Urinary infection or cystitis is caused by the presence and multiplication of microorganisms in the urinary tract, a disease that affects many women in summer causing pain, increased frequency, and a feeling of urgency to urinate.
Prevention and Care
Many women have the bad memory of a summer in which they had cystitis, an infection that, as it progresses, compromises organs such as the urinary tract, bladder, and kidneys, if the person does not identify their symptoms in time, and can develop acute bacterial cystitis. About the symptoms of this infection, they can be recognized quickly, since they are characterized by generating pain when urinating (dysuria), increased frequency of urination (frequency), urgency (not being able to “hold”), and a feeling of difficulty emptying. the urine.
As the infection progresses, the presence of cystitis causes more acute discomfort such as “bad smell, darker urine or blood may also appear in the urine. Some patients may have suprapubic (lower belly) and lower back pain. Sometimes urinary incontinence occurs ”, he describes Diego Reyes, Head of Urology at Bupa Santiago Clinic.
To understand how a urinary infection originates and prevent its development, it is important to know that it is produced by the ascent of bacteria from the perineal (anal) area to the urethra, generating an infection in the urinary tract. The most frequent cause that favors the development of cystitis is sexual activity since it favors the mobilization of bacteria.
Why is it more common in summer?
In summer the consultations of women with acute cystitis increase, compared to other seasons of the year, according to some studies. Unfortunately, the specific cause that causes the highest frequency of cases during the vacation months is not yet clear, but according to the doctor from Clínica Bupa Santiago, the most frequent are:
In summer there is a greater frequency of sexual activity, increasing the chances of transporting bacteria from the perineal area to the urethra. As a result of the high temperatures, greater dehydration occurs, generating the body’s more concentrated urine and less frequent urination.
The prolonged existence of greater humidity in the perineal area (space between the vagina and the anus) can also favor the movement of germs towards the urinary tract. “ Cystitis is much more frequent in women, up to 50% of the female population will present an episode of cystitis during their life. This phenomenon is explained by the fact that the urethra is shorter in women than in men, and there is greater proximity between the urinary meatus and the perineum, ”says Reyes.
Diagnosis and treatment
Suspecting symptoms of cystitis, it is recommended to consult a doctor, since only a specialist can make a proper diagnosis, which is done with a complete urine test and urine culture, and then start treatment.
“Patients should consult a urology specialist doctor when they have a complicated urinary infection, with symptoms such as fever or when suffering recurrent urinary infections (more than 2 per year), a history of any urinary tract pathology or when the symptoms do not disappear, despite adequate treatment ”, explains the urologist.
Regarding the treatment that is prescribed to a person with a urinary infection, in general, doses of oral antibiotics are applied for 5 to 7 days and analgesics. It should be noted that in many cases cystitis and its symptoms resolve spontaneously, thanks to the immune system and defense mechanism of our body. In immunosuppressed patients with low defenses and chronic diseases, such as decompensated diabetes, urinary tract infections can be severe.