Risk Factors
Natural ways to prevent and treat urinary tract infections as well as risk factors and diagnosis of urinary tract infections will be discussed here.
Are diabetes and gender risk factor for urinary tract infections?
1- Age
The incidence of urinary tract infection increases with age particularly in females as in the menopause while the loss of the protective effect of estrogens feminine hormones occurs.
2-Gender
Being male or female is an important risk factor. Urinary tract infections have higher incidence in females because of their short urethra and anatomical structure of their urinary system. Urinary tract infections is the commonest bacterial infection to occur in the pregnant females.
3—Diabetes
Another important factor that is associated with increased complications risk in urinary tract infection. Diabetes lowers the immunity both cellular and immunoglobulin productions. Microorganisms have higher susceptibility to adhere and infect diabetic cells compared to other normal cells.
4-Renal stones
The presence of renal stones causes inflammation and invites infection as well as other abnormalities of the urinary tract causing stasis and inviting infection.
5—Sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse is a risk factor for infection in women. The famous diagnosis honeymoon cystitis acquired during the honeymoon.
6- Following instrumentation
Instrumentation of the urinary tract as cystoscopy procedure.
7- Autoimmune diseases
Autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), immuno-suppressive medications including chemotherapy.
Clinical presentation
What are the symptoms and signs of urinary tract infection?
how does turbid urine mean?
Malaise, fatigue.
- Fever, chills which may indicate spread of infection to the kidneys.
- Pain in the back or lower abdomen.
- Frequent, painful burning or even difficult micturation.
- Cloudy turbid (not clear), strange smelling and may be blood stained urine.
Investigations
How to take and store a clean urine sample?
How to avoid contamination of urine sample?
what do urinary estrases or nitrites in urine mean?
How can I know that I have urinary tract infection?
Morning urine. First void urine in the day. A fresh Midstream urine sample in a sterile top-screw container. Wash your hands before and after opening the container. Avoiding the beginning and last urine stream reduces the risk of contamination either by your hands or the skin around the urethra. You should deliver the sample within one hour. If you can’t deliver it within one hour you have to store it in the fridge (4C°) for no more than 24 hours after putting the container in a sealed plastic bag first.
Urine analysis.
Check for excess white blood cells or excess red blood cells or even white blood cell casts or red blood cell casts. A cell cast is a (collection of cells in a tiny tube shaped particles that appears under microscopic examination).
The presence of nitrites in urine indicates bacterial infection. Some bacterias invading the urinary tract have enzymes that convert nitrates into nitrites. If the urine sample is positive for leucocyte esterase which is an enzyme produced by the white blood cells this can signifies urinary tract infection.
Urine culture and sensitivity:
If urinary tract infection is suspected, urine culture and sensitivity show the responsible organism and its antibiotic sensitivity to choose and resistance to avoid while prescribing the treatment.
Causes of Clear Antibiotics Failure
Natural WAYS of prevention and treatment of Urinary Tract Infection
HOW can I treat urinary tract infection naturally?
How Cranberry and peppermint prevent urinary infections?
General precautions
Voiding before and after sexual intercourse, wearing cotton underwear and avoidance of perfumed toilet paper decreases the risk.
Consumption of vitamin C and urinary tract infections In general Vitamin C boosts the immune system and helps the prevention of many bacterial and viral diseases as bacterial pneumonias and common cold. It also helps the skin integrity and keeps the skin healthy and shiny.
Cranberry.
Cranberry either juices or tablets were effective in many scientific studies in preventing the recurrence of urinary infections. Cranberries lower the urinary ph (decreases urine acidity and prevents bacterial adhesion to the urinary system). A combination of cranberry and lingon-berry juice was also effective in the prevention of recurrence of urinary infections.
Bilberry Blueberry in urinary tract infections
Blueberry prevents bacterial adhesion to the urinary tract surfaces and decreases the recurrence of urinary tract infections.
- Berberine Natural way to treat urinary tract infections Berberine is present in Oregon grape, tree turmeric and barberry. Berberine prevents urinary tract re-infection by reducing bacterial adhesion to the urinary tract system. In addition, Berberine can prevent and fight bacteria viruses, fungi, parasites and protozoa. Berberine should be avoided in pregnancy because it may cause abortion.
- Peppermint: Owing to its strong antibacterial power and anti-spasmodic effect to help relieve the spasmodic pain of renal colic Peppermint is useful in urinary tract infections. It prevents bacterial adhesion to the urinary tract surface as well as it possesses anti-inflammatory. peppermint is considered One of the traditional herbal treatments for urinary tract infections.
- Marshmallow root: Marshmallow root has a diuretic effect, increases urination frequency and help to prevent urine stagnation in the urinary system. Urine stagnation is an important factor in the occurrence of urinary tract infections. Marshmallow root also has a soothing anti-inflammatory value in urinary infections.
- Celery seeds: Celery increases urination numbers and help to prevent urine stagnation in the urinary system. Urine stagnation is an important factor in the occurrence of urinary infections.
- Cough grass: Cough grass has soothing anti-inflammatory power and effective antibacterial role in urinary tract infections.
- Vitamin A: Vitamin A is very important for skin and mucosal integrity. It helps urinary tract gastrointestinal and respiratory tract surfaces integrity as protective barrier against all microbes. Vitamin A also helps healing after resolution of infections.