The different types of urinary tract infection and their treatment

Urethritis, cystitis, pyelonephritis… We detail the symptoms and treatment of the various urinary tract infections.

Pain in the lower abdomen, burning on urination… these symptoms are very often associated with a urinary tract infection, the origin and form of which can vary. There are three different ones: cystitis, which corresponds to acute inflammation or chronic inflammation, pyelonephritis, which results from untreated cystitis, and urethritis, chronic inflammation of the urethra of infectious origin.

Escherichia Coli, the main cause of urinary tract infections

Urine is a sterile liquid whose acidic pH inhibits the growth of bacteria. Anatomically, the smooth surface and shape of the bladder and urethra make it difficult for bacteria to climb up and grow, which are then expelled by the urinary stream with each urination. If by chance a bacterium manages to overcome the obstacles, the immune system kicks in to fight the infection. But in the event of significant fatigue, insufficient hydration, urination too far apart, it happens that infectious agents, generally bacteria, manage to colonize the urinary system. The culprit at the origin of many urinary tract infections? The bacterium Escherichia Coli (E-coli), which one finds in the stools, is present in more than 80% of the cases of urinary tract infections. Women are much more prone to it than men, due to their shorter urethra which makes it easier for bacteria to enter the bladder.

Symptoms and treatment of cystitis, an acute form of urinary tract infection

We talk of cystitis when the infection of the bladder develops very quickly, causing pain in the lower abdomen, a persistent urge to urinate, burning on urination. The urine is cloudy, sometimes tinged with blood. After a urine cytobacterological test to carry out a search for germs and an antibiogram (an overall profile of antimicrobial susceptibility test) the treatment of cystitis is done by antibiotic therapy. Be sure to drink plenty and urinate regularly.

The kidneys: a high-speed turbine

The kidneys work constantly at full speed; they filter 180 litres of blood per day, leading to the elimination of 1.5 litres of urine. This means that they have great capacities for preserving what is useful (water, minerals, trace elements) and for evacuating what is useless, even harmful (this is the case of pollutants, nitrogenous waste and toxins produced by our cells). It is still necessary that the kidneys work well. To do this, it is important to drink between 1 and 1.5 liters of water a day.

When cystitis degenerates into acute pyelonephritis

Untreated or poorly treated cystitis can turn into acute pyelonephritis, which occurs when the bacterial infection reaches the ureter (duct that connects the kidney to the bladder) and the kidney. It is also called upper urinary tract infection. This serious infection with symptoms such as a high fever, between 38.5 and 40°, often accompanied by chills, great fatigue and possibly even lower back pain, cloudy, smelly urine and sometimes with even traces of blood, must be treated urgently and may require short-term hospitalization. Cystitis accompanied by fever should lead to consultation without delay, particularly in people at risk, such as pregnant women and the elderly.

Symptoms and causes of urethritis

Urethritis is a chronic inflammation of infectious origin of the urethra, the canal connecting the bladder to the urinary meatus (the hole by which the urine leaves the body, at the end of your urethra), which is manifested by pain or burning during urination, irritation felt at the level of the urinary meatus and urethral pain, often associated with pollakiuria (frequent, abnormal urination, an urge to urinate associated with low quantities emitted). What are the causes of this disease? Several germs can be the cause of urethritis, such as gonococcus or chlamydia: it is a sexually transmitted infection. Urethritis is treated with antibiotics, chosen according to the bacteria discovered during biological tests. Attention, sexual intercourse must be protected until complete healing.

How to prevent urinary tract infections?

Certain good habits make it possible to limit the risks: drink at least 1.5 liters of water per day, urinate every three hours during the day, empty your bladder before and after sexual intercourse (protected or not), and wear a condom with a partner whose STI/STD assessment is unknown. The antiseptic effects of cranberries against bacterial proliferation in the bladder are renowned: drinking it regularly can be effective in prevention. If the mild symptoms appear, it is better not to wait to consult.

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