Urinary tract infections: how to treat them and avoid them

You may have already experienced a pain long live when you go to bathroom ? Like a burning sensation ? A sudden urge to pee ? THE'urinary tract infection ou cystitis is a pathology that affects many adolescent girls, young women and mature women!

How to recognize a urinary tract infection? How to treat it and, above all, is it possible to avoid it? What are the recommended treatments, what antibiotics ? Are there alternative solutions? The famous cranberry Is it really effective? What could be the complications?
Acute cystitis, recurrent cystitis, proliferation of bacteria towards the kidneys, acute pyelonephritis, urinary stones, kidney stones, let's discuss in detail togetherurinary tract infection.

Louloucup gives you all the keys to having a great summer while taking care of yourself and your health. Here we answer, as simply as possible, all your questions about urinary tract infections.

What is a urinary tract infection?

The urinary tract infections are common urinary tract infections in women. Originally, this bacterial infection ? A nasty bacteria that comes to lodge itself in your bladder when it has no business being there. 

Since it is a bacteria, not a microbe, a antibiotic treatment is necessary to overcome it. So what will be important is to take the antibiotic that will best respond to the bacteria. Because yes, not all antibiotics are effective on all bacteria.

This infection can affect various areas of theUrinary System :

• the bladder,
• the urethra,
• kidneys,
• or even the ureters.

In the simplest and least serious case, the acute cystitis is located in the bladder. When the person is not treated quickly or the antibiotic is not suitable, then the bacteria has time to migrate and spread.
It rises from the bladder to other parts of the urinary tract. This is called urethritis when the bacteria lodges in theurethra, We are talking about pyelonephritis when the infection affects the waist. 

What are the symptoms of a urinary tract infection?

• a very strong desire tourinate,
  
• once on the toilet, despite the urge, the urination is done in very small quantities,
  
  
• urine may have a bad smell and be cloudy,
  
  
• a feeling of burn more or less strong when urinating,
  
  
• when urinating, it may be difficult to stay in place so much that the burning is intense,
  
  
• at fever may appear in some cases,
  
  
• a strong one fatigue (it's quite normal, your body is attacked and fighting),
  
  
• lower abdominal pain (pains) pelvic pain),
  
  
• lower back pain ( lower back pain),
  
  
• but also blood in the urine.

How to treat a urinary tract infection?

Mono-dose or single-dose antibiotic

The antibiotic prescribed will obviously have to be effective against the specific bacteria that has decided to lodge in your bladder or urethra. The most common situation today is to receive from your doctor a single dose of antibiotic, single-dose, broad-spectrum. Most often, it isamoxicillin.

If the infection has not had time to set in, the single dose is usually sufficient. This single-dose antibiotic is really practical and very effective. It is often given before even having the laboratory test results and in many cases, it frees many women from cystitis burns.

As an accompaniment, we strongly recommend that you drink at least two liters of water per day in the days following infection. It is important to go to the toilet many times in order to "flush out" your infection. 

You are used to cystitis, you know recurrent urinary tract infections ? Do you know yourself well and can you recognize them? To avoid suffering for a long time, don't hesitate to teleconsult to save precious time and get your prescription quickly.

Urinalysis or ECBU

THEurine analysis is very useful in case of suspected cystitis.cytobacteriological examination above all, it helps to identify the bacteria responsible for your cystitis and, if necessary, to prescribe another, more effective antibiotic. Your doctor will therefore prescribe a ECBU.

The latter will initially have been able to do the urine dipstick test during your consultation to confirm the urinary tract infection. This test highlights the leukocytes or nitrites, elements which will attest to your infection. 

THEcytobacterioligical urine exam (ECBU) highlights the germs present in your urine. With the urine sample you give to the lab, they can conduct a cytology (study of cells) and a bacteriology (search for bacteria). ECBU is therefore essential, especially if the infection shows signs of resistance.

For the most common cystitis, the bacteria responsible is Escherichia coli. This bacterium causes inflammation of the bladder but also of the urethra (infectious urethritis).

Longer treatment in some cases

Sometimes the single dose is not enough. The single dose is prescribed as first-line therapy to treat acute cystitis without gravity. Unfortunately, the bacteria can be harder to dislodge.

The burning when you urinate has disappeared and has moved to your lower abdomen or back, to your kidneys. You may have a fever and be very tired. The bacteria may have then moved up to one of your kidneys.

The form of your urinary tract infection is then more serious and must be taken seriously. A physical visit to a doctor and a urine culture are then essential. A antibiotic treatment A longer adapted course (10 days or more) is then started.

We strongly advise you throughout your treatment to to drink a lot (daily, regular hydration is essential for your health) and not to hold back from going to the toilet. Bacteria are thus eliminated more quickly. Water, herbal tea and even cranberry juice (why not!), don't hesitate to vary the drinks so as not to get bored. 

Untreated or poorly treated cystitis can worsen and turn into pyelonephritis. The infection of the bladder then goes up to the kidneys.

Prevention: are there solutions to avoid urinary tract infections?

Here are some valuable tips and advice to avoid recurrent urinary tract infections :

• Hydrate regularly and significantly throughout the day. It is important to exercise your kidneys and go to the toilet regularly. The kidneys are the organs that filter urine. Don't hesitate to drink diuretic drinks to help you: apple juice or cranberry juice.
  
  
• Have the reflex of always go to the toilet after sex. Urinating after sex helps to "wash" your intimate flora. Following sexual intercourse, your vaginal flora can be unbalanced. Its natural defenses are weakened and bacteria that are usually rejected manage to make their way in.
  
  
• Avoid keeping your wet swimsuit on you after swimming or at the beach. A damp cloth in prolonged contact with your intimate flora can contribute to the development of bacteria (maceration, humidity).
  
  
• Avoid tight clothing that prevents your intimitate to breathe, tight jeans or pants that squeeze at the crotch should be avoided if you are prone to urinary tract infections.
  
  
• Avoid the sex in the sea, in a swimming pool or in a natural aquatic environment, your fragilely balanced flora will be attacked and may be less resistant to possible bacteria.
  
  
• Clean your vulva and private parts properly without overdoing it. It may be strange, but washing it too often will only weaken your intimate flora. Find a balance and stick to it. Also, don't overuse hygiene products full of chemicals, perfume or alcohol. Prefer just water or a mild natural soap with a neutral pH.
  
  
• When you are at bathroom, wipe yourself, always from front to back! This is important so that bacteria on your skin anus do not come into contact with your vagina and your bladder.
  
  
• Finally, last piece of advice, don't hold backgo to the toilet. Never. Evacuate, as soon as you can.

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