Question

What is a urinary tract infection? Who is at risk? What are the signs and symptoms? What are the treatments? Are there any home remedies?

Answer 1

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are bacterial infections that affect the urinary tract. Ureteritis and pyelonephritis are upper UTI's and urethritis and cystitis are lower UTI's. These infections could be either complicated or uncomplicated. There are certain people who are at risk ofr complicated or uncomplicated urinary tract infections. Uncomplicated UTI's occur in healthy human beings, cured by primary drug treatment and have less chance to recur. Complicated UTI's could occur in people who are catheterized, immunocompromised or have obstructions in the urinary tract. Symptoms of lower UTI's are dysuria, pyuria, hematuria, suprapubic tenderness. In case of upper UTI's symptoms are similar to that of lower UTI's along with fever with rigor, nausea and vomiting. Treatment of Urinary tract infections are with antibiotics such as nitrofurantoin, aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones. Home remedies could include drinking enough amount of water at least 8 glasses of water, pass urine when felt to urinate, eat vitamin C rich foods that helps to prevent and treat infections, flush the toilet before and after use.