Symptoms Of Urinary Tract Infection
Urinary tract infections (UTIs), also called bladder infections, are a common problem for a lot of people. Anyone can get the infection, but girls and women get them more often.
Not everyone who gets a UTI has symptoms, but a lot of people get a few:
A sharp burning pain during urination Frequent urination or the urge to urinate a lot Cloudy, dark or bloody urine Pain in the back or lower stomach Nausea/vomiting Fever How do you get it?
A girl's/woman's urethral opening is right near two big sources of bacteria: the rectum and the vagina. If a girl wipes the wrong way after going to the bathroom (the right way is from front to back), these bacteria can move toward the urethra from the rectum and cause a UTI. Bacteria from the vagina can also be pushed into the urethra.
How do you treat it?
A doctor can find out if you have UTI by doing a urine test. Other tests can also be done on a urine sample to help figure out which antibiotics are best for you. Most bladder infections can be cured in a few days by antibiotic treatment, and a doctor can also prescribe medications for painful symptoms.
When a bladder infection just starts, and if it isn't too bad, many teens/women treat it themselves by drinking a few glasses of cranberry juice and lots of water every day for a few days. This can "flush" the infection out of the bladder.
How can I avoid it?
You can help prevent UTIs by trying the following:
drink at least six to eight glasses of water a day don't drink a lot of caffeine (coffee or colas) don't wait to go to the bathroom— urinate when you get the urge take showers instead of baths wipe from front to back whenever you go to the bathroom
Learn about symptoms urinary tract infection and get helpful information and advice at BeingGirl.com.
