that may have been introduced during intercourse gets flushed out.
• Change Your Birth Control: Some women are at risk of urinary tract infections when they use a diaphragm for birth control. If that’s the case for you, speak to your doctor and look for other alternatives and options for birth control.
• Use a Water-based Lubricant During Sex: If you are using lubricants during sex, make sure to use water-based instead of the ones that have fragrances or more chemicals. Also, avoid using spermicide if you get urinary tract infections often.
• Change Your Clothing: If you avoid wearing tight-fitting clothes, it will help keep your private parts dry and will prevent the bacteria from growing in the urinary tract. You can also switch to cotton underwear to ensure that moisture does not get trapped around your urethra.

In case you are experiencing any of the above-mentioned symptoms and need a urinary tract infection treatment, First Response Healthcare (FRH) is just a phone call away. First Response Healthcare is a JCI accredited home healthcare company that offers the service of Doctor On Call, wherein a doctor can visit your home, hotel, or office for diagnosis and treatment. FRH has received a Gold Seal of Approval from the Joint Commission International for its high-quality services. Our team of doctors is available 24*7 and you can schedule an appointment with them at any time, even on weekends and public holidays. Our team of doctors is DHA qualified, highly experienced, and internationally trained and can offer the right medication and guidance for urinary tract infection treatment or any other health issues that you might be facing. Our team of doctors can treat a range of ailments and issues including colds, flu, migraines, chronic diseases, and so on. Our doctors are from diverse backgrounds and can speak one or more of these languages – English, Arabic, Turkish, Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi, Pashto, Sindhi, and Russian. They are also very compassionate, and they will always prioritize your comfort. When required, our doctors can also put you in touch with or make referrals to specialists, physiotherapists, or hospitals.

Our doctor will take the time to understand your symptoms and condition and will advise a plan for urinary tract infection treatment. We strive to ensure that our services are holistic and comprehensive, and thus we can also deliver the medicines prescribed by the doctor right to your doorstep through our pharmacy delivery partners.

Q. How Can You Book Services for A Doctor At Home In Dubai?

You can call on 0505050387 or 800DIALDOC and schedule an appointment. You can also book an appointment online by visiting our website.

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We are available 24*7, 365 days a year, even on weekends and public holidays and you can book an appointment with us based on your availability and schedule.

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