Question

A man sees his doctor for severe pain in his lower abdominal area, elevated temperature and nausea. Tests rule out an abdominal obstruction or infection, but show the presence of blood in his urine. X-rays show a shadow in his right ureter. Diagnose the problem and give the suggested treatment.

Answer 1

Urinary Tract Infection.

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection from microbes. These are organisms that are too small to be seen without a microscope. Most UTIs are caused by bacteria, but some are caused by fungi and in rare cases by viruses. UTIs are among the most common infections in humans.

A UTI can happen anywhere in your urinary tract. Your urinary tract is made up of your kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. Most UTIs only involve the urethra and bladder, in the lower tract. However, UTIs can involve the ureters and kidneys, in the upper tract. Although upper tract UTIs are more rare than lower tract UTIs, they’re also usually more severe.

A simple UTI can be treated with a short course of antibiotic meds. A short, 3-day course of an appropriate antibiotic will often treat most uncomplicated UTIs. However, some infections may need to be treated longer. Pain and the urge to urinate often go away after a few doses, but you should still take the full course of the antibiotic to ensure all the UTI is treated, even if you feel better. Unless UTIs are fully treated, they can often return. You should also drink plenty of liquids, especially around the time of a UTI.

Postmenopausal women with UTIs may be helped by topical (vaginal) hormone replacement with estrogen. Since some patients may have other medical issues that prevent them from using estrogen, you should talk with your health care provider before starting any treatment.

If the UTI is a complicated UTI, then a longer course of antibiotics is given. Sometimes the antibiotic therapy may be started intravenously (IV) in the hospital. After a short period of IV antibiotics, the antibiotics are given by mouth for up to 2 weeks. Kidney infections are often treated as a complicated UTI.