www.womanthismonth.com 41 November 2015 showcase What is a recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI)? These are infections of the urinary tract that do not respond to treatment. They may either continue to affect your urinary tract despite getting the right treatment, or may recur after treatment. A UTI can affect any part of your urinary system. When an infection is limited to your bladder, it is usually just an annoyance. However, if it spreads to your kidneys, you may suffer from serious health consequences. Why are women at much greater risk of urinary tract infection with recurrent episodes? Generally, urinary tract infections are more common in women. due to the basic human anatomy: first, the urethra is close to the rectum in women; therefore it is easy for bacteria to travel from the rectum to the urethra. Also, in women, the urethra is shorter than men. So bacteria have a shorter distance to travel to get to the bladder causing infection. Once you start getting recurrent UTIs you should consider looking for the underlying cause such as kidney stones. What are the symptoms of a UTI? A lower urinary tract infection affects the urethra and bladder – usually presenting with frequent urination, bloody/dark urine, a burning sensation while urinating and lower abdominal pain. An upper urinary tract infection affects the kidneys and is usually more serious with additional symptoms such as fever, chills, nausea and vomiting. When should my primary physician refer me to a specialist? If you have had two or more culturedocumented bladder infections during a sixmonth period, consider seeing a specialist – to determine the underlying cause. If we can’t find a clear underlying cause, what is the treatment? • A long-term, low-dose antibiotic for as long as six months to two years; • Intermittent or self-directed antibiotic therapy; • Vaginal oestrogen therapy; • Drinking plenty of liquids (cranberry juice may have infection-fighting properties that help prevent UTIs). For appointments and more details, please call 17 246-800 or visit www.royalbahrainhospital.com Dr Issa Kawalit - nephrology, kidney transplant and hypertension consultant at Royal Bahrain Hospital, answers questions on a common female problem, chronic-recurrent urinary tract infection. ROYAL BAHRAIN HOSPITAL A COMMON COMPLAINT Dr Issa Kawalit Royal Bahrain Hospital @RoyalBahrainHospital |www.royalbahrainhospital.com Royal Bahrain Hospital welcomes
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