Dr. Donald Sonn: Explaining Urinary Tract Infection

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Dr. Donald Sonn Urinary Tract Infection Dr
. Donald Sonn is an experienced urologist with
over seventeen years experience. Dr. Sonn
recommends visiting your doctor if you have
symptoms of urinary tract infection.
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What is Urinary Tract?
The urinary tract is the part of the human body
that makes and stores urine. Urine is produced by
the kidneys and is passed down via the ureters to
the bladder, which in turn stores the urine and
empties it through the urethra.
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Symptoms of Urinary Tract Infection
Urinary tract infection causes the lining of the
urethra and bladder to become red, similar to
what happens to the throat with a cold. The
irritation and redness in the bladder and urethra
cause pain in the pelvic area and will make the
patient feel like emptying their bladder often.
Patients may be able to urinate only a few
drops and experience burning sensation at the
same time. Patients will experience fever and
back pain because of the infection in the kidneys.
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Causes of Urinary Tract Infection
Urinary tract infection is caused by bacteria on
the skin and in the rectal area. Bacteria can
get into the urine through the urethra and move
to the bladder and even up to the kidney. Women
who go through menopause experience a change in
the lining of the vagina, which causes the
protective layer of estrogen to decrease making
them prone to infection. Diaphragms have shown
to create an increased risk of contracting
infection when compared to other forms of
contraception. Diabetes has also shown to put
patients at a higher risk of contracting urinary
tract infection.
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Diagnosing Urinary Tract Infection
Urinary tract infection is diagnosed by visiting
a doctor. This is diagnosed by performing urine
culture and urinalysis. The urine sample is
examined under a microscope for signs of white
blood cells and bacteria in the urine. If blood
is present in the urine, the patient will need to
contact the doctor immediately.
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Treating Patients with Urinary Tract Infections
Patients with simple urinary tract infections can
be treated with a course of oral antibiotics.
The most simple case of urinary tract infection
is treated with a three-day course of
antibiotics. Serious cases of urinary tract
infection could need hospitalization and
intravenous treatment. If the patients kidneys
are infected, the treatment will be extensive,
and the case considered as complicated.
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Thank You !