How To Get Rid of Urinary Tract Infection without antibiotics?
A urinary tract infection is one of the most common types of infection that can that can affect any part of the urinary system such as the kidneys, the urinary bladder or the urethra. As per the statistics, around 65% of the patients that suffer from UTI are women, but men and children might also get affected.
Most of the cases of UTI are acute and short-term. However, some of them may lead to complications such as kidney dysfunction, pregnancy-related complications or even sepsis, which can be life-threatening. If treated on time, most of the UTI cases can be handled without many complications. There are digital healthcare companies such as Vaidam Health, that act as a common platform for the patients and the best urology doctors in India, armed with world-class infrastructure and cutting-edge technology. In addition to this, they also serve as a knowledge management center bringing out the most significant information related to several kinds of treatments and researches in the plate.
Based on the region affected, UTI is broadly categorized into the following:
Cystitis - This is the infection of the bladder. This is mostly caused by a bacteria called as E.coli, which is mostly found in the gastrointestinal tract. However, in some cases, other bacteria may also be responsible. The sexual intercourse may also lead to cystitis. Women are more prone to cystitis. This is attributed to their anatomy as the distance between the urethra and the anus, and also the urethral opening and the bladder is very short.
Urethritis - This is the infection of the urethra. This can occur when GI bacteria move from anus to the urethra. In most of the cases, the sexually transmitted infections such as herpes, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and mycoplasma can also lead to urethritis.
Signs and symptoms
Dysuria - There is a pain, burning sensation or discomfort while urination. This is one of the common symptoms of urinary tract infection.
Frequent urination - There is a frequent and strong urge to urinate during a urinary tract infection. However, the patient is not able to urinate when he tries to do.
There are an abnormal pressure and tenderness in the back or the lower abdomen.
There is cloudy, dark, bloody or strange-smelling urine.
Increase fatigue, tiredness, and shakiness may also be there.
In extreme cases, there might be a fever with chills.
Possible ways to get rid of a Urinary Tract Infection
For acute infections,
Antibiotics are the first line of treatment. The type of antibiotics depends upon the severity of the infection and the type of bacteria found in the urine during a urinalysis. For example, acute short-term infections antibiotics include:
Trimethoprim
Fosfomycin
Nitrofurantoin
Cephalexin
Ceftriaxone
For frequent infections, the recommendations are different for the patients. The doctor prescribes low-dose antibiotics mostly for nearly 6 months and suggests to have self-diagnosis and regular treatment.
The patients should have a single dose of an antibiotic after sexual intercourse if the infection is related to sexual activity.
Women are usually advised to be on vaginal estrogen therapy if she is one menopause.
For severe infection, the patient has to be admitted to the hospital and given the intravenous treatment.
How to get rid of UTI without antibiotics?
Even though the antibiotics work directly on the infection and work faster, these have their own side effects. The patient does not have to use antibiotics in every case. According to some top urologists in India, acute cases can also be treated by following some natural methods that include:
High water intake - This is the easiest and the most effective way to treat the UTIs. Drinking plenty of water helps to remove the waste products from the body, and also retains the important nutrients and electrolytes. Also, water dilutes the urine and makes the urination process easier. This reduces the number of bacteria reaching the lining of the tract. On an average, a person should drink at least 8-10 glasses of water each day.
Urinate when you need to - The presence of bacteria increases in cases of frequent urination.
If you urinate whenever you feel the need, it decreases the amount of time for which bacterias are exposed to the cells within the tract. This reduces the chances of infection.
Cranberry juice - This is another effective treatment for UTIs. It has been used traditionally to clear any kind of infections and fast healing. According to the studies, the cranberry juice has certain substances that prevent the bacteria from attaching to the cells of the urinary tract. It also contains polyphenols. Polyphenols are the antibiotics having antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Probiotics - The probiotics drinks contain the good bacteria that help to keep the urinary tract healthy and free from harmful bacteria. It contains lactobacilli, which also helps in treating and preventing UTI. It additionally produces hydrogen peroxide in urine which itself is a strong antibacterial. It also lowers the ph of the urine, which is less favorable for bacteria.
Vitamin C supplements - This is an important antioxidant that helps to improve the immune system function. It reacts with nitrates in the urine to form nitrogen oxides that are helpful in killing the bacteria.
