Urinary Track Infection invades again!

I have been fighting yet another battle with Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). I don’t have the burning sensation when urinating but I have this on and off fever which has been ongoing for the last 2 days, not to mention my aching back which makes it hard for me to stand and walk. As far as I know, UTI has been more prevalent with women because we have a shorter urinary tract as compared with men. While most of the occurrences of UTI in women are not that severe, it often causes severe pain at the back like what I am experiencing right now.

What Causes Urinary Tract Infections?

The most common cause of UTIs are bacteria from the bowel that live on the skin near the rectum or in the vagina, which can spread and enter the urinary tract through the urethra. Once these bacteria enter the urethra, they travel upward, causing infection in the bladder and sometimes other parts of the urinary tract.

Another cause of bladder infections or UTI is waiting too long to urinate. The bladder is a muscle that stretches to hold urine and contracts when the urine is released. Waiting too long past the time you first feel the need to urinate can cause the bladder to stretch beyond its capacity. Over time, this can weaken the bladder muscle. When the bladder is weakened, it may not empty completely and some urine is left in the bladder. This may increase the risk of urinary tract infections or bladder infections.

Those people who are especially prone to developing UTI are those who have had previous UTIs and those who are Diabetic and especially prone are pregnant women.

Antibiotics (medications that kill bacteria) are the usual treatment for bladder infections and other urinary tract infections.

Tips for Preventing Urinary Tract Infections

Drinking plenty of fluids (water) each day will help flush bacterium out of the urinary system.

Emptying the bladder as soon as the urge to urinate occurs also may help decrease the risk of bladder

Vitamin C makes the urine acidic and helps to reduce the number of potentially harmful bacteria in the urinary tract system.

Cranberry juice is often said to reduce frequency of bladder infections, though it should not be considered an actual treatment.

Although urinary tract infections are common and distinctly painful, they usually are easy to treat once properly diagnosed and only last a few days. When treated promptly and properly, UTIs are rarely serious.