What Causes A Uti And What Are The Symptoms
When it comes down to it, a UTI is when bacteria get into your urinary tract system, causing irritation, and subsequently an infection. Your urine is sterile meaning it doesnt normally have bacteria in it so how does it get there? Bacteria found on your skin or stool are the most common culprits of a UTI. Gender, age, variations in anatomy, and sexual activity are all ways someone can have an increased risk of getting a UTI.
Women are more at risk because they have a shorter urethra, the small tube that carries urine from your bladder and out of your body. Some children can have something call vesicoureteral reflux meaning their ureters accidentally allow urine to go back into the kidneys, potentially after being exposed to bacteria.
Symptoms of a UTI can vary in children and adults. Symptoms of a UTI in adults include:
- Pain with urination
- Urinating frequently, or having the urge to urinate frequently often only a few drops at a time
- Low back pain
- Foul-smelling or cloudy urine
If only babies and small children could just tell you whats wrong or what hurts! But the truth is, they arent always able to tell you theyre in pain when they urinate. Thankfully, there are other signs to look for such as:
- Foul-smelling urine
- Urinating frequently or having the urge to urinate frequently
- Irritability
- Acting like they have pain near the bladder or in the lower back area
Treating Renal Colic And Pain Management
See your doctor if you have symptoms of renal colic or urinary stones. Your doctor can do tests to look for increased levels of substances that form stones in your blood or urine. A CT scan can look for stones in your kidneys and other urinary organs.
If you have a large stone, your doctor can do one of these procedures to remove it and relieve renal colic:
- Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy : This procedure uses shock waves aimed at your kidneys to break up the stones into very small pieces. You then pass the stone fragments in your urine.
- Ureteroscopy: Your doctor inserts a thin, lighted scope up through your urethra and bladder to remove the stone.
- Percutaneous nephrolithotomy: This procedure uses tiny instruments inserted through a small cut in your back to remove a stone. You will be asleep during this procedure.
In the short term, your doctor will give you medicines to relieve the pain of renal colic. Options include:
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen
- drugs to prevent muscle spasms
- opioid medicines
Treatment Of Kidney Infection
Most kidney infections need prompt treatment with antibiotics to stop the infection damaging the kidneys or spreading to the bloodstream.
You may also need painkillers.
If youre especially vulnerable to the effects of an infection , you may be admitted to hospital and treated with antibiotics through a drip.
Most people who are diagnosed and treated promptly with antibiotics feel completely better after about 2 weeks.
People who are older or have underlying conditions may take longer to recover.
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Why Does Kidney Disease Cause Weight Gain
Kidney disease doesnt just affect the kidneys, it affects the whole body. In the early stages, it can cause weight loss, while in the later stages it can cause weight gain. These variations are the result of different aspects of the disease. Heres some information to help you understand the issue of kidney disease and weight gain, courtesy of Dr. Allen Lauer, of Associates in Nephrology.
Kidney Stones And Utis: Signs And Symptoms
Common symptoms of a urinary tract infection include abdominal pain, burning with urination, increased frequency in urination, and urinary urgency. Other symptoms may accompany a UTI, including fever, chills, nausea, and vomiting. Urine may also appear pinkish or light red, and have a strong odor. Pelvic pain may be experienced as well.
Kidney stones symptoms include severe pain, pain that travels across the lower abdomen, pain that comes in waves and fluctuates in intensity, pain in urination, pink, red or brown blood in urine, nausea and vomiting, persistent need to urinate, urinating more frequent than usual, fever and chills with the presence of an infection, and urination in small amounts only.
You should see a doctor if symptoms change to a pain so severe you are unable to stand or move, if pain is accompanied by nausea or vomiting, if fever or chills develop, and if there is blood in urine or difficulty passing urine.
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Treatment Of Kidney Stones
For smaller kidney stones, pain relievers may be the only treatment needed. On average it takes five to seven days to pass a kidney stone, says Dr. Abromowitz. It may pass sooner. And if the stone is very high in the ureter, it can take up to two weeks.
Larger stones that block urine flow or cause infection may require surgery, such as:
- Shock-wave lithotripsy, a noninvasive procedure using high-energy sound waves to break stones into fragments that pass out in the urine
- Ureteroscopy, in which an endoscope is inserted through the ureter to retrieve or break up the stone
- Percutaneous nephrolithotomy or nephrolithotripsy, used for very large or irregularly shaped stones. For both procedures, a small incision is made in the back to provide access for a nephroscope, a miniature fiberoptic camera, and other small instruments. Your doctor then either removes the stone or breaks up and removes the stone .
For ongoingprevention of recurring kidney stones, your doctor may prescribe increasing fluid intake, changing diet, controlling weight, and taking medication.
