Protecting Yourself From A UTI: What Every Woman Can Do CLICK HERE ! |
Diagnosing Your UTI What Your Doctor Must Do |
Protecting Yourself From A UTI: What Every Woman Can Do CLICK HERE ! |
Your health care professional will determine whether you have a urinary tract infection based on your symptoms, a physical examination and the result of a laboratory test of your urine. You will be asked to urinate into a small cup. The urine will be examined under a microscope for bacteria and for a large amount of white blood cells, which fight infection. A urine culture may be done in which the bacteria in the urine are encouraged to grow. The bacteria can then be identified and may be tested to see which antibiotic drug best kills them. If you are having recurrent symptoms of infections despite treatment, it is important that your urine be cultured BEFORE you are placed on antibiotics. Repeated treatment of presumed infections without urine culture should be avoided. Some bacteria, such as Chlamydia, can only be found with special urine cultures. A health care professional may suspect these infections when a woman has urinary tract infection symptoms, but a standard culture doesn't grow the bacteria. If you have recurring urinary tract infections, your health care professional may suggest other tests to look for obstructions or other problems that might trap urine in the tract and cause infection: Intravenous pyelography (IVP) is a test in which a dye that is visible on an x-ray is injected into a vein. As the dye enters the kidneys, ureters and bladder, several x-rays are taken. A computed tomography scan (CT scan), a type of x-ray test used to capture images of different structures in the body, may be appropriate in some patients instead of, or in addition to, an IVP. Ultrasound uses sound waves to produce images of the urinary tract. No radiation is involved in this test. Cystoscopy is a test using a thin telescope-like instrument that allows your health care professional to see inside the urethra and bladder and examine them for problems. Treatment: What Can Help Urinary tract infections are treated with medications that kill the bacteria causing the infection. Your health care professional will determine which medication to prescribe, and how you should take it, based on your medical history and condition and the results of the urine tests. Many medications can have side effects, so talk to your health care professional about what to expect when taking the drug. Also, medications can interact with other prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs, so make sure you discuss what drugs you are taking with your health care professional. The antibiotics most often used to treat urinary tract infection are pills typically taken for three days, and sometimes as long as 10 days, depending on the drug: trimethoprim (Trimpex) trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra, Cotrim) amoxicillin (Amoxil, Trimox, Wymox) nitrofurantoin (Macrodantin, Furadantin) ampicillin ciprofloxacin (Cipro) ofloxacin (Floxin) norfloxacin (Noroxin) Levaquin (levofloxacin) Urinary tract infections caused by microorganisms, such as Chlamydia, may be treated with the antibiotics azithromycin, tetracycline or doxycycline. Although your symptoms may be relieved in a day or two after starting the medication, you must take all the medication your health care professional prescribes. Otherwise, the infection may persist and the symptoms can return. If you are menopausal, you may experience more frequent urinary tract infections because thinning of the vagina and urethra following menopause may make these areas less resistant to bacteria. Hormone replacement (either systemic or vaginal) may help. Discuss this treatment option with your health care professional. Severe kidney infections may require hospitalization and treatment with intravenous antibiotics, especially if nausea, vomiting and fever increase the risk of dehydration and prevent the ability to swallow pills. Kidney infections can require two to six weeks of antibiotic therapy. In addition to taking your medication, your health care professional may recommend drinking plenty of fluid (the equivalent of six to eight, 8-ounce glasses a day) to help flush the urinary tract, and to avoid foods and beverages that can irritate the urinary tract, such as coffee and alcohol. A heating pad may also help to temporarily relieve pain. After you've completed your course of medication, your health care professional also may suggest a follow-up urine test From Women's Health Resource Center |
Intimate Health Care For Women |
