A urinary tract infection, or UTI, occurs when bacteria enter the urinary tract and cause inflammation. The urinary tract consists of your kidneys, the tubes that go from the kidneys to your bladder, and the tube that carries urine to the outside when you urinate. Urine inside the urinary tract is normally sterile, but if any bacteria get in, it can cause an infection.
UTIs are the second most common type of infection that people get, accounting for 8.3 million doctor visits every year in the United States. When a UTI occurs more than twice in six months, it is considered to be a recurrent urinary infection. About one in five women will get a recurrent UTI, and women who have more than three UTIs are more likely to continue having them.
CAUSES
The causes of recurrent UTI are Diabetes, Sexual intercourse (honeymoon cystitis). Atrophic urethritis and vaginitis (postmenopausal), Incomplete bladder emptying (dysfunctional urination) and Contraception – diaphragm, spermicide-coated condoms is also a predisposing factor. The bacteria Escherichia coli almost always cause infections of the bladder, or cystitis.
SYMPTOMS:
URINARY TRACT INFECTION
Frequent urination
Bloody or dark urine
A burning sensation while urinating
Pain in your kidneys, which means in your lower back or below the ribs
Pain in your bladder region
Nausea
Vomiting
Chills with high fever (over 101°f)
Fatigue
Mental disorientation
Diagnosis made by MSU culture, urine microscopy done for conformation.
HOMOEOPATHIC APPROACH IN UTI
Cantharis
When there is a persistent and frequent urge to urinate. Every now and then, one feels the urge to pass urine. When one goes to pass urine, the quantity of urine may be little. But after a little time, the urge occurs again. There is intense burning and cutting during urination. There may be pain after passing a few drops of urine. The burning is so intense that the urine seems to scald him. The urine may even be bloody. Urine may pass only drop by drop. There may be pain in the back also. There may be cutting pain before, during and after urination.
Apis
When there is burning at the end of urination. The urine may be scanty. Despite urine being scanty, there is frequent urge to urinate. The urine is high coloured and muddy. Another characteristic symptom pointing to this medicine is thirstlesness. The patient hardly seems to have any thirst. There may be some dropsical swellings around the eyes. The patient is worse in heat and hot weather. Cold weather and cold applications seem to relieve the patient.
Staphysagria
When UTI occurs in newly married men or women as a result of sexual activity. It is often known as Honeymoon cystitis. There is ineffectual urge to urinate. This can be extended to women who have UTI after intercourse, even when they are not newly married. This medicine is also good for bedridden patients. There is a sensation as if a drop of urine is rolling down the urethra. This feeling is constantly present. Burning in urethra while urinating is also present. There is pressure on the bladder and it feels as if it has not been emptied. Staphysagria is also good for urinary tract infections or UTI when it occurs due to prostatic enlargements.
Sarsaparilla
When there is pain in the urinary bladder region or the lower abdomen and it extends to the back. The pain is more in the right kidney region. The urine is sandy. There is sediment in the urine. At times urine may be bloody. It is also a very good medicine for UTI in infants.
Benzoic Acid
When there is a very strong smell in the urine. The strong smell is as if that of from horse’s urine. It is repulsive and one cannot stand the strong smell. Another strong symptom that indicates this medicine is intense pain in urethra when not urinating. The pain occurs when the patient is not urinating but does not occur while he is passing urine.