Urinary tract infections best if caught early

Some students with a first-time infection have no idea what is causing the painful, burning and frequent urination associated with infections said Lisette LeCorgne, the general coordinator for the Campus Health Acute Care Center.

Last year, the Campus Health Center saw over 700 cases of urinary tract infection.

If left unchecked, the infection can move up the bladder and into the kidneys, said Attique Samdani, senior resident in internal medicine at Campus Health.

"Then the treatment is more intense," Samdani said.

The small percentage of people who do not experience the initial symptoms of the infection are at higher risk for this progression, LeCorgne said. They do not realize they may have a problem until they begin experiencing high fever and backaches, the signs that the infection is progressing to the kidneys.

Urinary tract infections are caused by organisms naturally present in the vagina being pushed into the urethral canal.

"Once an organism gets shoved into the urethral canal it's a short trip to the bladder and infection," LeCorgne said.

The vagina has a variety of organisms which act as checks and balances preventing a surge of a particular organism, LeCorgne said. The bladder and urinary tract do not have this protection and so are vulnerable to infection.

"The bladder and urinary tract are sterile so do not have natural flora for checks and balances," she said.

Women face urinary tract infections much more frequently than men because men have much longer urethras than women and the organisms which live in female systems are not naturally present in men, LeCorgne said.

This doesn't mean men can't get urinary tract infections, too, however, the rate of infection is much lower, she said.

"The reasons are much more varied and individual with men. With women there's a lot more of a standard," she said.

Sexual intercourse, bike or horseback riding, working out in tight lycra shorts and even bubble baths are activities which may force organisms up the urinary tract and into the bladder, LeCorgne said. She said reports of infections shoot up after Spring Break when many students have more sex than usual.

Dehydration may also contribute to the infection.

"If you're not drinking as much, the organisms have got half a day to multiply whereas if you drink enough water then its going to wash the bladder out, lowering the chance for infection," LeCorgne said.

If caught early, urinary tract infections may be treated simply by drinking lots of fluids, especially cranberry juice.

"Cranberry juice releases hittoric acid in the urine and this acidifies the urine and inhibits bacterial growth," Samdani said.

If the infection persists despite this treatment, a three-day course of antibiotics may be in order, LeCorgne said.

Because urinary tract infections have symptoms similar to those for cystitis, an inflammation of the bladder, it is important to make certain that symptoms are indeed arising from a urinary tract infection before beginning treatment, she said.

"A lot of women have been treated for an infection when in fact they had cystitis," LeCorgne said.

She also outlined prevention measures for those prone to urinary tract infections.

Women who get infections and have frequent sexual intercourse should wash their vaginas before sex and urinate as soon as possible afterward, LeCorgne said.

This advice also holds true for those prone to getting infections from other activities.

"If you're married to your lycra shorts and your workouts, try the same prevention as for intercourse," LeCorgne said.