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.
Causes of Urinary Tract Infections
- 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.