What are urinary tract infections?
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are infections in the bladder or kidney. It occurs when bacteria make their way through the urethra (urinary tube) and into the bladder. When the bacteria multiply, the urine becomes more acidic, causing discomfort when passing urine.
UTI more commonly affects the lower urinary tract. If the infection travels higher up the urinary system and into the kidneys, kidney infection can occur. Kidney infection is more worrying as delayed treatment may lead to serious complications such as kidney injury, pus collection in or around the kidneys, bacteria entering the bloodstream or infection affecting other organs.
Prompt treatment of UTI is important to prevent any irreversible kidney damage, especially in children. Early diagnosis in children can also identify any underlying abnormal function or deformity in the urinary system.
What are the symptoms?
Common symptoms of UTI in adults include pain or burning sensation when passing urine, a frequent and strong urge to urinate, lower abdominal discomfort and blood in the urine. For UTIs that affect the kidney, symptoms such as fever, back pain, nausea, or vomiting can occur.
Older children often have the same symptoms as adults, and they could also develop new onset bedwetting or daytime wetting. Babies and very young children are unable to report symptoms such as urinary discomfort. They usually have non-specific symptoms such as fever, vomiting or irritability.
What are the risk factors?
UTIs can happen to anyone and at any age, but is more common in women than in men due to the shorter urinary passage.
Some of the risk factors of UTI in women include sexual intercourse, spermicide use, having a new sexual partner, history of UTI before the age of 15, prior child birth, urinary incontinence, urinary catheterisation, immobility, anatomical abnormalities in the urinary system, and other factors that affect the emptying of the bladder.
In children, the risk factors include young age (boys younger than 1 year old and girls younger than 4 years old), being uncircumcised, constipation, abnormality in the urinary tract, and previous UTI.
How is UTI diagnosed and what is the treatment?
UTI is diagnosed based on its symptoms and urine tests. For bladder infection, it can be treated with a course of oral antibiotics. UTI that affects the kidneys usually warrants an admission to the hospital for intravenous antibiotics, and treatment can last up to two weeks. Babies who are younger than six months of age are usually treated in hospital with intravenous antibiotics.
Typically, UTI symptoms resolve within a few days of starting appropriate antibiotics. It is still important to complete the prescribed course of antibiotics to eliminate the infection completely and prevent resistance. If symptoms persist despite three days of antibiotics, or fever or back pain develop during the infection, it is important to see your doctor again for further evaluation and management.
How can we help at Oaklife Family Clinic?
Our doctors are able to make the diagnosis of UTI and rule out other conditions that may present with similar symptoms. We are able to perform rapid urine tests to clinch the diagnosis, or send the urine sample to a lab for urine culture to see what bacteria grows.
We are able to treat both adults and children with UTI, and will refer for further investigations if necessary. For cases of recurrent UTI, we will discuss preventive measures and prescribe medications as appropriate.
Written by Dr Jacquelyn Melody on 21 July 2023
References
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/urinary-tract-infections-in-adults-the-basics?topicRef=1171&source=see_link
Disclaimer: this article is written for educational purposes and does not substitute for medical diagnosis and treatment.