Urinary tract infections
What are the urinary tract infections?
Urinary tract infections are affections that are caused by pathogens like bacteria, viruses or fungi localized anywhere from the urinary tract to the kidney.
How do they appear?
Most of the times, the infections are caused by bacteria from the large intestine that migrate to the urethra and from there inside the urinary tract, to the bladder and up to the kidney.
Who can be affected by the urinary tract infections?
Anyone at any age can have a urinary tract infection. Women are more likely to be affected because they have a shorter urethra, that makes a shorter distance for the bacteria to travel especially during the sexual intercourse. Approximately 50% of women will suffer at least once in their lifetime from this affection.
Men can also have an UTI at any age but the infection is more likely to appear over the age of 45-50 because of prostate affections.
What are the symptoms?
-pain and burn sensation during urination
-frequent urination sensation
-the urine can be turbid and have an unpleasant smell
If the affected part is the upper urinary tract, meaning the kidneys, apart from the symptoms explained earlier it can also appear lumbar pain, fever, shiver, nausea and vomiting.
There are 3 types of urinary tract infections:
Urethritis
STD manifested by the swelling of the urethra. The symptoms can be: pain and smarting while urinating, probably urethral secretion, discomfort during sex, painful ejaculation etc.
Cystitis
The most frequent urinary infection, it is an inflammation of the urinary bladder, the symptoms are frequent and painful urination, pressure on the lower abdominal area and unpleasant smell of the urine.
Pyelonephritis
Most often, a complication of the lower urinary infection that affects the kidneys being caused by various bacteria. Vomiting, fever, shivers and lumbar pains are specific symptoms for it.
Symptoms
-frequent need of urination
-pain and discomfort while urinating
-pain in the lower back
-lumbar pain
-unpleasant smell of the urine
Treatment
These kind of infections are often treated with antibiotics and supplements based on cranberry extract. Immediately after you start the treatment, the symptoms will fade and you will feel much better. Even so, the treatment must be continued for the entire period prescribed by the doctor or the pharmacist. The bacteria are not eliminated easily and the affection might reappear.
Attention! Pregnant woman must check the urine frequent to early discover the infection. If the infection spreads to the kidneys, there are big risks for the fetus.
How do you find out if you have a urinary infection?
Fast and simple with the help of the Veneris Test for Urinary Infections, you can find out if you have an inferior or superior urinary tract infection.
How does the test work?
There are measured four specific markers in the urine: leukocytes, nitrites, proteins and blood.
If the test is positive for any one of those markers, you have to take the second test from the box, for confirmation and after that you have to go to the doctor for treatment.