Urinary tract infection is a bacterial infection that attacks the urinary tract area of the body. Urinary tract infections occur because germs enter the urinary tract and move towards the urethra. This continues to be a bacterial infection that can extend to the bladder, urinary tract, kidney, and urethra.
Symptoms of urinary tract infection
Here are some symptoms of urinary tract infections that you need to know:
- Urine will come out like blood or cloudy.
- You will often feel like urinating.
- If you have urinated, the urine that is released will not come out much, and instead is accompanied by pain.
- Your urine will smell bad.
- The lower abdomen around the genitals will feel cramped and uncomfortable.
- Body temperature will rise so that sometimes a fever occurs.
Causes of urinary tract infections
1. Escherichia coli bacteria
The most common cause of urinary tract infections is the Escherichia Coli bacteria, or commonly referred to as E. coli bacteria. One preventive measure that can be done is to maintain cleanliness in the female area and reduce the use of panty liners. Women should also be bent from front to back (from vagin to the anus), and not vice versa. Tails with a direction from front to back actually makes you risk carrying bacteria E. coli from the anus to the vagina, causing urinary tract infections.
2. Do not clean genitals properly
Bacteria that enter the urethra can spread infection in the bladder. Usually, there is a spread of bacteria when you clean the genitals or after defecating. Sometimes bacteria still stick to and multiply rapidly, causing bladder infections.
3. Do not urinate after sexual intercourse
Sex can be one of the causes. Usually these bacteria are spread through sexual activity between men and women. Bacteria transferred from the intestine will pass through the urethra, and this will cause infection. Why does it often occur in women? Generally a woman's urethral canal is shorter than a man's. So it is highly recommended for women to urinate after sexual intercourse.
4. Lack of drinking water
When the body lacks drinking, the kidneys will lose fluid. In fact, the kidneys need fluids to function better. This will make you rarely urinate and the urine becomes more concentrated. Lack of fluid in the kidneys will lure bacteria to attack, resulting in urinary tract infections. So the body needs enough water to prevent infection in other organs.
How to prevent urinary tract infections?
- Clean genitals with clean water.
- If you wash your vagina, do a pattern by cleaning from the front to the back (the vagina toward the anus). This is done so that bacteria from the anus do not spread to the intimate organs.
- Always change clothes every day or twice a day if you feel uncomfortable.
- Don't get used to holding urine.
- Drink enough mineral water, 8 glasses per day.
- Get used to urinating before and after sexual intercourse.