Urinary tract infections (UTIs) occur more often in women than in men, at a ratio of 8:1. Approximately 50–60% of women report at least one UTI in their lifetime, and one in three will have at least one symptomatic UTI necessitating antibiotic treatment by the age of 24.
Normally, the urinary tract is sterile, but bacteria may rise from the perianal region, possibly leading to UTI. Pathogens in the bladder may stay silent or can cause irritative symptoms like :
- Urinary frequency and urgency and 8% of women may have a symptomatic bacteriuria.
If bacteria enter the bloodstream, they could cause severe complications, including :
- Septicaemia
- Shock
- Death
The definition of recurrent urinary tract infection (RUTI) is three UTIs with three positive urine cultures during a 12-month period, or two infections during the UTIs are classified into 6 categories.
| No. of Categories | Infection Status | Description |
| 1.The first category | Uncomplicated | This is when the urinary tract is normal, both structurally and physiologically, and there is no associated disorder that impairs the host defences mechanisms. |
| 2. The second category | Complicated | This is when infection occurs within an abnormal urinary tract, such as when there is ureteric obstruction, renal calculi, or vesicoureteral reflux. |
| 3. The third category | Isolated | When it is the first episode of UTI, or the episodes are 6 months apart. Isolated infections affect 25–40% of young females.
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| 4. The fourth category | Unresolved | When therapy fails because of bacterial resistance or due to infection by two different bacteria with equally limited susceptibilities.
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| 5. The fifth category | Reinfection | Occurs where there has been no growth after a treated infection, but then the same organism regrows two weeks after therapy, or when a different microorganism grows during any period of time. This accounts for 95% of RUTIs in women. Bacterial persistence happens when therapy is impaired by the accumulation of bacteria in a location that cannot be reached by antibiotics, such as infected stones, urethral diverticula and infected paraurethral glands. |
| 6. The sixth category | Relapse | When the same microorganism causes a UTI within two weeks of therapy; however, it is usually difficult to distinguish a reinfection from a relapse previous 6 months. |
The incidence of UTI increases with age and sexual activity. Post-menopausal women have higher rates of UTIs because of pelvic prolapse, lack of oestrogen, loss of lactobacilli in the vaginal flora, increased periurethral colonization by Escherichia coli (E. coli), and a higher incidence of medical illnesses such as:
- Diabetes mellitus
- Dysuria
- Urinary frequency
- Urgency
- Suprapubic pain
- Possible haematuria
- Systemic symptoms are usually slight or absent
- The urine may have an unpleasant odour and appear cloudy
Diagnosis:
It depends on the characteristic of clinical features, past history, three positive urinary cultures within the previous 12-month period in symptomatic patients and the presence of neutrophils.
Irritative voiding symptoms are present in 25–30 % of women with RUTIs.
Women with RUTIs should have an initial evaluation including a history-taking and a physical and pelvic examination; is important to detect pelvic organ prolapse and to assess the status of the vaginal epithelium
Treatment:
1.Patients should be advised and encouraged to drink plenty of fluids (two to three litres per day) and to urinate frequently to help flush bacteria from the bladder.
Holding urine for a long time allows bacteria to multiply within the urinary tract, resulting in cystitis.
2.Preventive measures related to sexual intercourse may reduce the recurrence rate. Moreover, women are encouraged to clean the genital areas before and after sex and to wipe from front to back, which will reduce the spread of E. coli from perianal area.
3.Avoiding multiple sexual partners will reduce the risk of both UTIs and sexually transmitted infections.
4.Women are encouraged to avoid spermicidal contraceptives, diaphragms and vaginal douching, which may irritate the vagina and urethra and facilitate the entry and colonization of bacteria within the urinary tract.
5.Skin allergens introduced to the genital area, such as bubble bath liquids, bath oils, vaginal creams and lotions, deodorant sprays or soaps are better to avoid.
Role of Homeopathy: In many cases, After taking recurrent antibiotic therapy, there is still recurrent UTI present.
In such cases, Homeopathy would be the best first choice of treatment.
Initially if homeopathy is in the course, then it helps to stop the recurrence of infection. It works on immunity and heals the complaints by its roots.
Also, Homeopathy is completely safe medicines so that patients can take hassle free during the entire course of treatment.
To book your appointment with Mindwell Homeopathy reach out us at www.mindwell.co.in or contact no.: 0819904411/9819901406
