Urinary infections, HELP!!!?

Question

My sister is always getting urinary infections, and from different bacteria types(so its not the same that come back). The maximum time without infections is one month, and that is after treatment with antibiotics. She went to an Urologist and the ultrasounds and all the other exams are ok. She is very clean and a virgin. We don’t know what is happening!!! Can someone help???

Answer 1

Cystitis is an infection of the urine, which causes the bladder lining to become inflamed. It is the most common urinary tract infection (UTI), particularly in women.

The bladder is a muscular bag that stores urine from the kidneys. Urine leaves the body via a tube called the urethra. Cystitis occurs when bacteria travel up the urethra, infect the urine and inflame the bladder lining. Most women will experience cystitis at least once in their lives. While it is painful and annoying, it isn’t dangerous or contagious and the infection can’t be passed on to the partner through sex.

If left untreated, the infection can ‘backtrack’ deeper into the urinary system and reach the kidneys. A kidney infection is serious and needs prompt medical attention as it can cause kidney damage or even kidney failure.

Painful urination
Cystitis can be mild to severe. The symptoms include:

Frequent urge to urinate, if only to pass a few drops
Burning pain or a ‘scalding’ sensation on urination
Strong smelling urine
Cloudy or bloody urine
Lower abdominal pain.
The E. coli bacteria
The commonest bug or bacteria causing urinary tract infection is Escherichia coli (E. coli). This bacteria is often found when the urine is examined under a microscope, this test is called a micro and culture (M&C) of urine. E. coli is commonly found in the digestive tract and bowel. Under normal conditions it is harmless. However, E. coli thrives in the acidic environment of the bladder, where it multiplies and inflames the bladder lining.

Women are more susceptible
Women in their late teens and older are most susceptible to cystitis, especially if they are sexually active. The female urethra is only 4cm long, which gives bacteria easy access to the bladder. Female sex hormones influence the vaginal secretions that affect the ability of bacteria to survive, this makes a woman more susceptible to infection during certain times including:
Certain stages of the menstrual cycle
During pregnancy
During menopause
After a total hysterectomy.
Men and the elderly
Men tend to get cystitis later in life and trouble with urine flow may indicate problems with the prostate gland. Cystitis is common in elderly people, particularly if they are unwell. Bladder catheters and some urinary tract operations may also increase the risk of cystitis.

Children
Cystitis in a child always needs to be investigated because it may indicate a more serious condition such as vesico-ureteric reflux. This is a bladder valve abnormality, which allows urine to flow back towards the kidneys.

Dealing with an attack
The earliest symptom of cystitis is usually a faint prickling feeling on passing urine. It is possible to get rid of mild cystitis, if you take action immediately. Some suggestions include:
Drink plenty of liquids.
Take a commercial urinary alkaliser or one teaspoon of baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) in water.
Seek medical advice
Medical advice needs to be obtained promptly if self help treatments aren’t working. The doctor usually tests the urine to check which micro-organism is present. It is important to see a doctor if a kidney infection or kidney stones are suspected because lasting damage or even kidney failure can occur if these conditions are left untreated.

Long term prevention
In some women, one bout of cystitis allows the urinary system to build up a type of immunity and further bouts are rare. For other women, cystitis can occur quite regularly. Although not always backed up by research, some women have found the following suggestions useful:
Go to the toilet to pass urine as soon as you feel the urge, rather than holding on.
Drink plenty of water every day to flush the urinary system.
After a bowel motion, wipe yourself from front to back (urethra to anus).
Wash your genitals before sex and encourage your partner to do the same.
Urinate after sex.
Wear cotton rather than nylon underwear.
Avoid wearing nylon pantyhose, tight pants or tight jeans.
Don’t use perfumed soaps, talcum powder or any type of deodorant around the genitals.
Avoid bubble baths.
Treat vaginal infections such as thrush or trichomoniasis promptly, since these organisms can encourage cystitis.
Small studies have suggested that there may be some benefit in drinking cranberry juice to prevent recurrent urinary tract infections. Cranberry juice appears to lower the ability of E. coli to stick to the urinary tract lining cells. However, further studies are needed before this approach can be strongly recommended.

Regular and severe attacks
Sometimes self-help treatments don’t work and medical assessment and investigation is needed. Cystitis can be treated with a course or courses of antibiotics. Regular and severe attacks of cystitis should be investigated, because an underlying disorder - such as kidney stones - may be the trigger.

Where to get help
Your doctor
Your chemist
Things to remember
Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder caused by the bacterium E. coli.
Treatment includes drinking plenty of water, taking urinary alkalisers and antibiotics.
Regular and severe attacks should be investigated and treated by your doctor.
A kidney infection is serious and needs prompt medical attention.

Answer 2

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection that begins in your urinary system. UTIs limited to your bladder can be painful and annoying. But serious consequences can occur if the infection spreads to your kidneys. Women are most at risk of developing a UTI. In fact, half of all women will develop a UTI during their lifetimes, and many will experience more than one. The urinary system is composed of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. All play a role in removing waste from your body. The kidneys, a pair of bean-shaped organs in your upper posterior abdomen, filter waste from your blood. Tubes called ureters carry urine from your kidneys to your bladder, where it is stored until it exits the body through the urethra. All of these components can become infected, but most infections involve the lower tract — the urethra and the bladder. Antibiotics are the typical treatment for urinary tract infections. But you can take steps to reduce your chance a getting a UTI in the first place.

Answer 3

Some women have a tendancy to get them and it's difficult to say definitely why, but here are some things she can do:

* avoid refined sugars, which feed bacteria
* remember when toileting to wipe from front to back
* avoid sitting in bath water for long periods of time

I will say that if my brother posted that I was having UTIs on here, I'd die of embarrassment. LOL!! No, really you're sweet to help.

Answer 4

I get them too I am a health nut. Eat yogurt every day and drink blueberry or cradberry juice very day.
I am a health nut too.
I wown 4 books on the subject it is a pain.
Sometimes your body is immune to the antibiotics.
Drink when you wake up 2 glass of water that will help.
8-10 glass of water or green tea a day like me

Answer 5

Tell her to drink cranberry juice at least 24 oz a day. Also tell her to ttake a tablespoon of vinegar in the morning when she wakes up and after she pees her morning pee. That should ward them off. If not I don't know what to tell you. Good luck bro

Answer 6

wife had this problem and an old doctor to her to start drinking more water. also have her drink cranberry juice or a mix of cranberry juice and other juices if the cranberry juice is too tart.