Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
When you have got to go, you have got to go. But if you are going unusually frequently, we could be looking at something different – a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI).
What is Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)?
A urinary tract infection (UTI) refers to an infection in any part of the urinary system, which is made up of the kidneys, ureters bladder, and urethra. In most cases of UTI, the infection occurs in the lower urinary tract where the bladder and urethra are located.
UTI can occur to both men and women, although women are 14 times more likely to contract a UTI due to their shorter urethra. At about 4cm, bacteria travels a shorter distance to reach and infect the bladder.
What Are The Symptoms Of UTI?
A UTI is often characterised by frequent trips to the bathroom and a burning sensation every time you urinate. Besides these signs, you may also experience:
- Bloody, cloudy, or an odd-coloured urine
- Pain or tenderness in the area below your stomach, or in your back or sides
- Bedwetting incidences
- Fever
- Nausea
What Are The Causes Of UTI?
The most common cause of UTI is bacteria. As the urinary system is naturally able to protect against bacteria, most cases of infections are not serious. However, the defence can fail for a variety of reasons:
E. coli
Escherichia coli, or E. coli, is a bacterium that causes infection in the gastrointestinal tract. The bacterium can spread from the anus to the urethra.
Urethritis
Women are anatomically built with a shorter urethra. As a result, the bacteria that enters the urinary tract travels a shorter distance to reach the bladder where infection occurs.
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Sexually transmittable diseases, such as herpes, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, and mycoplasma, can result in UTI.
Other factors that increase your likelihood of contracting UTI include a previous infection, pregnancy, changes in the vaginal flora, which could be due to medication, menopausal, or the use of spermicides, and structural issues with the urinary tract like an enlarged prostate.
More general factors include age and poor hygiene.
What Are The Complications Of UTI?
While UTI alone can be easily treated, a bigger concern is when the infection is associated with other untreated infections that could have spread from the bladder to neighbouring organs. There is also a tiny possibility of the infection entering the bloodstream and infecting organs further away from the primary site of infection.
Although less common, when UTI occurs in men, it tends to be more complex as the infection could be related to more complicated conditions such as enlarged prostate, kidney stones, diabetes, incontinence, and more.
How Do We Treat UTI?
The first step to recovering from a UTI is to seek treatment for it.
Depending on the severity of the infection, our doctors may prescribe a round of antibiotics. Antibiotics are often prescribed in the first line of treatment but they can cause side effects like rashes, dizziness, nausea, diarrhoea, or yeast infection.
If antibiotics alone is sufficient, you will recover easily. Otherwise, you may have to undergo further tests or evaluation. If the origin of the infection is traced back to a sexually transmittable disease, more tests will be carried out to determine the root cause of the illness in order to find a suitable treatment for it.
How Can You Prevent UTI?
Of course, prevention is better than cure. Here are some tips to help you avoid a UTI:
- Stay hydrated. Staying hydrated may increase your frequency to the loo, but it will help to dilute your urine and flush out bacteria from the urinary tract.
- Practice good hygiene. After urinating, wipe from the front to the back. This prevents contaminants from spreading to the urethra and vagina. In addition, avoid feminine products that contain high levels of fragrance, scents, and aroma compounds that can irritate the sensitive genital area and urethra.
- Empty your bladder. Especially after intercourse. This would help flush out bacteria before your skin and body can react to it.
- Opt for water-based lubricants. Diaphragms, unlubricated or spermicide-treated condoms can contribute to bacterial growth so, if you experience frequent infections, maybe it is time to rethink your birth control method.
- Consume cranberry juice. Although not a conclusive solution or preventive measure for UTI, cranberry juice helps to boost vitamin intake to fight infections.
Why Use Speedoc?
If your frequent trips to the bathroom are stopping you from visiting the clinic, Speedoc is ready to help you with our video consultation and medicine delivery services.
- Consultation is carried out remotely so you get to be in the comforts of your home. Everything you share with us will be kept confidential.
- Medication delivery is included in the consultation fees and any medication will be delivered in opaque packaging.
Book An Appointment With Speedoc
Our trained doctors can provide you with the answers you are looking for and arrange for medication to be delivered right to your doorstep. Give us a call at +65 6909 7799, email us at contact@speedoc.com, or download the Speedoc app to get connected to a doctor online immediately!
Manage your appointments, access your medical records, track your bills, and follow-up with your doctor whenever you need to via the Speedoc app. More about our health programmes and packages are also available in the app.
