Urinary Tract Infections
Synopsis of Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are bacterial infections that affect any part of the urinary system, including the bladder, urethra, ureters, or kidneys. Most commonly, they involve the bladder (cystitis) and urethra (urethritis), and are more prevalent in women due to their shorter urethra. UTIs are typically caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria entering the urinary tract. Symptoms include a strong urge to urinate, burning during urination, cloudy or foul-smelling urine, and pelvic discomfort. Prompt treatment is essential to prevent the infection from ascending to the kidneys, where it can become more serious.
Types:
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Lower UTI (cystitis): Affects the bladder
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Urethritis: Affects the urethra
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Upper UTI (pyelonephritis): Affects the kidneys and may cause back pain and fever
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Recurrent UTI: Two or more infections in six months or three in a year
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Asymptomatic bacteriuria: Presence of bacteria in urine without symptoms (common in pregnancy)
Common Causes:
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Bacteria from the rectum entering the urethra (e.g., E. coli)
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Sexual activity
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Poor hygiene or improper wiping (especially in children and women)
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Urinary retention or incomplete emptying
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Use of catheters or spermicides
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Hormonal changes (e.g., menopause)
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Dehydration
Severity Causes:
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Delayed or incomplete treatment
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Structural abnormalities in the urinary tract
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Diabetes or immune suppression
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Kidney involvement or abscess
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Antibiotic-resistant bacteria
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Frequent recurrences without prevention strategy
When to See a Doctor:
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Burning or pain while urinating
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Cloudy, bloody, or foul-smelling urine
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Pelvic or back pain
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Fever, chills, or nausea (may indicate kidney infection)
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Frequent UTIs or no improvement after treatment
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Symptoms during pregnancy or in young children
Natural remedies for Urinary Tract Infections
Probiotics: Help maintain healthy urinary tract flora and reduce the risk of recurrent infections, especially Lactobacillus strains.
Vitamin C: Acidifies urine and strengthens immune defenses against pathogens, making the bladder environment less hospitable to bacteria.
Aloe vera: Soothes urinary tract lining and may reduce inflammation and irritation during active infection.
Magnesium: Supports bladder muscle function and helps with discomfort related to cramping or tension in the lower abdomen.
Hydration: Drinking ample water flushes out bacteria and dilutes urine, easing discomfort and preventing infection buildup.
Urinate frequently: Helps remove bacteria from the bladder before they multiply.
Avoid irritants: Refrain from caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods, and synthetic underwear, which may worsen symptoms.
Urinate after intercourse: Helps clear bacteria from the urethra and is especially helpful in preventing post-coital UTIs.
Ingredients
These raw ingredients are often used in alternative medicine to treat Urinary Tract Infections
2'-Fucosyllactose
ajoene
akkermansia muciniphila
alfalfa
algal oil
aloe vera
anthocyanins
apple
arabinogalactan
asparagus
astaxanthin
astragalus
bacillus clausii
bacillus coagulans
bacillus subtilis
barberry
bearberry
benegut perilla (proprietary)
berberine
berry flavor
bifidobacterium bifidum
bifidobacterium breve
bifidobacterium infantis
bifidobacterium lactis
bilberry
black currant
black garlic
black pepper
radish
blueberry
camu camu
cassia bark
celery
cherry
chlorella
citric acid
citrus sinensis (proprietary)
cranberry
cucumber
D-mannose
dandelion
DHA (docosahexaeonic acid)
dong quai root
melon
echinacea purpurea
elderberry
epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
fennel
fenugreek
fruit and vegetable blend (proprietary)
fruit blend (proprietary)
fu ling
genistein
gokhru
goldenseal
grape
green tea
hibiscus
immunoglobin G
Indian gum arabic tree
honeysuckle
knotweed
l-glutathione
lactobacillus acidophilus
lactobacillus brevis
lactobacillus bulgaricus
lactobacillus casei
lactobacillus crispatus
lactobacillus fermentum
lactobacillus gasseri
lactobacillus jensenii
lactobacillus lactis
lactobacillus paracasei
lactiplantibacillus plantarum
lactobacillus rhamnosus
lactobacillus salivarius
lactococcus lactis
lactoperoxidase
lauric acid
lentinula edodes mycelia
lophatherum leaf
luteolin
magnesium
mannitol
methenamine
nattozimes
okra
ophiopogon root
perilla
pomegranate
pumpkin
pygeum
saccharomyces boulardii
sage
saw palmetto
spinach
spirulina
streptococcus thermophilus
tomato
turkey tail mushroom
vegetable and fruit blend (proprietary)
vitamin C
watercress
watermelon
mulberry
xylitol
xylooligosaccharides
yeast
zinc
sarsaparilla
red clover
oryza
cardamom
smilax
swertia
lingzhi
goldenrod
pau d'arco
juniper berries
cornsilk
buchu
birch
couch grass
sheep's sorrel
hydrangea
purslane
coix
shepherd's purse
goji berry
gravel root
sea salt
2-Fucosyllactose
3-Phenyllactic Acid
Asparagus
Astragalus
Angelica archanglica
akebia
Anthocyanidins (unspecified)
Apple Cider Vinegar
Acetic acid
Alpinia katsumadai
Aerva Lanta
Alfalfa
Azotobacter paspali
Acetylated alpha glucan
Aminoglycine
Angelica
Arbutin
Agave
Allium tuberosum Rottl.
