Urinary Tract Inflammation – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment (2)

Urinary Tract Inflammation vs. Urinary Bladder Inflammation

Urinary tract inflammation is an umbrella term which covers the entire urinary tract, i.e., the urethra (urethritis), the urinary bladder (cystitis) and the kidneys (pyelonephritis). The most common problem, mainly suffered by women, is urinary bladder inflammation.

Infection most often emerges as an ascending infection – from the large intestine, through the perineum and into the urethra. Urinary tract inflammation in women begins with colonisation of the vaginal vestibule, and in men, the foreskin. The urethra, urinary bladder, and more rarely, the upper urinary tract, then become infected.

In simpler terms – urine works as a natural disinfectant which washes away the bacteria transferred from the skin and the anus, thus ridding the urinary tract of such bacteria. But the body not always succeeds in removing all the bacteria – these then proliferate, which results in inflammation.

Causes of Urinary Tract Inflammation

The infection is most often caused by gram-negative bacteria, primarily Escherichia coli. It may also be caused by gram-positive bacteria (genus Enterococcus and Staphylococcus saprophyticus).

The risk factors in the development of urinary tract infection include:

• Inadequate hygiene
• Frequent retention of urine
• Insufficient supply of fluids
• Gender – women suffer from urinary tract inflammation more frequently because their urethra is shorter
• Congenital abnormality of the urethra and bladder
• Diabetes – the urine of diabetics contains a large amount of sugar (glycosuria), which creates a favourable environment for bacteria
• Enlargement of the prostate gland in men
• Urinary stones
• Frequent change of sexual partners and unprotected sexual intercourse.

Pregnant women are very susceptible to urinary tract inflammation because the urinary bladder is compressed by the foetus and cannot empty itself correctly during pregnancy. Failure to begin treatment in time may even result in premature birth. Other risk factors include instrumental examination, urinary catheters and permanent urethral catheters.

Symptoms of Urinary Tract Inflammation

The main symptom of urinary tract inflammation is a burning and cutting sensation of pain during urination and the frequent urge to urinate. The urine stream is usually thread-like, the amount is small, and a feeling of incomplete evacuation prevails after urination. Pain also occurs in the abdomen, fatigue and sometimes even elevated temperature. Urine may be cloudy, coloured with blood and may emit a foul odour. In summary (depending on the stage of inflammation), symptoms include:

• Strong pain during urination
• Frequent need to urinate, even though only small amount of urine is produced
• Traces of blood in the urine
• Cloudy and smelly urine

In the advanced stage of inflammation, the symptoms include:

• Elevated body temperature;
• Shivering
• Discharge from the urethra
• Back pain

The symptoms of advanced stage of inflammation require medical attention – the infection has probably extended further and even reached the kidneys.

The presence of inflammation can also be identified with a home-administered test – however, a physician must always confirm the diagnosis. A physician will perform an examination which may include palpating the abdomen to check the tenderness of the inflammation area, a urine test involving a biochemical analysis, testing the urine’s condition with a strip of paper, checking for leucocytes or white blood cells (the cells of the immune system) and erythrocytes or red blood cells, whose presence in the urine confirm an infection. If the findings are inconclusive, this is followed by an examination which aims to identify the exact source of the inflammation (urine cultivation) and an imaging examination (an ultrasound or an X-ray scan of the urinary tract).

Treatment of Urinary Tract Inflammation

In the initial stage, home treatment using commonly available vitamins and medications is helpful. In an advanced stage, it is necessary to seek out assistance from a physician, who will usually prescribe antibiotics.

“Treating inflammation requires seeing a physician, following the doctor’s advice for rest, and ensuring a sufficient supply of fluids. After examination, a patient returns home with the first dose of antibiotics or chemical medicines, which should begin to work immediately on the source of inflammation (despite incomplete identification). Most physicians assume the most probable cause, which is a bacterial source. If the treatment does not work within three days, a physician will start a more specific treatment based on the results of urine cultivation to eliminate the infection. When antibiotics are prescribed, it is generally recommended that probiotics are used to correctly restore the intestinal microflora,” explains MUDr. Vladimír Lelek, a practitioner for adults and a physician of the Occupational Health Services at EUC PLS.

TIP: Read our article about how using probiotics correctly and choosing the most suitable forms.

Home Treatment of Urinary Tract Infection – Medicines and Herbs

At the first sign of infection, increased doses of vitamin C are recommended. This vitamin will acidify the urine and make the urinary bladder less “comfortable” for the bacteria. Cranberries help prevent inflammation, acidify the urine, and also prevent infectious bacteria from gaining a hold on the mucous membrane of the urinary tract. Regular and adequate hydration (approximately one glass of water per hour) is also recommended. This increases the flow of urine, which washes away harmful bacteria.

Commonly available medicines such as Apo-Cranberries with a high-quality cranberry extract, Urinal Akut with high concentration of Canadian cranberries, or Blokurima for the natural function of the urinary tract are also helpful.

Treatment is also supported by WOBENZYM with enzymes to assist the immune system and suppress inflammation. It is recommended as a prophylactic treatment for women who suffer from chronic recurring urinary tract inflammation. Terpenes such as ROWATINEX are also helpful and used to increase urine secretion, release urinary tract spasms, and improve blood supply to kidneys, etc.

Fruit and herbal extracts are also suitable – products with cranberry extract (see above), birch sap extract, or horsetail extract. Other suitable remedies include nasturtium, heather, chamomile extract, dead nettle extract and European goldenrod extract.

Chronic Urinary Bladder Inflammation

If inflammation occurs at least three times a year, it is a chronic disease. Long-term infection significantly decreases the bladder capacity, which, understandably, causes the need to urinate more frequently. In a more advanced stage of inflammation, kidney inflammation may also develop.

Urinary Tract Inflammation in Men

Men suffer from urinary tract inflammation less frequently than women because their urethra is longer and consequently bacteria must travel a longer distance before they can reach the bladder and begin proliferating there.

Urinary tract inflammation in men manifests in the same manner as in women, with the most frequent causes of inflammation being insufficient hydration, enlargement of the prostate gland, urinary stones, unprotected anal sex or the use of certain medicines.

Urinary Tract Inflammation in Children

It is dangerous to overlook the symptoms of urinary tract inflammation in children. Failure to begin treatment in time may result in chronic urinary tract inflammation and possibly kidney failure. In girls, neglecting this may even cause infertility at a later stage of their development.

If a child complains about obvious symptoms of urinary tract inflammation, do not delay and consult with a physician to start a suitable treatment.

Urinary Tract Inflammation from a Psychosomatic Perspective

Infection generally can be viewed as a materialised conflict. Problems with the urinary tract may often be rooted in problems in relationships or similar. Women are often affected by these situations for a much longer time because they tend to think about them consciously but may also stay with them subconsciously for a long time.

The urinary bladder (especially in women) can indicate that the person is clinging to something persistently and is obstinate, although he or she could have resolved the situation a long time ago. Therefore, from an emotional perspective, there is only a single solution – getting the cause of the (internal) conflict out in the open, talking about it.

Caution Pays Off

Urinary tract inflammation is a very unpleasant and painful disease of the urinary tract. In the initial stage, home treatment in the form of commonly available vitamins and medicines is suitable. However, if the symptoms persist, do not hesitate to see a physician, who will most likely prescribe antibiotics for you. Be cautious – untreated urinary tract infection can result in severe and irreversible renal impairment.