Sunday, December 28, 2008

UTI's In Pregnancy

By Jennifer King

There are 4 sections of the urinary tract: your kidneys which are just below your ribs in the middle of your back; two ureters- which are narrow tubes that carry the urine from the kidney to the bladder; the bladder the organ where the urine is accumulated; urethra is the tube through the urine is released outside of the body. This system of content and evacuating the urine would not be possible without the existence of the two sphincters muscles that close the opening of the bladder so the urine doesn't leak out. Those are the main anatomical parts of the urinary system.

Urinary infections are common especially in women and in pregnant women, and if they are left untreated or not treated in time they can cause kidney infections. The bladder is sterile and so is its content. The stored urine contains water, minerals, salts and waste products.

Women are more susceptible to UTI's during pregnancy because of the amount of urine they produce accompanied with hormonal changes. The bladder can't be emptied entirely because of the compression exercised by the growing uterus on the ureters.

Here you have a description of certain types of UTI's

Asymptomatic bacteraemia can lead to kidney infection, and is caused by germs in the urinary tract before pregnancy. Cystitis is a bladder infection that manifests clinically with pain, frequent urination, burning when urinating, fever. Frequent urination and being unable to completely empty the bladder come with being pregnant, and can be mistaken for a urinary tract infection. Kidney infections usually occur when a bladder infection is not treated in time.

The most common agents of infection are: E.Coli, group B streptococcus and the sexually transmitted gonorrhea and chlamydeous. Some of these germs are present on the skin and the genital area all the time, but for some people ( usually those with low healthy bacteria and immune system problems ) these bacteria will cause an infection. Women are usually tested for infection at their first prenatal visit, there are tests taken on the urine to see if there are any bacteria present, and if there is found bacteria antibiotics are needed. Antibiotics are likely to be prescribed by your doctor as he knows better which ones are the best in your case, especially if you are pregnant.

It is essential to contact your doctor as soon as you feel any urinary infection symptoms. Pregnant women may receive the antibiotics through venous line in hospital. Do not treat yourself with antibiotics without medical recommendations because doing that can cause harm to your baby, leave you with antibiotic resistant E coli infecting your urinary tract and can also cause premature births.

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