Asparagus racemosus
Agrimony
Aronia melanocarpa
Ajowan
Ammonium chloride
Achyranthes
Auricularia
Anamu
Alpha-Glycosyl Isoquercetin
Abrus
Alchornea
American Elder
Alpha-glycans
Antirrhinin
Arbutin
AHCC
Alchemilla
Asafoetida
Aucubin
Andrographis paniculata
Andrographolide
Aloe vera
Avocado
Asian Bayberry
Agaricus blazei
Alaska Blueberry
Astragaloside IV
Aspergillus
Aerva lanata
Akebia (unspecified)
Aureobasidium pullulans
anthocyanin
anthocyanidins
Andrographis
Adzuki bean
Amomum (unspecified)
African Wild Potato
Agrimonia pilosa
Alchornea floribunda
Ajoene
Allyl Sulfide
Algin
Apple
Agaricus (unspecified)
Astaxanthin
Apple
allyl isothiocyanate
Arabinogalactans
Alder Buckthorn
Alliin
Alpha acids
Acidophilus
Alisma
Anise
Arabinogalactan
Amaranthus tricolor
Abuta
Allium tuberosum
Amor seco
Asparagus adscendens
Bean pod
Barberry
Bearberry
Bacillus Subtilis
Bauhinia purpurea
Baker's Yeast
Bifidobacterium
Borax
Bifidobacterium infantis
Bergenia Pacumbis
Bacillus clausii
Bacillus indicus
bergenin
Bismuth
Bicarbonate
Brassica
Bifidobacterium animalis lactis
Bog Bilberry
Bifidobacterium (mixed)
Burdock
Bovine (unspecified)
Berberis (unspecified)
Big Quaking Grass
Blueberry (unspecified)
Berberine
Bael
Bean
Broccoli
Bifidobacterium bifidum
Basidiomycota
Benzoic acid
Broccoli sprout
Birch (unspecified)
Black Gram
Bauhinia
Bacillus licheniformis
Bladder
Bacosides (mixed)
Blackberry
Blueberry
Bifidobacterium breve
Bifidobacterium animalis
Buchu (unspecified)
Bacillus subtilis natto
Beta-Sitosterol
Bacillus Coagulans
Bacteria Blend
Birch
Bamboo
Baobab
Bifidobacteria
Black Currant
bilberry
Bauhinia Variegata
Beta Glucans
Bacillus
benzyl isothiocyanate
Baicalin
Balloon Pea
Buchu
Blue-Green Alage
Balsam pear
Bergenia
Bottle gourd
Boric acid
Cinnamon
Cubebs
cucumber
Cumin
Cleavers
cherry (unspecified)
Cyperus (unspecified)
Clinoptilolite
Chinese Yam
California chia
Cranberry Protein
Cranberry Fiber
Cinnamon (unspecified)
Cloudberry
Cucurbita
Catechins (unspecified)
Coriander
Corn Silk
Cnidium
Citrus sinensis
Chive
Clerodendrum phlomidis
Carvacrol
Caprylic Acid
Cascara Sagrada
Cat's Claw
Chlorophyll
Commiphora gileadensis
Cantaloupe
Chinese Chive
Chinese hibiscus
Cruciferous
Catechins
Canteloupe
Catechin
Chanca Piedra
Coconut Water
Chinese Dodder
Camu Camu Extract
Couch Grass
Cape gooseberry
Cereal (unspecified)
Cistus
Cubeb
Catechin (unspecified)
Cyclodextrin
Curcumin
Caribbean Grape
Chinese Smilax
Crinum latifolium
Chaenomeles lagenaria
Convolvulus prostratis
Coin-leaf desmodium
Chlorella Protein
Citrus reticulata
Crayfish
Chamomile
Cornelian Cherry
celery
Cyanidin-3-glucoside
Chitin-glucan
Corn
Carambola
Cynodon dactylon
Chinese Cucumber
Coriolus Mushroom
Citric Acid
cranberry
Cheese
Cinnamomum wilsonii
Cistanche (unspecified)
Currant
Cellulose derivatives
Chlorella