Other ways of preventing the UTI are:
Most of the cases of UTI are acute and short-term. However, some of them may lead to complications such as kidney dysfunction, pregnancy-related complications or even sepsis, which can be life-threatening. If treated on time, most of the UTI cases can be handled without many complications. There are digital healthcare companies such as Vaidam Health, that act as a common platform for the patients and the best urology doctors in India, armed with world-class infrastructure and cutting-edge technology. In addition to this, they also serve as a knowledge management center bringing out the most significant information related to several kinds of treatments and researches in the plate.
Based on the region affected, UTI is broadly categorized into the following:
Cystitis - This is the infection of the bladder. This is mostly caused by a bacteria called as E.coli, which is mostly found in the gastrointestinal tract. However, in some cases, other bacteria may also be responsible. The sexual intercourse may also lead to cystitis. Women are more prone to cystitis. This is attributed to their anatomy as the distance between the urethra and the anus, and also the urethral opening and the bladder is very short.
Urethritis - This is the infection of the urethra. This can occur when GI bacteria move from anus to the urethra. In most of the cases, the sexually transmitted infections such as herpes, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and mycoplasma can also lead to urethritis.
Signs and symptoms
Dysuria - There is a pain, burning sensation or discomfort while urination. This is one of the common symptoms of urinary tract infection.
Frequent urination - There is a frequent and strong urge to urinate during a urinary tract infection. However, the patient is not able to urinate when he tries to do.
There are an abnormal pressure and tenderness in the back or the lower abdomen.
There is cloudy, dark, bloody or strange-smelling urine.
Increase fatigue, tiredness, and shakiness may also be there.
In extreme cases, there might be a fever with chills.
Possible ways to get rid of a Urinary Tract Infection
For acute infections,
Antibiotics are the first line of treatment. The type of antibiotics depends upon the severity of the infection and the type of bacteria found in the urine during a urinalysis. For example, acute short-term infections antibiotics include:
Trimethoprim
Fosfomycin
Nitrofurantoin
Cephalexin
Ceftriaxone
For frequent infections, the recommendations are different for the patients. The doctor prescribes low-dose antibiotics mostly for nearly 6 months and suggests to have self-diagnosis and regular treatment.
The patients should have a single dose of an antibiotic after sexual intercourse if the infection is related to sexual activity.
Women are usually advised to be on vaginal estrogen therapy if she is one menopause.
For severe infection, the patient has to be admitted to the hospital and given the intravenous treatment.
How to get rid of UTI without antibiotics?
Even though the antibiotics work directly on the infection and work faster, these have their own side effects. The patient does not have to use antibiotics in every case. According to some top urologists in India, acute cases can also be treated by following some natural methods that include:
High water intake - This is the easiest and the most effective way to treat the UTIs. Drinking plenty of water helps to remove the waste products from the body, and also retains the important nutrients and electrolytes. Also, water dilutes the urine and makes the urination process easier. This reduces the number of bacteria reaching the lining of the tract. On an average, a person should drink at least 8-10 glasses of water each day.
Urinate when you need to - The presence of bacteria increases in cases of frequent urination.
If you urinate whenever you feel the need, it decreases the amount of time for which bacterias are exposed to the cells within the tract. This reduces the chances of infection.
Cranberry juice - This is another effective treatment for UTIs. It has been used traditionally to clear any kind of infections and fast healing. According to the studies, the cranberry juice has certain substances that prevent the bacteria from attaching to the cells of the urinary tract. It also contains polyphenols. Polyphenols are the antibiotics having antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Probiotics - The probiotics drinks contain the good bacteria that help to keep the urinary tract healthy and free from harmful bacteria. It contains lactobacilli, which also helps in treating and preventing UTI. It additionally produces hydrogen peroxide in urine which itself is a strong antibacterial. It also lowers the ph of the urine, which is less favorable for bacteria.
Vitamin C supplements - This is an important antioxidant that helps to improve the immune system function. It reacts with nitrates in the urine to form nitrogen oxides that are helpful in killing the bacteria.
Other ways of preventing the UTI are:
Practice good sexual hygiene.
Use heat packs for pain.
Avoid substances like carbonated drinks or artificial sweeteners as they irritate the bladder.
Quit smoking and alcohol.
Use heat packs for pain.
Avoid substances like carbonated drinks or artificial sweeteners as they irritate the bladder.
Quit smoking and alcohol.
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