Show I MEDICALLY J fr r SPEAKING By Dy Dr David Evans f Vernal Family Health Center 5 URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS How common are urinary tract infections and what causes them r Urinary tract infections are Hess Bess common in young people wand rand more common in girls than boys boys Urinary tract infections increase with age particularly rin an tn women As many as 10 percent of elderly women may have bacteria in their urine The presence of bacteria in the urine or tissues of the urinary tract are considered a urinary tract infection What are the symptoms of a urinary tract infection When the symptoms of a urinary tract infection occur they may vary according to the location of the infection For instance infections involving the bladder or urethra lower urinary tract usually cause frequency of urination painful urination foul odor of the urine pain across the lower abdomen and cloudy or bloody urine Symptoms involving the kidney upper urinary can be quite different They include fever feyer chills lower abdominal pain and back pain in the vicinity of the kidney It is important to remember if you have a urinary tract infection you may mayor or may not have all of these symptoms n fI CLAY PICTURES Sometimes there is infection without any pain frequency of urination or other discomfort These symptoms are often not sufficient to make a diagnosis They are nonspecific and can be due to other causes Therefore if you suspect you have a urinary tract Infection you should consult your physician Why should urinary infections be treated Many urinary tract infections involve the kidneys If U this infection is not treated it can destroy or damage the kidney How are urinary tract infections infections in in- treated They respond very readily to antibiotics and or antibacterial drugs which act specifically on the bacteria present in the urinary tract How does a person know when the the infection has been adequately treated Although symptoms usually disappear readily with treatment treatment treatment treat treat- ment often olten in less than 48 hours it Is necessary to continue continue continue con con- treatment for a longer period of time usually 10 30 days to 2 weeks If treatment is discontinued too soon the infection infection infection in in- may be merely temporarily temporarily tem tern suppressed It will likely flare up again and perhaps become more resistant to treatment the sec second nd time Urinary tract infections can usually be treated effectively by 1 Taking the medicine as the doctor has prescribed it 2 Drinking adequate amounts of water which fl flush sli the bacteria from the urinary tract 3 Checking back with your physician as he feels necessary to determine if the infection has been resolved Dr Evans will answer questions of general interest through this column If you have any questions or or orom com comments om ments send please send them to the Vernal |