D-Mannose
Desmodium gangeticum
Dolichos biflorus
Dialyzable Leukocyte Extract
Dwarf Morning Glory
Dolichos
Dioscorea nipponica
Desmodium (unspecified)
Desmodium
Enterococcus
Enicostemma Littorale
Echinacea (various)
Euryale seed
Epigallo catechin
Eurycoma Longifolia
Enterococcus (various species)
EGCG
European elderberry constituents (unspecified)
EGCG
Eucalyptus
Echinacea purpurea
Eicosapentaenoic Acid
European goldenrod
Epigallocatechin
Euphorbia (unspecified)
Euryale
European White Birch
Euphorbia pekinensis
Endive (unspecified)
Fig
Fruit & Vegetable Blend
Fructo-Oligosaccharides (FOS)
Fulvic Acid
Forsythia
Fish
Finger Cactus
Flavonols
Fleabane (unspecified)
Fish (including shell)
flavanols (various)
Five-leaf akebia
Fish peptides (unspecified)
Fennel
Goldenrod
green algae (unspecified)
Goldenrod (unspecified)
Garlic pear
Grape
German Knotweed
Glycosaponin (unspecified)
Glutathione peroxidase
Goat milk protein
Green Tea
Gum Arabic
Ginseng
Glandular Tissues
Goji
glycyrrhizic acid
Glyceryl monolaurate
Graviola
Galium (unspecified)
Goldenrod (mixed)
Green tea antioxidant (unspecified)
Goldenseal
Galactooligosaccharides
Glycyrrhetinic Acid
Gecko
Ginsenoside
Guar Gum
Gravel root
Guazuma ulmifolia
Heather
Horse Gram
Hydroxycinammic acid
Horseradish
Hyperoside
Hydroxycinnamic acid
Houttuynia
Hydroxyquinoline
Hydrangea
Hyperimmune milk peptides
Hydrogen
Hyphomycetes
Hedyotis corymbosa
Hibiscus
Immunoglobulins
Isoflavones (unspecified)
isomaltooligosaccharide
icariin
immunoglobulin
Java Tea
Japanese Elder
Japanese Horseradish
Jaborandi
Job's Tears
Kachnar
Kaempferol
Kale
Kombucha Tea
Krill
Kaempferol
Kidney
Kluyveromyces marxianus
Kefir
Knotgrass (unspecified)
Lactobacillus rhamnosus
Lactobacillus plantarum
Lime
Lactobacillus paracasei
Leek
Lactococcus acidophilus
Lactobacillus pentosus
Lactobacillus kefiri
Licorice (unspecified)
L-Gluthathione
Lentinan
Lactobacillus casei
Lomatium
Lactobacillus reuteri
Lactobacillus brevis
Lactobacillus bulgaricus
Lactococcus rhamnosus
Lactobacillus (various species)
Lactobacillus leichmannii
Lophira lanceolata
Legume protein
Lophatherum
Lactobacillus acidophilus
Lactobacillus gasseri
Lignan (unspecified)
Lactococcus casei
Lactobacillus (mixed)
Lactobacillus delbrueckii (ssp not specified)
Legume (unspecified)
Lespedeza capitata
Long Buchu
Lotus (unspecified)
Lingonberry
Lactobacillus crispatus
Lactobacillus johnsonii
Lactobacillus
Lactobacillus salivarius
Lactobacillus delbrueckii bulgaricus
Loranthus
L. lactis (unspecified)
Lysimachia
Leuconostoc lactis
Lactoferrin
Leuconostoc (unspecified)
Longleaf buchu
Larch arabinogalactan
Mannanoligosaccharides
Mountain Cranberry (unspecified)
Missouri Snakeroot
Mezoneuron benthamianum
Mineral Water
Mung Bean
mango
Marsh Tea
Melon
Molluscs
Myoviridae
Mexican Sarsaparilla
Marine Protein