To learn more about kidney stones, talk to your doctor or health care provider or search for a provider.
Ibs And Other Functional Gi Disorders
Functional gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome , functional abdominal bloating and distention, functional constipation, and functional dyspepsia may cause problems with gas symptoms.
Functional GI disorders are related to problems with how your brain and your gut work together. These problems can cause you to feel more bloating or abdominal pain or can affect how gas moves through your intestines.
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Can Kidney Stones Be Prevented
While not all kidney stones can be prevented, there are ways to lower your risk of developing one or developing another one. The first and foremost way would be to drink enough fluids to ensure your urinary system gets flushed out well.
Your doctor could recommend that you avoid certain types of foods, but that is an individual call. For certain types of stones, sometimes medications are prescribed to help reduce the risk as well.
If you suspect sepsis, call 9-1-1 or go to a hospital and tell your medical professional, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT SEPSIS.
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Besides being painful, what arekidney stones?
Theyre solid formations of minerals and salts that crystalize in urine in the kidneys when concentrations are high. They can be as tiny as a grain of sand to pebble-size and larger. And they can develop at any age, from infants to the elderly.
Although some stones remain in the kidneys, others travel through the ureter and into the bladder, explains Howard Abromowitz, MD.
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What Is A Urinary Tract Infection
A UTI, or urinary tract infection, occurs when bacteria get into the urinary tract and begin to grow and spread, causing an infection. Most UTIs are caused by bacteria entering the urethra. Often, this is E. Coli that spreads from the anus. Though E. Coli is thought to be responsible for up to 90 percent of all UTIs, other bacteriacan induce urinary tract infections as well.
Commonly, the bacteria travel up through the urethra, and the infection likely occurs here or in the bladder. However, in some cases, the infection reaches the ureters or the kidneys, which can cause additional complications. There are other causes of UTIs as well, including anything that could be blocking the flow of urine and causing it to build up and stay in the bladder.
Since urinary tract infections are incredibly common, you are probably familiar with the symptoms. Just in case you’re not, here’s a refresher:
- Needing to urinate more often than usual
- Not being able to empty the bladder, or only producing small amounts of urine, even when you feel the strong urge to go
- Discomfort or pain when peeing, which can also include a burning sensation
- Feelings of fatigue and general unwellness, and fever is also possible
- Urine may smell odd or look cloudy
- Older people who develop urinary tract infections can become severely confused and disoriented, mimicking the symptoms of dementia
What Is The Outlook For People Who Have Bladder Stones
Some small bladder stones may pass out of the body without treatment. But for the majority that dont pass on their own, providers can remove them with minimally invasive procedures or surgery. With proper treatment, bladder stones dont cause long-term health problems.
Untreated bladder stones can lead to pain, difficulty urinating, bleeding and infection. Talk to your provider if you have a health condition that can lead to bladder stones. If you dont treat the cause, bladder stones may form again.
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Kidney Function And Kidney Disease
The primary task of the kidneys is to maintain the fluid balance in the body. They accomplish this task through increasing or decreasing the amount of fluid excreted in the urine. Electrolytes like sodium and potassium are an important component of fluid management. When you eat or drink liquids, the fluid eventually makes its way to the kidneys. A complex mechanism of fluid and electrolyte transfers, mediated by hormones and other chemicals, results in the movement of fluid into the kidneys and bladder, from which the urine is excreted. Kidney disease damages these mechanisms.
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Symptoms Of A Kidney Stone
Small stones move into the bladder and out of the body with minimal symptoms.
Larger stones, though, can become lodged in the ureter, block urine flow and cause sharp pain in your back, side, lower abdomen or groin, and blood in your urine. Symptoms may also include burning urination, nausea, and fever. Fever could indicate a serious infection, a reason to call to your doctor immediately.
The location of your pain signals the location of your kidney stone:
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Gi Issues Caused By Kidney Stones
Normally, kidney stones cause symptoms such as pressure and pain in your lower back, fever, frequent urination, discomfort urinating, and bloody or discoloured urine. However, sometimes kidney stones can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and stomach discomfort.
If youre experiencing sudden low back pain and gastrointestinal discomfort, dont ignore the possibility that it might be kidney stones.
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Can Kidney Stones Cause Utis What You Should Know
It could be argued that kidney stones and urinary tract infections are equally painful, or at least equally irritating, but the answer isnt clear, since different people process pain differently. It also makes a difference how severe a UTI is or how large or resistant to treatment a kidney stone may be.
However, one thing is certain. Suffering from either a kidney stone or a urinary tract infection can be debilitating at worst, leading to hospitalization, and annoying at best, so that its difficult to concentrate and function normally.
