Can Urinary Tract Infections Be Prevented Or Avoided
There are many lifestyle choices that can help you prevent UTIs. These are some of the things you can do to protect yourself from them:
- Drink plenty of water to flush out bacteria. For some people, drinking cranberry juice may also help prevent urinary tract infections. However, if youre taking warfarin, check with your doctor before using cranberry juice to prevent urinary tract infections. Your doctor may need to adjust your warfarin dose or you may need to have more frequent blood tests.
- Dont hold your urine. Urinate when you feel like you need to. Some children dont go to the bathroom often enough. If your child does this, teach him or her to go to the bathroom several times each day.
- Wipe from front to back after bowel movements. Teach your child to wipe correctly.
- Urinate after having sex to help wash away bacteria.
- Use enough lubrication during sex. Try using a small amount of lubricant before sex if youre a little dry.
- If you get urinary tract infections often, you may want to avoid using a diaphragm as a birth control method. Ask your doctor about other birth control choices.
- Avoid taking or giving your child bubble baths.
- Wear loose-fitting clothing , and dress your child in loose-fitting clothing.
- If you are uncircumcised, wash the foreskin regularly. If you have an uncircumcised boy, teach him how to wash his foreskin.
Recommended Reading: Apple Cider For Urinary Tract Infection
Is Blood In Urine Coming From Someplace Else
The blood could also be coming from someplace other than your urinary tract, she says. For women, when you see red in urine, it could also be from your period or a part of your reproductive system, Dr. Bakare explains.
How can you tell? Check to see if you are spotting at other times, she says. If you are, this may be why you see red in your urine. Get checked out by a gynecologist, says Dr. Bakare.
Possible Complications Of Obstructive Uropathy
What are possible obstructive uropathy complications? Urinary tract obstruction can lead to severe and permanent damage to the kidneys and kidney failure. Pyelonephritis, an infection of one or both kidneys, is common.
Long-term bladder damage may also result when obstructive uropathy is caused by bladder blockage. This is what leads to urine leakage and problems emptying the bladder.
A higher likelihood of recurrent urinary tract infections or cystitis is also common with obstructive uropathy, as well as acute or chronic renal failure and new-onset or poorly controlled hypertension.
People with UTIs may have blood or pus in their urine, fever, and kidney or bladder pain.
You May Like: Side Effects Of Azo Urinary Tract Defense
Read Also: Yeast Infection Feel Like I Have To Pee
Urinalysis Testing For Blood In Urine
Urinalysis can be used to test a patients urine sample for the presence of blood in the urine.1-3 The medical term for the symptom of blood in the urine is hematuria. Many patients diagnosed with bladder cancer have the symptom of blood in the urine that is easily visible, but in some patients the amount of blood is so small that it is not visible to the naked eye. Urinalysis can detect very small amounts of blood in the urine, which can sometimes help to diagnose bladder cancer at an earlier stage, if bladder cancer is present. Urinalysis can also be used to check the levels of other substances, such as sugar, protein, and white blood cells, in a patients urine.
Donât Miss: Bladder Infection In Older Adults
What Causes Bleeding During A Uti
When you have a UTI, the bacteria infect the lining of your urinary tract. This leads to inflammation and irritation, causing red blood cells to leak into your urine.
If theres a tiny amount of blood in your urine, it wont be visible to the naked eye. This is called microscopic hematuria. A doctor will be able to see the blood when they look at your urine sample under a microscope.
But if theres enough blood to change the color of your urine, you have whats called gross hematuria. Your pee might look red, pink, or brown like cola.
If you menstruate, you might wonder if your bloody urine is caused by a UTI or menstruation.
Along with urinary bleeding, UTIs and periods share symptoms like:
- lower back pain
- abdominal or pelvis pain
To determine which one you have, consider your overall symptoms. Youre likely menstruating if you have:
- bloating or weight gain
These symptoms arent typically associated with UTIs. Plus, if you have your period, you wont see blood only when you pee. Youll also have red or darker clumps of blood continuously accumulating on your underwear with menstruation.
You May Like: What Antibiotic Is Prescribed For Ear Infection
Key Points About Urinary Tract Infections
- Urinary tract infections are a common health problem that affects millions of people each year. These infections can affect any part of the urinary tract.
- Most UTIs are caused by E. coli bacteria, which normally live in the colon.
- The most common symptoms of UTIs include changes in urination such as frequency, pain, or burning urine looks dark, cloudy, or red and smells bad back or side pain nausea/vomiting and fever.
- Antibiotics are used to treat UTIs. Other treatments may include pain relievers, and drinking plenty of water to help wash bacteria out of the urinary tract.