Marine oil (unspecified)
Monolaurin
Mexican oregano
Marine lipid (unspecified)
Mormon Tea
Malabar Nut Tree Leaf Extract
Methyl arbutin
Mannose
Magnesium Citrate
Manzanita
N-Acetyl Cysteine
Nisin
Noni
Nut Grass
Nettle (unspecified)
Nisin
Olive
Orsa salt
Oldenlandia diffusa
Oregon Grape
Okra
Omega Blend
Oldenlandia
Ovate Buchu
Pomegranate
Pear
Poria Mushrooms
Polyphenol (unspecified)
Piperine
Pumpkinseed Oil
Potassium Citrate
Psyllium fiber
Pata de Vaca
Peach
Pea (unspecified)
Phragmites
Prickly Pear Cactus Fiber
Phaeophyceae (unspecified)
Polylysine
Propionibacterium freudenreichii ssp. Shermanii
Pepper Bark Tree
Polypodium (unspecified)
Pumpkin Seeed Oil
Potassium Chloride
Poria mushroom
Propionibacterium freudenreichii
Proanthocyanidin
Pine
Pollen
Pelargonium (unspecified)
Paederia foetida
Pareira
Pedalium
Pointed gourd
Pumpkin Seed Oil
Potassium
Pygeum
Prickly Pear Cactus
Punicalagins
Proanthocyanidin (unspecified)
Phellodendron Bark
Pubescent Angelica
Prickly Pear Leaf
Pedra hume
Phyllanthus fraternus
Phyllanthus urinaria
Potassium sorbate
Poria Mushroom
Pipsissewa
Pyrola
Polyporus
Palo Azul
Phycocyanins
Polyol (unspecified)
Quassia
Rosthorn Snake Gourd
Roe
Rubus ursinus
Red Sandalwood
Raspberry (unspecified)
Radish
Radicchio
Rasperries (mixed)
Rose Hip
Rhus coriaria
Rosa laevigata
Rumex acetosa
Reishi
Rhubarb (unspecified)
Sulfate
Sodium chloride
Spiked Ginger Lily
Streptomyces (unspecified)
Streptomyces cellulosae
Siphoviridae
Smilax
Small-Flowered Willow-Herb
Stinging Nettle
Saccharomyces boulardii
Saccharomyces boullardii
Sacchoromyces (unspecified)
Syrup (unspecified)
Sambucus nigra
Saccharomyces (unspecified)
Streptococcus (unspecified)
Sinigrin
Saccharomyces cerevisae
Sea vegetable (unspecified)
Streptococcus
Seleno Methionine
Sorrel
Spiny Restharrow
Superoxide Dismutase
Short Buchu
Senna auriculata
Semecarpus anacardium
saponins
Scirpus
Stachytarpheta cayennensis
Sodium Bicarbonate
Sodium chloride
Saw Palmetto
Saccharomyces
Silymarin
Selenium
Star Anise
Shepherd's Purse
Sorbic Acid
Sambucus Nigra (unspecified)
Stone Root
Shilajit
Sesbania grandiflora
Sea Lettuce
Sarsaparilla (unspecified)
Sargassum
Small Cranberry
Southern Elder
Squill
Sodium chlorite
Tannins (mixed)
Tropical Almond
Turtle
Transfer Factor
Three-leaf akebia
Trisodium citrate
Terminalia (unspecified)
Tribuloside (unspecified)
Tinospora Cordifolia
Triterpene Saponin
Trichoderma longibrachiatum
Taraxacum (unspecified)
Tropical jewel hisbiscus
Taraxol
Usnea
Umckaloabo
Uva Ursi
Undeca-2E, 7Z, 9E-Trienoic Acid Isobutylamide
Ursane-type triterpenoid
Usnea
Vinegar
Vinegar
Vasicine
Vegetable Juice
Vitamin B3 (Nicotinamide riboside)
Withanolides
Water Plantain
Water Lily (unspecified)
Watercress
Watermelon
Winter squash
Yeast (unspecified)
Yeast
Yeast
Zinc Ascorbate
Zinc Picolinate
