When you go to the bathroom, you don't usually think about urinary health, but if you get an infection, you probably can't think about anything else. Assuming that all subjects, both male and female, with a urinary tract infection need antibiotics, do not hesitate to get examined, undergo a urine culture and ask the doctor what medications you need to take. After that, you can use natural methods to relieve pain and prevent recurrence.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Follow the Medical Treatment
Step 1. Look out for pain when urinating or for changes in urine
When bacteria in the urethra and bladder cause an infection, you start to feel pain or have difficulty urinating. You may feel the need to urinate more often than usual, despite little or no coming out. Other symptoms of urinary tract infections include:
- Burning sensation when urinating;
- Pain in the abdomen;
- Dull or unusual colored (dark yellow or greenish) or foul-smelling urine;
- Feeling tired or unwell.
Step 2. Seek urgent medical attention if you have a kidney or prostate infection
If you have had symptoms of a urinary tract infection for several days or weeks and have not treated yourself, be aware that it could spread to the kidneys. If you are a man, there is a risk that it will even affect the prostate. If you experience the following symptoms (typical of a kidney or prostate infection), go to the emergency room or see your doctor immediately:
- Pain in the hips or lower back
- Fever or chills
- Nausea;
- He retched;
- Diarrhea;
- Pain when urinating.
Step 3. Get examined as soon as possible
See your doctor if you have symptoms of a urinary tract infection. He will evaluate your clinical history and ask you what the symptoms are. They may also order a urinalysis to look for the bacteria that caused it so that a diagnosis and treatment can be made.
- He may order a rectal exam if he thinks his prostate may also be infected.
- If you are a woman, she will probably recommend a gynecological examination, with related diagnostic tests in case of foul-smelling vaginal discharge. This way, he can rule out a cervical infection.
- If you have had several urinary tract infections or have a complicated infection, they may order a direct x-ray of the urinary tract to rule out kidney stones or blockages.
Step 4. Follow antibiotic therapy
Your doctor will prescribe a course of antibiotics to eliminate the bacteria that are causing the infection. Follow the dosage instructions and do not stop taking it even when your symptoms are in remission. It is important to take care of yourself properly to prevent the bacteria from returning.
- Ask your doctor about the side effects of the antibiotics he has prescribed for you and whether you should refrain from drinking alcohol during treatment.
- If you have suffered from vaginitis, ask him how you can prevent candidiasis by combining antibiotics with antifungal drugs.
Step 5. Call your doctor if you don't notice any improvement within two days
After a day or two of antibiotics, you should start to feel some relief. If not, contact your doctor. It may be that you make some changes to your therapy or that the infection was caused by some other pathogen that needs different treatment.
Part 2 of 3: Relieve the Discomfort
Step 1. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever for fever and pain
It is preferable to take a pain reliever for the first two days of treatment until the antibiotics begin to work. It will help you when urinating and relieve fever.
- Avoid ibuprofen or aspirin if you have a kidney infection, as it can cause complications.
- Do not take phenazopyridine without your doctor's advice. It is an over-the-counter oral drug formulated to treat urinary tract infections, but it may make the urine more colorful and invalidate diagnostic test results.
Step 2. Increase your fluid intake
Both during a urinary tract infection and after, you need plenty of fluids to eradicate it and keep yourself hydrated. So, drink at least 6-8 8-ounce glasses of water per day. You can consume them in the form of plain water or with a little lemon, herbal tea or decaffeinated tea.
- While cranberry juice has always been thought to cure or prevent urinary tract infections, research has shown it to be ineffective and there is little evidence to support it as a great prevention method.
- Avoid alcohol, sugary drinks, and caffeine, as they can irritate the bladder.
Step 3. Use a heating pad on your pelvic area
Place a compress or hot water bottle on your lower abdomen, back, or between your thighs. Warmth can relieve pain.
Step 4. Go to the bathroom when you need to
Avoid holding urine even if you feel pain when urinating. By expelling it whenever you need it, you will favor the elimination of bacteria from the urinary tract. Also, by drinking a lot, you can dilute it and soothe the itchiness you feel while emptying your bladder.
Step 5. Take a warm bath with vinegar or baking soda
Fill the tub with warm water and pour in 60ml of white vinegar or 60g of baking soda (if you haven't reached puberty). These two substances are able to relieve pain and eliminate the germs found at the entrance to the urinary tract.
If you don't have a bathtub, you can fill the bidet. Pour the vinegar or baking soda on the bottom, turn on the tap and sit on it. Keep in mind that in this case you only need a few tablespoons of vinegar or baking soda
Part 3 of 3: Preventing Relapses
Step 1. Urinate frequently to prevent a bladder infection
Make sure you drink enough so that you go to the bathroom often, and avoid holding back. Urinating will eliminate germs from the urinary tract, accelerating healing times, and will prevent bladder infections from developing.
When you're done, lean forward slightly to make sure you've emptied yourself completely
Step 2. Go to the bathroom after sex
Since germs can enter the urinary tract during sexual intercourse, it is important to empty your bladder once you have finished. Don't lie on your bed waiting to be released, or the bacteria will be more likely to make its way up the urinary tract.
Step 3. Take a shower instead of a bath
If you wash the tub water dirty, there is a risk that bacteria will enter the urinary tract if you remain seated. You should also avoid keeping your swimsuit wet or spending too much time in the hot tub. When showering, avoid using soaps, cleansers, sprays, or douches that contain perfumes.
Also, you should avoid using scented personal care products as they can irritate the urinary tract
Step 4. Clean yourself starting from the front and working your way to the back after you have been to the bathroom
Avoid using the same toilet paper in the front area. Rather, dry yourself so that you don't bring germs from the anus to the opening of the urethra. Throw away the toilet paper after each wipe. Remember to wash your hands to prevent any urinary tract infections and not spread other diseases.
If you get your hands dirty with faecal material, wash them before continuing to clean (the bacterium "E. coli", present in the faeces, is the pathogen responsible for urinary infections in 80/95% of cases)
Step 5. Put on cotton underwear
To keep the genital area dry, wear cotton underwear so that moisture doesn't get trapped. Choose comfortable clothes that don't rub against your genitals. For example, choose a pair of boxers instead of briefs.
It is important to change your underwear every day to prevent germs from reaching the urinary tract
Step 6. Drink 250ml of cranberry juice 3 times a day
Consumed regularly, it helps prevent urinary tract infections in more prone women. You can also take blueberry in the form of 400 mg tablets once a day.
