Question

Pathophysiology of UTI and the pertinent lab work that would determine health of the urologic system. how do we know the patient is ill, how do we treat the illness, what are the concerns or dangers associated with treatment, and finally how do we know our treatment has been successful?

Answer 1

Urinary Tract Infection :

Urinary tract infection is the infection of urinary tract (urethra, ureters and bladder ). This is a very common condition.

How do we know the patient is ill:

• The patient feels pain in urination, abdominal pain, itching in genital area, fever these can suggest urinary infection.
• The doctor will test the urine, and pus cells suggest that patient is suffering from urinary tract infection
• In severe ill patient have foul and cloudy urine and hematuria also occur in case of severe illnesses and patient shows high fever with chills.

Treatment :

• Drink plenty of water
• Use heating pad to clients abdomen to minimize bladder pressure and discomfort
• Antibiotics are the drug of choice .
• For frequent UTI, low dose antibiotics are needed to subside the infection. 6 month course is necessary sometimes it may be longer  
• In severe infections intravenous antibiotic therapy is needed

Concerns and dangers associated with treatment :

• Concerns about treatment mainly including the antibiotic therapy . Because frequent infections need long term antibiotics so patients concern about it will affect the immune system.
• Dangers include, upper urinary tract infection may cause damage to the kidneys. Long lasting kidney infection causes permanent kidney damages Sometimes acute kidney infection also cause life threatening illness, if bacteria enters blood stream (septicemia).

How do we know our treatment has been successful :

• Subsiding fever, painful urination, abdominal pain, itching and urgent urination
• Patient gets relief from all the symptoms
• Urine tests results will be normal that is absence of pus cells and blood in urine
• Clear urine (cloud urine will disappear)