- Other things that can be done may help reduce the likelihood of developing UTIs.
Seattle Children’s Urgent Care Locations
If your childs illness or injury is life-threatening, call 911.
Treatment for a Bladder Infection
Prevention of Bladder Infections in Girls
Recommended Reading: When A Wisdom Tooth Is Infected
Why You Should Never Ignore Uti Symptoms
Lower UTIs arent generally serious medical emergencies, but you should still never ignore their symptoms. When you dont treat a lower UTI, the inflammation may cause urine to flow back through the ureters into the kidneys. If this happens, the infection can spread.
Kidney infections are much more serious than lower UTIs. They can lead to permanent kidney damage or allow the bacteria to spread to your bloodstream and cause a potentially fatal systemic infection. As a result, you should never try to simply manage your symptoms and allow your body to naturally fight the infection. Boosting your bodys defenses with an antibiotic is the best way to protect your health.
Kidney And Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract infections are one of the most common causes for blood in the urine. Most are due to bacteria which enter through the urethra and rise up to the bladder or even higher. It can even reach the kidneys. It is therefore known as an ascending infection. Sometimes bacteria in the bloodstream can lodge in the kidney or urinary tract. A common source of bacteria is from the rectum but a host of bacteria can cause UTIs, including sexually transmitted infections. Most infections are limited to the bladder.
Also Check: Urinary Incontinence In Elderly Woman
Read Also: Can A Yeast Infection Resolve On Its Own
Large Or Visible Hematuria
Large or visible hematuria is also called gross hematuria. They may appear pink, red, or brown in the toilet. When visible, the color varies depending on:
- Amount of blood in the urine
- Length of time blood has been in the urine
- Urine level of acidity
When blood is visible in the urine, you should contact your doctor.2
“When urinating, I bled like crazy.”
“Toilet full of blood.”
Treatment Options For Uti
UTIs dont go away on their own. In fact, they may get worse, and the infection could spread elsewhere in your body without proper care. Seeking prompt medical care is the best way to stop the infection and prevent UTI complications like kidney infection.
If you notice signs of a UTI, our Advanced Urology team is equipped to diagnose and treat it so you start feeling better. Most acute UTIs resolve with a course of prescription antibiotic medication.
If youre dealing with chronic UTIs or ongoing bladder pain, you may benefit from a longer course of low-dose antibiotics. Our team may recommend at-home urine tests throughout treatment or prescribe medication to take when you have sexual intercourse to help prevent recurrent UTIs.
Be sure to take all of your medication, even if your UTI symptoms disappear during the course of treatment. Finishing your antibiotic is the only way to ensure the infection is gone and avoid UTI complications.
You May Like: Feeling Like Bladder Is Full
Also Check: Can A Tooth Infection Go To Your Brain
How To Feel Better
If your healthcare professional prescribes you antibiotics:
- Take antibiotics exactly as your healthcare professional tells you.
- Do not share your antibiotics with others.
- Do not save antibiotics for later. Talk to your healthcare professional about safely discarding leftover antibiotics.
Drink plenty of water or other fluids. Your healthcare professional might also recommend medicine to help lessen the pain or discomfort. Talk with your healthcare professional if you have any questions about your antibiotics.
Read Also: Signs Of Mens Urinary Tract Infection
Is Blood In Your Urine A Reason To Be Concerned
If you notice blood in your urine, donât ignore it. There are many possible causes of this condition, known as hematuria. While some are simply treated and not dangerous, others may need immediate medical attention.
Not all hematuria can be seen with the human eye. In fact, the most common type of hematuria-called microscopic hematuria-can only been seen by a health care expert under a microscope. In many cases, microscopic hematuria is spotted when a person has a urine test during a health exam.
When a person can see the blood in his or her urine, the condition is called gross hematuria. People with gross hematuria have urine that is pink, red or brown.
âThereâs a common misconception that if you see blood in your urine once and then it goes away that youâre in the clear,â says Angela B. Smith, MD, Assistant Professor of Urology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill. âBut itâs important to seek care the very first time you see blood in the urine, so your doctor can confirm that itâs there and refer you to a urologist for an evaluation.â
In most cases, people with either type of hematuria do not have pain or any other signs or symptoms.
Don’t Miss: Will Monistat Cure My Yeast Infection
Symptoms Of Group B Strep
In This Article
If you have a group B strep infection, you may have some of the following signs and symptoms:
Pregnancy complications.
Symptoms of group B strep infection may include a high fever and chills, rapid heart rate, low blood pressure, and reduced urine output. A woman with one or more of these symptoms who has recently given birth may have a group B strep infection.
