In our lifetime we surely come across lots of occasions when we need to take a break & think about whether we are treating our body well. A healthy mind & a healthy body give us the feeling of well being. Even slightest disturbance in our day to day routine causes us to become unsettled & apprehensive. A very commonly heard expression of discomfort we often hear is Urinary Infection. This actually indicates an infection of the Urinary Tract which includes the kidneys, the ureters & the urinary bladder.
A UTI as it is commonly referred to is an infection in the urinary tract. Infections are caused by microbes—organisms too small to be seen without a microscope—including fungi, viruses, and bacteria. An infection in the urethra is called urethritis. A bladder infection is called cystitis. Bacteria may travel up the ureters to multiply and infect the kidneys. A kidney infection is called pyelonephritis.
Kidney stones may contain various combinations of chemicals. The most common type of stone contains calcium in combination with either oxalate or phosphate. These chemicals are part of a person’s normal diet and make up important parts of the body, such as bones and muscles.
When the stone sits in the kidney, it rarely causes problems, but when it falls into the ureter, it acts like a dam. As the kidney continues to function and make urine, pressure builds up behind the stone and causes the kidney to swell. This pressure is what causes the pain of a kidney stone, but it also helps push the stone along the course of the ureter. When the stone enters the bladder, the obstruction in the ureter is relieved and the symptoms of a kidney stone are resolved.
Normally, bacteria that enter the urinary tract are rapidly removed by the body before they cause symptoms. However, sometimes bacteria overcome the body’s natural defenses and cause infection.
Most UTIs are caused by bacteria that live in the bowel. The bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli) causes the vast majority of UTIs.
UTI’s occur more in females than males the risk factors being their anatomical structure & childbirth. In young sexually active women, sexual activity is the cause of 75–90% of bladder infections, with the risk of infection related to the frequency of sex.
Infection occurs easily from public toilets and urinals too especially when the person is already in a phase where he or she is susceptible to infections & their immune system is compromised.
Persons suffering from conditions requiring frequent catheterization are also more susceptible to repeated infections.
A predisposition of bladder infections sometimes runs in the family & diabetics are also at a high risk of getting the infection.
Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms of UTI vary with age, gender & overall condition of the patient.
Small or very young children present with fever, loss of appetite & urine incontinence. Slightly older children complain of pain after urination. In severe cases vomiting is associated with fever.
In adults the most common symptom is burning & pain with urination & an increased frequency & urge to pass urine with only a small amount of urine passing everytime. Fever associated with the burning in urine & pain in pelvis & lower back & general muscle or body ache are also common indications of infection.
In upper urinary tract infection the patient presents with vomiting along with other symptoms & urine smells foul, appears dark in color or turbid because of bacteria, pus & blood present in it.
In elderly people the symptoms are very vague & may present with incontinence, fatigue & a change in the mental state of the person.
A laboratory examination of urine mostly confirms the diagnosis.
Homeopathic treatment of UTI
Homeopathic remedies are a much quicker & safer alternative than strong antibiotics for immediate relief in urine infections.
Often a patient enters the clinic with severe symptoms & proper dosage with frequent repetitions can relieve them from the agony within a short time.
Arsenic alb, Cantharis, Apis are few of the well indicated remedies which are often administered for UTI’s & amp; have proven to be highly suitable as well as beneficial for the patients if given under the guidance of an experienced homeopath.
Certain polycrest medicines remove the tendencies in a patient to get repeated infections if prescribed after complete case taking & repertorization of the case.
Self Care Measures
Drinking plenty of water helps in removing the toxins from the body.
Taking fluids like cranberry juice & coconut water is also highly beneficial.
Taking care of personal hygiene.
Avoiding dirty public urinals & toilets.
Making sure that natural urge to empty the bladder is taken care of in good time & not resisted.
