UTI on the Rise: Here’s What You Need to Know

UTI (Urinary Tract Infection)

Urinary tract infection is the most common infection of the urinary tract (responsible for removing waste, and extra liquid from our body.

It is an infection that affects other body parts such as kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.

UTI affect all individuals, however, it mostly affects women due to the shorter path of the urethra.

But still, more individuals ask – Why do they keep getting UTIs frequently? there are several reasons for this which include:

• Poor hygiene (main reason for UTI)
• old age (where the immune system becomes weak)
• being women
• hormonal imbalance (occur during pregnancy, periods, and menopause)
• living unhealthy lifestyle
• left treatment in b/w
• genes or family history
• any medical concern (diabetes, thyroid issue, etc.)
• not taking intercourse precautions

These reasons are one of the common reasons for UTI, so make sure to seek medical help, if you notice any discomfort and pain.

UTIs most occur in women due to the shorter path of the urethra, however, pregnancy, and menopause increase higher chance of it.

Poor hygiene is the most common reason, which triggers E.coli bacteria (the main reason for UTI) and is also allied with diarrhea.

Moreover, prevention is the best way to prevent illness and further complications before it becomes serious.

Reasons of UTI

There are several reasons for UTIs in individuals, and diagnosing properly helps in what reason behind your UTI, Here are the reasons such as:

E.coli Bacteria: The main reason for UTI is E.coli bacteria (live in the intestine) but when it comes in the urinary tract, it leads to UTI.

This bacteria is allied with constipation and diarrhea, In addition, it is a part of a healthy gut microbiome (4)

Poor Hygiene: It is the leading cause of UTI, where it is found that in most individuals poor hygiene is a common triggering factor of E.coli bacteria.

So make sure to maintain your overall hygiene, especially intimate hygiene (girls use wipe front to back method)

Ph also triggers STIs (sexually transmitted infections), where avoiding protection, and not urinating before and after intercourse.

Being Women: Women are more likely to get UTI because women have shorter urethra (allow bacteria to reach faster to the bladder)

Women during periods, pregnancy, and menopause have a higher chance of UTI, than normal women.

Medical Condition: Any medical condition that affects UTI, like diabetes, thyroid, urinary Incontinence (where a person can’t hold pee)

So consult your doctor, if you face or notice any discomfort in your private area, it may be an underlying medical condition (2)

Weak Immune System: Individuals who have already been hospitalized for a long time, are more likely to get UTI due to weak immunity.

Here are those individuals who have weak immunity:

• Cancer (especially those who go through chemotherapy)
• HIV/AIDS
• transplant patients
• patients with heavy doses of medication or steroids
• older patients (where their immune system is not able to fight with bacteria)
• patients with an autoimmune disorder like lupus
• malnutrition patients
• infants

These reasons are one of the common reasons that trigger the E.coli bacteria. So make sure to avoid those thing that trigger E.coli.

Signs and Symptoms of UTI

The symptoms of UTI depend on the individual and depend on age and gender, like women are more likely to get UTI.

New research found that some people may not see any UTI signs, this situation is called asymptomatic bacteriuria.

This bacteria is less harmful, but not seeing any sign can make UTI more serious in future.

Here are common signs of UTI include:

• Burning sensation during pee
• urine colour changes like red, dark yellow urine
• fever
• Unable to empty bladder
• frequent urge to empty bladder, but no urination
• Unable to hold urine
• foggy or cloudy in urine
• unpleasant smell
• pain in the kidney side or back pain

A study revealed in 2022 that the microbiome (a society of bacteria that live in the body) plays a vital role in the development of UTIs.

Learn more – Successful Ways to Prevent UTI Pre and Post Intercourse

So if you notice any discomfort then you should seek medical help, proper diagnosis and treatment help in it.

How Doctor Diagnose UTI?

The doctor first asks questions like have you had UTI in past, what signs and symptoms, physical exam, and many more things.

Urine and blood tests are the most common way to diagnose UTI and other urine infections (4)

If it does not occur in urine and blood tests, then the doctor may perform an ultrasound of the bladder, and kidney, to find any sign of UTI.

However, some new studies found on UTI diagnoses such as:

A 2022 study found that a rapid point-of-care test could be used to diagnose UTIs more easily, accurately, and quickly.

Another study in 2021 revealed that DNA tests can be used to diagnose UTI in women, which is considered more accurate than other diagnoses.

If you notice any pain or discomfort in your private area, then you should consult your doctor, proper diagnose and treatment help in it

Treatment of UTI

Antibiotics are a more common treatment for UTI, but some studies reveal that bacteria are now able to fight with antibiotics.

A 2021 research has shown that bacteria become more resistant to antibiotics (it’s hard to treat UTIs with antibiotics).

However, according to a 2021 study, a combination of antibiotics is effective against bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics.

If you facing pain or discomfort, then the doctor will suggest painkillers (avoid overdose), and drinking enough water.

Make sure to consult your doctor first, the doctor will perform a test and then suggest medicine according to how severe the case is.

Ways to Prevent UTI

There are several ways to prevent it, UTIs are the most common urinary tract infections, which mostly affect women.

Here are how can you prevent UTI in several ways:

• Maintain overall hygiene: It is one of the main reasons for triggering E. coli bacteria.
• Drink enough water throughout the day: which also prevents dehydration
• Empty your bladder: As adults, we know why it is vital, but children don’t know about it, so teach your children why it is vital.
• wipe from front to back: from your vagina and genitals to back to your anus, especially for girls.
• Keep your issue under control: If you have diabetes, then you should maintain your sugar level.

But in specific conditions like in children, pregnancy, adults, and menopause ways of preventing UTI become different like:

In children, and Babies

• Don’t give bubble baths to children (especially girls) because it allows bacteria to enter in urethra
• changing diapers frequently and underwear
• Avoid bathing in warm water for a long time, because it can create a bacterial atmosphere
• teach wipe from to back method (especially to girls)

During Pregnancy

• Maintain overall hygiene
• eat healthy and drink enough water
• Don’t hold urinate

In Older Adults

• Use a catheter (a device used to empty the bladder)
• consume Cranberry juice or supplement (help prevent UTI)
• Talk to your doctor
• Give priority to your intimate hygiene
• If you have diabetes manage it (because it can worsen the situation)

Before and after Intercourse

• Use high-quality protection
• empty bladder before and after intercourse
• Avoid products like gel, perfume, etc
• Use lubrication to prevent friction
• Use the wipe front-to-back method
• Get tested for STI, UTI and other intercourse disease
• Avoid intercourse with several partners

A new study published that protein (uromodulin – produced by the kidney) can help prevent UTI.

Vaccines are also available to prevent UTIs.

Another study in 2022 found that cranberry extract is able to prevent UTIs-causing bacteria (E. coli).

Down Line

UTI is a common infection that affects the kidney, bladder, urethra, and uterus, and it can be treated easily with new antibiotics.

Not maintaining overall hygiene is the main reason for triggering E. coli bacteria (also associated with constipation and diarrhea)

Prevention is the best way to prevent diseases before they become serious in future.

If you notice any discomfort, like a burning sensation during urination, or a urine colour change, then you should consult to doctor.