Newborns.
Signs and symptoms of group B strep infection in newborns may include lethargy, irritability, poor feeding, low body temperature , rapid breathing, and seizures. Some newborns with a group B strep infection appear healthy at birth but may become ill within several days after delivery.
Bloodstream infections.
Adults with group B strep blood infections may experience fever and chills, low blood pressure , reduced urine output, abdominal pain, and respiratory distress.
How Is Blood In The Urine Diagnosed
Your doctor will review your medical history and do a physical exam. Other tests may include:
- Urinalysis. Urine is tested for various cells and chemicals, such as red and white blood cells, germs, or too much protein.
- Blood tests. Blood is checked for high levels of waste products.
If these tests arent clear you may need other tests, such as:
- Intravenous pyelogram . A series of X-rays of the kidney, ureters , and bladder is done after a contrast dye is injected into a vein. This is done to look for tumors, kidney stones, or any blockages, and to check blood flow in the kidneys.
- Ultrasound. An imaging test that uses high-frequency sound waves to make images of the organs of the urinary tract on a computer screen.
- Cystoscopy. A thin, flexible tube and viewing device, is put in through the urethra to examine the parts of the urinary tract for structure changes or blockages, such as tumors or stones.
Read Also: Clear A Bladder Infection Without Antibiotics
What Natural Supplements Can I Take To Prevent Another Uti
There is little evidence that natural supplements can prevent UTIs, but you can try cranberry supplements or probiotics. Cranberries contain antioxidants that may help prevent bacteria in the urinary tract from sticking to the walls of the urinary tract. Drinking 10 to 30 oz of cranberry juice per day may be beneficial. Probiotics may help prevent UTIs by supporting the bodys natural microorganisms in the flora.
Read Also: How To Relieve Urinary Tract Pain
Sometimes Blood In Urine Is The Only Symptom
When bladder cancer is at an early stage, it can cause blood in the urine but it might not cause any other symptoms, such as pain, burning, or other urinary symptoms. Sometimes patients diagnosed with bladder cancer, especially if it is at an early stage, may only have blood in their urine occasionally. It does not always occur every time the person urinates, and might not happen for weeks or even months at a time.
Even if you do not notice blood in the urine very often, it is important to let your healthcare provider know about the symptom. Treatment for bladder cancer tends to be more effective when it is diagnosed as early as possible.
Read Also: Do Urinary Tract Infections Go Away
What Is The Urinary Tract
The urinary tract is the bodys drainage system for removing wastes and extra fluid. The urinary tract includes
The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist. They are located just below the rib cage, one on each side of the spine. Every day, the kidneys filter about 120 to 150 quarts of blood to produce about 1 to 2 quarts of urine, composed of wastes and extra fluid. Children produce less urine than adults. The urine flows from the kidneys to the bladder through tubes called ureters. The bladder stores urine until releasing it through urination. When the bladder empties, urine flows out of the body through a tube called the urethra at the bottom of the bladder.
Recommended Reading: Homemade Cat Food For Bladder Stones
Home Remedies For Uti
How to get rid of UTI without antibiotics with 21 home remedies for urinary tract infections. Instant UTI relief treatment at home!
Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, occur when the bacteria present in the urinary tract is pushed back into the kidney, bladder, or urethra. Urinary tract infections mostly affect females. It can be really painful and irritating if not treated properly and can spread to the kidneys if not treated at all. There are several home remedies for a UTI that can be tried in order to prevent the infection from getting worse. However, if the problem persists, you should consult a doctor immediately.
Dont Miss: Lower Back Pain Causing Urinary Problems
Read Also: What Are The Best Antibiotics For A Tooth Infection
What Investigations May Be Advised
The investigations you may need usually depend on many different factors, such as if you have other symptoms, if you have any other illnesses or conditions and your age.
It is likely that you will need to provide a sample of urine which will be sent to the local laboratory to be tested for infection. You may have blood tests and X-rays or scans.
A cystoscopy may be performed to assess your bladder. Having a cystoscopy entails a doctor or nurse looking into your bladder with a special thin telescope called a cystoscope. The cystoscope is passed into your bladder via your outlet for your urine . A cystoscopy which is done just to look into your bladder is usually carried out under local anaesthetic.
More details about the different tests can be found in the separate individual condition leaflets, mentioned above.
What To Do If You Have A Blood Clot In Your Urine
For instance, passing blood clots in urine arising from UTI infections or prostatitis are treated with antibiotics to manage the symptoms. Apart from antibiotics, the doctor may prescribe pain killers to relieve discomfort. Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is solely for educating the reader.
Also Check: How To Treat A Viral Throat Infection