Urinary tract infection in men is treated with antibiotics, and although women are more susceptible, urethral and bladder infections remain common in men.
How to treat a urinary tract infection in men at home
Urinary tract infection is defined as a bacterial infection that affects one part of the urinary system, which consists of the kidneys, which connect with the bladder through the ureters, and then the urethra, which ends in the man's penis.
Inflammation occurs as a result of bacterial growth in the urinary tract. Urinary tract infection is associated with the emergence of many symptoms such as difficulty urinating and pain, in addition to the urgent need to urinate with incontinence.
UTIs in men are usually less common than in women because the female urethra is shorter than the male's and closer to the anus.
Antibiotics are the mainstay in treating UTIs in men at home. They are used to treat UTIs for both men and women.
There are many ways to use antibacterial therapy, it may be administered orally or intravenously, and the dosage and type of drug varies according to the nature and severity of each disease.
The doctor chooses the appropriate antibiotic for treatment according to the type of attacking germs. This is known by conducting a urine test for the patient and detecting the bacteria in the sample.
In some cases, doctors begin treatment immediately and before the results of the urine analysis appear, by using drugs that attack the germs most likely to cause urinary tract infections. The drugs may be changed after the results of the analysis appear.
Following the instructions of your specialist is important regarding the period of taking the medication and the necessary dosage. One of the common mistakes that many UTI patients make is to stop taking their medication as soon as symptoms improve.
Improvement in symptoms of the disease is not conclusive evidence of recovery, as stopping the medication before the UTI is completely cleared may lead to a recurrence of symptoms of the infection.
Best antibiotic to treat urinary tract infection in men at home
The antibiotic used in the treatment of urinary tract infections in men varies according to the severity of the infection. We usually resort to commonly used medicines that have good efficacy with fewer side effects in mild infections.
The most common antibiotics used to treat a urinary tract infection in men at home:
- sulfamethoxazole
- trimethoprim
- Nitrofurantoin
- amoxicillin
- Ceftriaxone
People with urinary tract infections with complications can take medicines known as fluoroquinolones, this class is considered to have a strong effect and carries some side effects, so it is not recommended to use it at home except for severe cases.
Urinary tract infection symptoms in men
Urinary tract infections do not necessarily cause obvious symptoms, but the infection often results in some symptoms, including:
- Pain in the flank or pelvic area
- Raises my body and general fatigue
- Urinary urgency (a constant urge to urinate)
- Heartburn that may be painful while urinating
- incontinence
- Strong urine smell and cloudy color
- Presence of blood in urine
Urinary tract infection causes
The human immune system protects the urinary tract from infection by preventing bacteria from multiplying within the urinary tract.
When the body's immunity fails to perform its function, urinary tract infection occurs as a result of germs invading the urinary tract, where the multiplication of bacteria leads to the inflammatory process.
Microorganisms enter the urethra through the urethra and may then spread to the bladder, where cystitis and urethritis are the most common places where urinary tract infections occur in men.
Urinary tract infection is more common in older men than in young men. Urinary tract infection is often seen in elderly people over 50 years of age as a result of chronic diseases and predisposing factors that affect the elderly. such as an enlarged prostate and diabetes mellitus.
Escherichia coli (E.coli) is one of the most common bacteria that causes cystitis in men.
Urinary tract infection diagnosis
The specialist uses one of these tests to diagnose:
UrinalysisA sample is taken from the patient’s urine and several tests are performed on the sample, such as determining the number of red blood cells and white blood cells, as the number of white blood cells increases in the context of urinary tract infection.
Urine culture: This test aims to determine the type of bacteria that caused the infection by placing the sample in a medium suitable for the reproduction of bacteria, in order to choose the appropriate treatment method for the infection.
Types of urinary tract infections
Urinary tract infection is classified according to the affected area, where the symptoms vary according to the location of the infection. We have two main sections:
upper urinary tract infection
This type includes inflammation of both the ureters and the kidney and its symptoms are raised in the form of fever, pelvic and back pain, chills, nausea and vomiting.
lower urinary tract infection
Infection of the lower part of the urinary system affects the areas of the bladder and urethra, symptoms appear in the form of difficulties in the process of urination, so we find patients complaining of urinary urgency with burning and pain during urination.
Complications of urinary tract infection in men
It is necessary to treat urinary tract infections to prevent the infection from spreading to the kidneys and complications, which include:
- pyelonephritis
- Recurrent infection after treatment
- permanent kidney damage
- Severe urethral stricture due to recurrent infections
- Sepsis, which is the most dangerous complication, where germs spread to the blood and then move to the rest of the human body
Predisposing factors for urinary tract infection in men
There are some factors that increase the chances of developing urinary tract infections, including:
- diabetes and immunodeficiency diseases
- Prostate enlargement
- urethral stricture
- Kidney stones
- bladder prolapse
- Multiple sexual partners
- Drink small amounts of water
- Prolonged use of bladder catheters
Prevention of urinary tract infection
There are some things that can be done to prevent urethritis in men, including:
- Consume a good amount of fluids daily
- More than raspberry juice (studies have shown it to be effective in preventing UTIs)
- Wiping from front to back after defecation to prevent the spread of anal germs to the urethra
- Take care of personal hygiene
- Urinating after intercourse to get rid of potential germs
- Avoiding tight clothes helps prevent moisture, which is a suitable medium for the growth of microorganisms
Urinary tract infection and sexual intercourse
There is an important relationship between sexual activity and an increased risk of catching a bacterial infection, as sexual intercourse increases the chances of transmitting bacteria from a woman to a man or vice versa. Therefore, multiple sexual partners is a risk factor for infection.
Many couples get a urinary tract infection after sex, as studies have indicated that signs of a urinary tract infection may appear two days after intercourse.
Doctors advise patients who suffer from urinary tract infections to stop sexual intercourse until the infection clears completely, because intercourse may increase the severity of the infection and hinder the healing process.