Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) occurs when an infection spreads in any part of your urinary system including the bladder, kidneys, urethra, or ureters. It is a common condition that can be painful and is more likely to be seen in women than men. In case of severe symptoms, medical attention is required to avoid spreading the infection to the kidneys or bloodstream.

What is Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)?

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is the inflammation of any part of the urinary system, often caused by the overgrowth of bacteria.

The type of UTI depends upon which part of the urinary system is affected. It can be categorized as follows:

• Cystitis: It occurs when the infection is spread to the bladder. Symptoms include inflamed bladder, frequent urge to pee, painful urination, pain in the pelvic region, and bloody/smelly or cloudy urine.
• Urethritis: The infection spreads to the urethra leading to a burning sensation while peeing and smelly/cloudy urine.
• Pyelonephritis: The infection affects the kidneys and can cause chills, fever, pain in the side or lower back, vomiting, and nausea.
• Septicaemia: It occurs when the infection spreads to the blood causing high fever, uncontrollable shivering (rigors), sweating, etc. This illness is serious and requires immediate medical intervention.

Common UTI Symptoms 

The most common symptoms of UTI are as follows:

• Pain in the pelvis, lower back, or lower abdomen
• Feeling pressure in the pelvis
• Cloudy or smelly urine
• Frequent urge to pee, even though a small amount comes out
• The sensation that the bladder is full
• Painful urination known as Dysuria
• Blood in the urine, known as Hematuria
• Fatigue or weakness
• Fever, and chills
• Nausea and vomiting
• Mental confusion (often in older adults)
• Wetting the bed (children and older people)

UTI symptoms in females may be more painful or uncomfortable than in men.

UTI Causes

Generally, UTIs occur due to the overgrowth and spread of bacteria through the urethra toward other parts of the urinary system such as the bladder, or kidneys.

Women have a higher chance of getting UTIs as compared to children and men often due to the shorter anatomy of the urethra that makes it easier for bacteria to enter the bladder.

That is the reason why women are advised to wipe from front to back when using the bathroom, as the urethra is near the rectum and it may get easily infected.

Most UTIs occur due to Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria which is found on the skin and in the large intestine. This bacteria is likely to pass from your stool back into the bladder through the urethra if you wipe the genitals from back to front.

Sometimes, even fungal infections can cause UTIs, but it is rare. UTIs due to viral infections are even rarer.

Risk Factors of UTI

Risk factors of UTI are as follows:

• Women are likely to get UTIs due to genes and anatomy of the urethra
• People who previously had UTI
• Age (Young and older people are more likely to get UTIs)
• Menopause (due to loss of estrogen and less healthy bacteria)
• Pregnancy (due to hormonal changes)
• Birth control methods like using a diaphragm and spermicide
• Insertion of the Catheter tube
• Potty training
• Enlarging of the prostate gland in men
• Sexually active people
• Conditions that disrupt the nerve supply to the bladder and affect urine flow such as spinal cord damage, stroke, multiple sclerosis, or kidney stones
• Not being circumcised (for men)
• Anal intercourse
• Reflux nephropathy (urine flows back up to the kidneys instead of going outside due to kidney failure, scarring, or damage)
• Diabetes and a weakened immune system
• Poor hygiene

Diagnosis

UTIs are diagnosed after studying your symptoms and assessing urine samples to check the presence of bacteria, RBCs, and WBCs. For moderate infections, your doctor might prescribe a urine culture test to identify the type of bacteria causing the infection.

In recurrent or chronic UTI infections, your doctor may conduct comprehensive tests such as:

• Imaging tests such as X-ray, MRI, CT scan, ultrasound, or radiation tracking
• Cystoscopy – to check the bladder and urethra internally through a long thin tube with a camera lens.
• Urodynamics – to check whether the urinary system stores and passes urine properly.

Home Remedies to relieve UTI Symptoms

Here are some of the simple steps you can take to relieve UTI symptoms at home:

• Drink lots of water to flush the bacteria out of the body (minimum 2 Liters or 5-6 glasses of water)
• Maintain good hygiene in the genital area
• Urinate after having intercourse
• Do not use perfumes, creams, or other scented products on the genitals
• Wash hands before and after touching the genitals
• Avoid using spermicide or diaphragm
• Prefer showers over baths

Homeopathic Treatment for UTI

Homeopathy takes a holistic approach to treating UTIs from its root cause. Homeopathic medicines are prescribed based on the patient’s age, symptoms, and other medical conditions, if any. These medicines are 100% natural, free from side effects, and effective in treating UTIs from its core.

Some of the best homeopathic medicines for UTI include Cantharis, Mercurius, Sarsaparilla, Aconitum, Nux Vomica, Apis Mellifica, Berberis, Pulsatilla, and more.

Conclusion

Homeopathy can treat mild to chronic and even recurrent cases of UTI effectively and provide symptomatic relief in the long run. However, homeopathic medicines should not be taken without a prescription from an expert Homeopathic practitioner.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, book an Online Consultation with our highly experienced Homeopathic doctor and proper UTI treatment.

Our doctor will study your case, learn your medical history and symptoms, and prescribe you a proper course of homeopathic medicine.