Infection of the urinary tract in men? It occurs. The following are 10 things to know: So, exactly what is a UTI?
An abbreviation for urinary tract infection is UTI. It's an infection of the organs in your body that take your urine out of your system and into the urinal. I call them pipes. Bacteria that get into the urethra, prostate, bladder, or kidneys are the most common cause of UTIs.
2. What distinguishes men and women with UTIs?
UTIs are diagnosed in far more women than men. We believe
that women have a shorter urethra—the tube that connects the bladder to the
outside world—than men do. Because it is shorter, bacteria can get to the
urinary system more easily. Because men have longer urethras, they are more
resistant to urinary tract infections.
However, the length of the urethra alone cannot protect men
from UTIs; 12% of men will experience UTI-related urinary symptoms in their
lifetimes. This does not imply that the penis or urethra are short or small.
Beyond the length of the urethra, there is typically a more obvious pathologic
cause of the infection in men.
3. What factors make certain men more susceptible to UTIs?
A man may contract a UTI for a variety of reasons, all of
which we take seriously and should not be ignored.
Men more established than 50 will generally get a larger
number of contaminations than more youthful men. As a urologist, I see men with
enlarged prostates who fail to empty their bladders properly, resulting in
recurrent infections. If a man has nerve damage from a stroke, uncontrolled
diabetes, or an injury to the spine, he may not be able to empty his bladder
beyond the prostate. Infections that begin in the prostate or testicles and
spread to the bladder can also affect men, as can infections that spread from
the bladder to other organs. An infection can also be brought on by kidney
stones. This is something I know personally because I have a kidney stone!)
Sexually transmitted diseases can also cause urinary
infections in younger men. A recent urinary system procedure can also result in
an infection in men.
4. What are the symptoms of a urinary tract infection?
Dysuria, burning sensation when urinating, increased
frequency of urination, urgency, incontinence, foul odor, blood in the urine,
fever, chills, and abdominal pain near the bladder Believe it or not, urine
cultures taken for other purposes may be used to diagnose a UTI in men who have
no symptoms.
5. How do UTIs get diagnosed?
Sending your urine for a culture helps determine if you have
a UTI. A sample of your urine is processed during this time and tested for
various bacterial strains. E. coli is the bacterium that is found most
frequently in urinary tract infections. The results of the culture can help
direct treatment, which typically consists of oral antibiotics. A urine
analysis, which can be performed quickly in our office, can indicate an
infection. However, a real culture is the best test.
Before beginning treatment, doctors do not wait for the
culture results, which can take anywhere from one to three days. An antibiotic
will be administered immediately if an infection is suspected, and the dosage
will be adjusted based on the results of the culture.
6. How does a UTI get treated?
Antibiotics administered intravenously or orally typically
treat UTIs. Oral antibiotics are effective against the majority of infections.
However, there are superbugs that may be resistant to oral antibiotics and
necessitate IV administration of stronger antibiotics. Treatments typically
last seven to ten days, but they can last longer.
Strong intravenous antibiotics are administered immediately
to control severe infections that have entered the bloodstream. In order to
begin these powerful treatments, patients are admitted to the hospital. If you
have an infection in your blood, you don't have to stay in the hospital for
weeks. You can continue these IV treatments from home as long as you are doing
well, with no fever, normal lab results, and a healthy heart and pulse. Your
condition is the focus of each treatment.
7. Can home remedies be used to treat UTIs?
My response as a physician is: No. Men shouldn't attempt to
treat contaminations all alone. Go to a doctor or the emergency room if you
experience symptoms.
8. How can they be avoided?
The best way to prevent something is to first make sure
there is nothing anatomically wrong that needs to be fixed, like a big
prostate, a kidney stone, or a blockage.
Infections can be avoided with proper hygiene. Men with
uncircumcised penises should check that they can properly clean under the
foreskin and the glans and retract the foreskin. It has been demonstrated that
cranberry supplements aid in infection prevention. Drinking enough fluids and
water throughout the day can also help you stay hydrated. It can also help to avoid
holding your urine. Infections can also be avoided by maintaining good health
to avoid chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease.
9. My illness is gone. What long-term effects will this have
on my body?
Your urethra could develop strictures, or tight scars, if
you suffer from recurrent infections that go untreated. These scars would slow
the flow of urine and make it difficult to empty your bladder. The bladder may
also lose its capacity to properly fill and empty due to infections. If you are
being treated with antibiotics on a regular basis, we may eventually run out of
antibiotics to give you because of resistance.
10. What should I do next after getting treated for my first
infection?
Antibiotic treatment should be the first priority.
After that, a comprehensive workup, including an examination
of the genitals, a detailed history, and an evaluation of any ongoing medical
conditions, we look for anatomical issues like a foreskin that won't retract
back. A CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis may be performed to check for kidney
stones, clogged tubes, and other abnormalities.
A cystoscopy, in which a camera is inserted inside a small
tube into the urethra to examine the inside of your urine channel, is probably
performed by a urologist. The cystoscopy is helpful in detecting bladder wall
changes, large obstructing prostates, and strictures. Once a cause is
identified, either medication or surgery are used to aggressively treat it.
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