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When To See A Doctor About Rib Cage Pain
There can be many reasons for pain under your rib cage. Because there is a risk that rib cage pain could be related to a serious condition, you should never ignore new chest pain or constant pains under your ribs.
Dr. Jennifer Robinson on WebMD says that you should see a doctor for rib cage pain in the following circumstances:
- Sensation of sudden tightness, squeezing pain, or pressure in the middle of your chest
- Sharp stabbing rib cage pain that causes shortness of breath
- Rapid heartbeat or rapid breathing with nausea and excessive sweating
- Pain under your ribs along with coughing up discolored phlegm or mucus
- Severe rib cage pain that doesnt go away
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What Treatments Are Available
Because of the pain caused by kidney stones, many people find that they need pain relief. Many describe it as the worst pain theyve ever felt.
If you have a kidney stone, you will be encouraged to drink a lot of water if you dont have a medical condition that limits the amount you may have. The extra fluid is to help wash the stone through your urinary system.
If the stone doesnt pass within a reasonable amount of time, your doctor may recommend extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy . Shock waves are sent through to the stone to break them down into smaller pieces that can be passed. Sometimes, surgery may be needed.
The stone should be removed because of the high risk of infection, which could in turn lead to sepsis.
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Differentiating Kidney Stones And Urinary Tract Infections
| Kidney stones | ||
| Complications | Recurring kidney stones | Recurrent infections, permanent kidney damage due to an untreated UTI, delivering premature infant risk in pregnant women, urethral narrowing in men, sepsis. |
| Diagnosis | Blood tests, urine testing, imaging tests, and analysis of any stones that have passed. | Analyzing urine samples, growing urinary tract bacteria in a lab, creating images of the urinary tract, and using a scope to see inside of the bladder. |
| Treatment | Increasing your intake of fluids, medications, lithotripsy, tunnel surgery, ureteroscopy, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy , and percutaneous nephrolithotomy . | Drinking plenty of fluids, avoiding drinks that irritate the bladder, using a heating pad to relieve any pain, prescription antibiotics such as Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, Fosfomycin, Nitrofurantoin, etc. |
What Are The Common Causes
These stones can be the result of:
- Family history: you are more likely to get these stones if someone else in your family has dealt with them
- Personal history: if youve had kidney stones before, it increases the risk of getting them in the future
- Dehydration: resulting from not drinking enough water, excessive sweat, or a dry climate
- Obesity: being overweight is linked with higher risk of kidney stones
- Diets: if youre eating lots of salt, protein and sugar, youre raising your risk of these stones
- Medications: vitamin C, dietary supplements, excessive use of laxatives, and some drugs for migraines and depression can raise your chances of this condition
- Medical conditions: inflammatory bowel disease and chronic diarrhea can affect the way you absorb calcium and water, increasing your risk
These risk factors may lead too little liquid and too much waste. As a result, rather than passing waste substances in your urine, minerals and salts, waste materials you normally pass when you use the bathroom, may clump together and form crystals.
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Who Is Likely To Get Bladder Stones
Anyone can get bladder stones, but men over 50 are more likely to develop them. Around half of men over 50 have a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia . BPH causes the prostate to get bigger. An enlarged prostate can make it difficult to drain the bladder. Stones can form when urine sits in the bladder for too long.
People who have nerve damage such as a spinal cord injury affecting the bladder are more likely to get bladder stones. Also, individuals who have had specific types of surgery on their bladder are also at risk of bladder stones. Very rarely, a bladder stone will be the result of a kidney stone that could not pass out of the bladder. This can occur in people who have difficulty draining urine out of their bladder, such as men with BPH.
How Do Kidney Stones Form
Normally, your urine removes waste from your body including small crystals such as calcium, uric acid and oxalate that can be easily diluted and pass through your urinary system. However, when you produce more of these minerals than your urine can manage, the minerals can form kidney stones by sticking together in larger groups. This results in one of four different types of stones: calcium, struvite, uric acid and cystine.
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Diagnosis Of Urinary Tract Stones
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Symptoms
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Computed tomography
Doctors usually suspect stones in people with renal colic. Sometimes doctors suspect stones in people with tenderness over the back and groin or pain in the genital area without an obvious cause. Finding blood in the urine supports the diagnosis, but not all stones cause blood in the urine. Occasionally, the symptoms and physical examination findings are so distinctive that no additional tests are needed, particularly in people who have had urinary tract stones before. However, most people are in so much pain and have symptoms and findings that make other causes for the pain seem likely enough that testing is necessary to exclude these other causes. Doctors need to differentiate stones from other possible causes of severe abdominal pain, including
is usually done. It may show blood or pus in the urine whether or not symptoms are present.