Today’s guest post is by Dr. Ghulane Parag, MBBS, MS (Surg.), DNB (Uro. Dr. Parag is a part of the leading Multispecialty Hospital in Pune – VishwaRaj Multispecialty Hospital in Loni Kalbhor, Pune is a top player in the category of Hospitals in Pune. VishwaRaj Hospital is a 300 bedded tertiary care center. It is equipped with ten world-class operation theaters and an ultra-modern Cath Lab. VishwaRaj Hospital has a successful combination of talented consultants and highly experienced consultants providing their best of expertise to deliver the best results. The Para-medical and support staff are highly trained to attain optimal patient delight.
Pregnancy is a natural phase of life that comes with a lot of joy and excitement. But along with these emotions, a pregnant lady faces a lot of problems. One such situation is Urinary tract infection during pregnancy. If a pregnant woman gets diagnosed with UTI, she should take proper treatment to take care of herself and the baby. If not diagnosed on time, UTI can cause difficulties in pregnancy.
What is Urinary Tract Infection?
Urinary Tract Infection is a bacterial infection in which some bacteria enter the body and result in an infection of the urinary system. This infection can affect the kidneys, ureters, urethra, and bladder. These infections can affect anyone but are more common in women. Symptoms of Urinary Tract Infection include:
1. Urinating frequently
2. Pain during peeing
3. Lower back pain
4. Fever or vomiting
5. Bloody urine
Urinary Tract Infection During Pregnancy (Causes of UTI in pregnancy)
There are a lot of reasons why UTI is common during pregnancy. The first reason could be the hormones that activate during pregnancy. These hormones cause changes in the urinary tract, so pregnant women are more likely to get UTIs. Also, during pregnancy, the urine of a pregnant woman has more protein, sugar, and hormones, which can also increase UTIs’ risk.
Another reason for getting Urology disease or UTI could be the pressure that a fetus puts on the bladder and urinary tract. Due to this pressure, one cannot pee completely, and this leftover urine in the bladder can become a source of many infections. Apart from this, sexual activity that includes fingers, partner’s penis, or devices can also transfer bacteria inside the body.
Complications of UTI during a pregnancy
Any disease, infection, or complication during pregnancy is dangerous because it includes the risk of affecting the mother and the baby’s health. Out of all the pregnant women, 10% get UTI. UTI doesn’t harm or cause any damage to the fetus/baby, but if not treated on time, this infection can cause severe kidney problems.
When a UTI becomes severe, it can lead to various complications like it can cause infection in the bloodstream that can spread to organs. It can also result in pneumonia, adult respiratory distress syndrome, long-term illness, anemia, preterm labor, or low birth weight. All these complications can be dangerous, so it is crucial to stay informed about such infections during pregnancy.
Prevention of UTIs during Pregnancy
Following are the ways by which one can prevent or avoid UTI:
1. Drinking plenty of water.
2. Emptying the bladder before and after sex.
3. Wearing cotton-made underwear.
4. Avoiding the use of douches, perfumes, or sprays that irritates.
5. Do not wear too-tight pants.
6. Peeing often
Treatment of UTI during pregnancy
Once you are diagnosed with a UTI, it is essential to get the proper urology treatment on time. Your doctor will prescribe this treatment according to your specific cause and condition of UTI. Your doctor may ask you to take some antibiotics for 3 to 7 days or as prescribed by him. With these medicines, your symptoms may go away in 4 days. Even if your symptoms fade before completing your doses, complete your medication by taking them on time.
Conclusion
UTI during pregnancy is not rare and can affect a pregnant woman more than once during a single pregnancy cycle. A UTI can become severe and cause complications if the infection reaches the kidney and causes kidney infections. No report or data shows that UTI causes any harm to the baby in the uterus, but it can lead to other serious complications if it’s not treated or managed on time. One should not take UTI lightly and ignore any symptoms. If you see any signs, visit a urology hospital at the earliest.