Urinary tract infection: know the symptoms and how to prevent it

Frequent urge to go to the bathroom, burning when urinating, change in the color of pee and pelvic pain. These are some of the main symptoms of urinary infection one of the most common in the general population.

According to the Brazilian Society of Nephrology, the condition mainly affects women, as they have a shorter urethra than men. However, the infection can also affect men and can cause more serious health complications if not treated properly.

Next, understand more about what a urinary infection is, its causes, symptoms and forms of treatment.

What is a urinary infection and what are the causes?

Urinary tract infection is technically called urinary tract infection and is characterized by the presence of infectious agents in the urine. Most of the time, it is caused by bacteria, especially Escherichia colibut may also be related to other microorganisms.

There are two types of urinary tract infections: cystitis which affects the lower urinary tract (bladder and urethra), and the pyelonephritis , which reaches the upper urinary tract (kidneys). The second type usually occurs after cystitis and can cause more serious symptoms and health complications, such as permanent kidney damage and generalized infection.

Main symptoms of urinary infection

You urinary tract infection symptoms may vary according to the location where the disease occurs. If it is in the lower urinary tract, it is common to feel:

• Pelvic pain;
• Discomfort in the lower part of the belly;
• Frequent and painful urination;
• Presence of blood in the urine;
• Burning when urinating.

When the infection reaches the kidneys, the following may also appear:

• Back pain, especially in the lower back;
• High fever (above 38 ºC);
• Chills;
• Nausea and vomiting.

How is diagnosis and treatment carried out?

According to the Brazilian Society of Nephrology, the diagnosis of cystitis can be made from the urine test, urine culture and antibiogram . These last two tests allow us to identify which specific bacteria caused the infection, which helps to define a more appropriate and effective treatment.

In the case of pyelonephritis, in addition to these tests, it may also be necessary to blood culture and imaging tests such as ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.

Treatment involves the use of antibiotics, such as trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole, phosphomycin, nitrofurantoin, cephalexin and ceftriaxone. In the case of kidney infection, other complementary treatments may be prescribed according to each case. Most of the time, when treated well, urinary tract infection symptoms disappear after a few days.

How to prevent a urinary infection?

To prevent urinary tract infections, some measures are interesting. This is the case of:

• Drink lots of water, as it helps dilute urine and eliminate bacteria from the urinary tract;
• Empty the bladder after sexual intercourse;
• Avoid intimate showers and the use of potentially irritating intimate products, such as intimate perfumes;
• Don't hold your pee for too long;
• Wash your hands well before and after using the bathroom;
• Perform correct hygiene after urinating and evacuating, avoiding passing the toilet paper backwards.