Disorder of the female reproductive system can be minor or serious but are usually anxiety producing and often distressing. Some disorders are self-limited and cause only minor inconvenience to women; others are life threatening and require immediate attention and long-term therapy. Some examples of disorders are Urinary tract infection (UTI), vaginitis, urethritis, and the like. Though we can say it as a vaginal bacterial infection, we can also say it as a urinary infection which is the term commonly used in the medical field.
Some of the Causes of Vaginal Bacterial Infection
There are lots of causes of this type of infection, it could be a hygienic problem, the usage of chemical substances like commercial products etc., some are sexually transmitted and there are others also. Yeast/fungi/ candidiasis can be also a cause of UTI, because yeast is one of the best places were bacteria can live freely & can grow faster, especially if the sufferer has a lesion in the vagina. This is partly because yeast can live in both warm and cold temperatures.
Urinary Tract Infections are caused by pathogenic microorganisms in the urinary tract. UTI is classified into 2 categories which are Lower Urinary Tract Infection and Upper Urinary Tract Infection. Upper UTI is much less common and includes acute or chronic renal abscesses etc. while the Lower UTI includes bacterial cystitis (inflammation of the urinary bladder), bacterial prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate gland) to name but a few.
Most Common Symptoms of Infection
A variety of symptoms are associated with UTI. Signs & symptoms could be dysuria (pain upon urinating), burning sensation, nocturia (urinating at night), incontinence, pelvic pain, rashes on the affected part, and frequency (urinating frequently in 3 hours). UTI can (in extreme cases) be life threatening if not be treated early. Common risk factors include obstructed urinary flow, inflammation of the vaginal area, poor hygiene, instruments used in the vagina like urinary catheter, and immunosuppression.
Preventing UTI is important! Always maintain a good standard of hygiene, ensure early detection of the problem (visit your doctor as soon as symptoms appear), and have regular health check-ups. The rule of thumb is – If you are unsure, ask your doctor.
Cure & Treatment of UTI
The ideal medication for treatment of UTI is an antibacterial agent that eradicates bacteria from the urinary tract infection with minimal effects on fecal and vaginal flora, therefore minimizing the incidence of vaginal yeast infection (or vaginitis). Yeast vaginitis often causes more symptoms and is more difficult and costly to treat than the original UTI. Most common drugs of choice in this kind of infection are cephalosporin or an ampicillin/ aminoglycoside combination, levofloxacin (levaquin).
Other commonly used medications include trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and nitrofurantoin (macrodantin, furadantin). Regardless of the drugs prescribed, the patient should always complete the course prescribed, even if relief of symptoms occurs before that time. Longer medication courses are generally prescribed for men, pregnant women, and women with pyelonephritis and other types of complicated UTI’s.