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URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS
Are UTIs (Urinary Tract Infection) common?
Urinary Tract Infections are common in women and men. UTIs are
most often caused by bacteria. These are germs that can invade your
urinary tract.
What are the symptoms of a UTI?
Women have urinary tract infection more than men. But men suffer
from UTIs too.
· A burning feeling or pain in your urinary tract.
· Pain in your kidneys (felt in the upper back)
· The urge to urinate so often that you can’t sit through a
meeting or sleep through the night.
How will the physician diagnose a UTI?
To diagnose a UTI, your physician will take your medical history,
give you a physical exam, and have lab test done.
· Urinalysis
· Urine Culture
· Blood tests
· Kidney Ultrasound
· Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP)
· Cystoscopy
· Cystogram
How does a UTI occur?
Most UTIs are caused by bacteria that grow uncontrolled in your
urinary tract. The bacteria may come from outside your body. Or
they may come from your rectum or vagina. Here are some ways you
might get a UTI:
· Sex
· Poor hygiene
· Urine that remains in your bladder after you urinate
· A blockage in your kidneys
· A blockage caused by an enlarged prostate (in men).
What are the different types of urinary infections?
Women and men often get different kinds of urinary tract infections.
· Cystitis in women.
· Urethral Syndrome in women
· Pyelonephritis in men and women
· Prostatitis in men
· Urethritis in men
· Cystitis in men
What are my treatment options?
Most UTIs can be treated with medication (such as antibiotics)
and some lifestyle changes.
What is my role in treatment and prevention?
· Take your medication as directed so your infection does not return.
· Drink enough fluids every day to help flush bacteria out of your system.
· Practice good personal hygiene.
· Empty your bladder whenever you feel the urge to urinate.
· Avoid foods that may irritate your urinary tract.
· Keep follow up medical appointments.
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