| Beauty And Fitness - Urinary Tract Infections |
| By : P.LIVINGSTON | Previous | Next |
| Posted on : 28 Feb, 2012 | Total Views : 1951 |
Urinary Tract Infections
Infections involving the urinary tract (kidney,Ureter, bladder, prostate, or
urethra)are among the most common infectious diseases. Acute urinary tract infection (UTI)
Acute pyelonephritis is an infection of the kidneys and is described as a syndrome of fever and flank pain with or without dysuria.
Acute cystitis-urethritis is a syndrome consisting of dysuria, urgency, and increased frequency of urination with or without upper tract infection.
Acute prostatitis describes a syndrome of fever, perineal and low-back pain, dysuria, urgency, and increased frequency of urination.
Chronic urinary tract infection (UTI) refers to persistence or frequent reinfection of the kidney, bladder, or prostate.
Occur commonly in;
- School girls
- Females,and young sexually active females .At least 10-25% of females develop symptomatic UTI during their lifetimes.
- Pregnancy. Pregnant women are at increased risk.
- Elderly. Among individuals older than 65 years,
Risk factors include prostatic hypertrophy in males, bladder prolapse in females, soiling of the peritoneum, neurogenic bladder, Diabetes and the use of a chronic indwelling urinary catheter.
Men have less common incidence than female
E coli is the most common cause of acute uncomplicated communityacquired UTI, accounting for ~ 95% of cases. Proteus species, are associated with calculus formation. Saprophyticus accounts for 5-15% of acute cystitis in young
sexually active females.
Routes of infection
Bacteria may cause UTIs by three possible routes:
- Ascending,
- Hematogenous,
- Lymphatic.
Of these, the ascending route, especially in women, is probably the most common. Hematogenous infection of the kidney occurs uncommonly.
Lymphatic spread of infection to the urinary tract is thought to be uncommon.
Risk factors:
- Obstruction of normal urinary flow, resulting in stasis. This may occur as the result of extrarenal obstruction from congenital bnormalities, malignancies, calculi, vesicoureteral reflux, prostatic hypertrophy,
neurogenic bladder, pregnancy, or other conditions.
- Vesicoureteral reflux caused by congenital abnormalities or neurogenic bladder is highly associated with UTI. Reflux results in a residual pool of urine in the bladder after voiding which, when infected, predisposes to upper tract infection and renal scarring.
- Incomplete bladder emptying from any cause, such as prostatic hypertrophy, similarly results in residual urine in the bladder, which increases susceptibility to UTI.
- Urinary tract instrumentation is another common cause of UTI. Virtually all patients with a chronic indwelling urinary catheter develop UTI.
- In sexually active women, the use of a diaphragm with spermicidal jelly increases the susceptibility to UTI.
- Spermicide may cause pH changes that increase colonization of the vagina with uropathogens.
- Diabetics are more susceptible to infection in general, including UTI. The presence of glucose in the urine enhances bacterial growth.
Laboratory findings.
1. Urinalysis and Gram stain
A urinalysis should be performed in all patients suspected of having a UTI. The large majority of patients with symptomatic UTI have pyuria, described as 5-10 leukocytes/high-power field of centrifuged urinary sediments. Microscopic or
gross hematuria may occur in patients with cystitis-urethritis.
2. Quantitative urine culture
3. Imaging.
Imaging studies should be performed in adult patients with complicated UTIs, such as those with urolithiasis or pyelonephritis, and in patients of any age in whom structural abnormalities are suspected. Ultrasound imaging
and computed tomographic (CT) scans are more sensitive for detection of renal pathology.Ultrasonography is useful to detect urinary tract obstruction, and small calculi may be detected by spiral CT scans.
Complications
Uncommon or rare complications of UTI include
- Acute papillary necrosis
- Renal stone formation
- obstruction
- Perinephric or intrarenal abscess,
- Renal failure
Prevention :
- Good hygiene and clean urinal habits,washing of organs after urination in children and adult
- Taking good amount of water regularly
- Taking necessary precautions during pregnancy and after sex
- Avoiding restraining of urination for long time, passing urine immediately when you feel urge
- Keep in control sugar levels in blood and urine
Homoeopathic Management :
Drugs which are similimum to UTI are Cantharis,Berberis Vulgaris,Staphysagria,Sarsaparilla,Apis mellifica,Senecio Aures,Uvaursi,Terebinthae,Causticum,Lycopodium,Clematis Erecta,Pariera
Brava,Sabal Serulata,Acid Nit,Cannabis Indica / Sativa,Solidago,Merc sol,Medorrhinum,Thuja,Benzoic Acid and Kreosotum
Written By : P.LIVINGSTON
