BLADDER INFECTIONS: HOW TO FIND RELIEF

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Medical Self-Care

Although the subject matter of this column (which was guest-written, for Dr. Tom. Ferguson, by two Medical Self-Care staffers) is outside the areas usually covered in MOTHER, the disease discussed is so widespread that we welcome the chance to pass on information concerning its treatment and prevention.

Sandra Ritz and Anne Simons

The disease goes by different names—bladder infection, cystitis, urinary tract infection, or UTI—but the symptoms are always the same . . . and they're agonizing. Suddenly you feel an urgent need to urinate. When you try to do so, however, you can produce very little, and a dreadful burning sensation rewards your efforts. The urge returns every few minutes,too . . . sometimes accompanied by lower abdominal pain, a low-grade fever, chills, or blood in the urine.

Although it's certainly not fatal, cystitis is a very uncomfortable condition, and it strikes an amazingly large segment of the population. In fact, many authorities agree that it's women's most common bacterial infection . . . and their second most common illness overall, occurring more frequently than any disease except colds!

The bacteria usually responsible for UTI are Escherichiacoli (commonly known as E.coli ) . . . organisms necessary to proper digestion which live in the intestines and bowel. In order to cause UTI, though, the bacteria must find their way into the urethra and then up to the bladder . . . where they feed on urine, multiply, and cause infection. As you'd imagine, then, bladder aliments are of primary concern to women, because of some basic anatomical differences between the sexes . . . that is, women's urethral and anal openings are closer together than are men's, and their urethras are also considerably shorter.

BASIC PREVENTION

Because most UTI is caused by E. coli micro-organisms that have crept from the anal area into the vagina and urethra, proper hygiene is the best way to prevent flare-ups. Here are four basic rules a woman should follow if she wishes to avoid a painful bout of cystitis.

[1] After eliminating, be careful to wipe from front to back (away from the urethra), to prevent the passage of bacteria into the bladder.