Urinary tract infection is a common disease that affects both men and women. Urinary tract infection in men can be a health challenge that can significantly affect their quality of life, and requires effective diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, dealing with this disease requires careful evaluation and correct diagnosis, as there can be multiple different causes for similar symptoms. Treatment depends on the underlying cause of the infection. Treatment may include antibiotics to eliminate the bacteria causing the infection and painkillers for the accompanying symptoms. If you suffer from a urinary tract infection, let us explore this article together to learn about its causes, symptoms, ways to prevent it, and how to treat it.
Urinary tract infection in men
The urinary tract is a complex system that includes a group of organs related to the process of urination, which are:
- Kidney
- Ureters (tubes that drain urine from the kidneys to the bladder)
- Bladder
- The urethra (the tube that drains urine from the bladder)
- Prostate gland
Which suffers from inflammation when bacteria or other germs move to these organs and multiply there.
A urinary tract infection is usually diagnosed when bacteria are present in the urine in significant quantities, and are accompanied by symptoms such as a feeling of pain or burning during urination or during ejaculation.
Men rarely get urinary tract infections before age 50, but they are more common in older men.
Learn about: The relationship between urinary tract infection and intercourse
Causes of urinary tract infection in men
The urinary tract does not contain any bacteria, germs, or parasites in normal cases, but they may be transmitted to it through several reasons, causing inflammation, pain, and high temperatures.
The most important of these reasons:
- Bacteria move from the rectum to the urethra and then to the bladder or kidneys.
- The spread of bacteria from another part of the body through the bloodstream to the urinary tract.
- Sexually transmitted diseases are also one of the causes of urinary tract infections in men.
- The presence of some stones in the urinary tract may block the flow of urine and cause infection.
- An enlarged prostate, in older men, can cause a urinary tract infection by preventing urine from draining completely from the bladder.
- Using a catheter to drain the bladder may cause infection.
- Narrowing of the urethra, due to tissue from a previous infection or surgical procedures.
Urinary tract infections are less common in men than in women because the male urethra is long, making it difficult for bacteria to spread to the bladder.
If you have diabetes or another medical problem that affects your immune system, you are more likely to get a urinary tract infection.
أقرأ أيضا : When do the symptoms of a urinary tract infection go away?
What are the symptoms of a urinary tract infection?
Symptoms of a urinary tract infection may vary between people and depend on its type and severity.
- Urinating often
- Feeling an urgent need to urinate
- Pain and discomfort (burning) when urinating
- Discharge from the penis (i.e. clear fluid or a small amount of pus from the penis)
- Stomach ache
- Fever or chills
- Urine that appears cloudy or bloody
- Back pain (a prostate infection may cause lower back pain while a kidney infection may cause mid-back pain)
Book your consultation now at قسم المسالك البولیة At Al Mousa Specialist Hospital
Symptoms of urinary tract infection in men
Doctors divide the symptoms of urinary tract infection in men into three categories:
- أعراض عامة: They include abdominal and pelvic pain, back pain, high temperature, and a constant feeling of fatigue.
- Symptoms related to the urethra: It includes abnormal discharge from the penis and severe pain during ejaculation.
- Symptoms related to urination: They include burning and pain during urination, a feeling that the bladder has not emptied, smelling a foul odor of urine, and sometimes blood during urination.
How can a urinary tract infection be diagnosed?
If you suffer from some of the previous symptoms, you should do some necessary laboratory tests for urine and secretions from the urethra and prostate gland.
If symptoms become more severe and infections become serious or recurrent, you may need:
- Intravenous pyelography (IVP) is a special type of x-ray of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder.
- An ultrasound examination to examine the urinary tract.
- Cystoscopy, which is an examination of the inside of the urethra and bladder using a small, lighted instrument, usually performed by a urologist.
You may be interested to know: Can a urinary tract infection be treated without antibiotics?
Treatment of urinary tract infection
Methods of treating a urinary tract infection depend on the severity of the condition and the type of agent causing the infection.
In more serious cases, with recurrent infections or accompanied by severe symptoms, treatment and a doctor are required.
For most urinary tract infections, symptoms disappear within 24 hours after starting treatment.
The infection can last a long time if untreated, may permanently damage the bladder and kidneys, or may spread to the blood and be fatal.
In addition to drug treatment, some preventive measures can be followed, the most important of which are:
- Drink more fluids, especially water, to help flush bacteria from your system.
- Keep a daily record of your temperature.
- A hot water bottle or electric heating pad on a low setting can help relieve cramps or lower abdominal or back pain.
- Keep your follow-up appointment with your doctor, if recommended.
Contact your doctor immediately if:
- Symptoms continue to appear after taking the antibiotic for two days.
- Symptoms getting worse.
- Your temperature rises
- Vomiting occurs
- Pain appears in your side, back, or abdomen.
- Any symptoms that worry you.
Tips to prevent urinary tract infections in men
Men can reduce the possibility Urinary tract infection By following these preventive guidelines:
- Drink plenty of fluids every day.
- Don't wait to go to the bathroom when you feel the need to urinate.
- Empty your bladder completely when urinating.
- Practice safe sex.
- Urinating immediately after sex.
- Keep the genital area clean.
Does urinary tract infection in men impair erection?
In general, urinary tract infections do not affect erectile function and do not cause erectile dysfunction.
It should also be noted that the uncomfortable symptoms of a urinary tract infection, such as burning, pain, and in some cases fever, may lead to decreased libido, which in turn can affect the ability to have an erection.
In any case, it is necessary to treat urinary tract infections without delay to prevent the development of health complications.
The difference between a urinary tract infection in men or women
It is known that women are more susceptible to urinary tract infections than men, because the tube that exits urine is close to the anus, which makes the bacteria reach the bladder faster. This is what explains the difference between urinary tract infections in men or women and how common this condition is in each of them.
Another difference is that the symptoms of cystitis in women are limited only to pain in the lower abdomen with a burning sensation during urination and frequent urination, while in men it increases until it reaches severe pain in the penis and pelvic area.
Complications of urinary tract infection
If treatment is neglected or failure to follow up with a specialist doctor, the patient’s condition may develop into complications of urinary tract infection, including:
- Obstruction or narrowing of the urethra
- Bladder tissue damage due to recurrent infections.
- Exposure to acute or chronic kidney infection due to infection.
- In some advanced cases, it may develop into blood poisoning due to the spread of bacteria in the bloodstream.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best medicine for urinary tract infection?
Only the doctor can choose the best medication for a urinary tract infection according to the patient's condition. In general, the doctor recommends the appropriate antibiotic to treat the infection, along with painkillers to relieve the resulting pain, along with some instructions that help in a quick recovery.
What drinks clean the urinary tract?
Among the drinks that clean the urinary tract, in addition to water, is barley drink, which helps improve kidney function and expel toxins from the body. Parsley can also be boiled, filtered, and used to expel toxins, but these drinks are never a substitute for medical treatment.
When is urinary tract infection dangerous in men?
Urine infection becomes dangerous in men when the infection moves to the kidneys or spreads in the blood and causes sepsis, which turns the situation into a life-threatening condition for the patient and is accompanied by a sudden rise in temperature, rapid heartbeat and shortness of breath.
Where do urine infections come from?
Urine infections come from several causes, most notably bacterial infection, prostate enlargement in men, also due to transmission of infection during intercourse, weak immunity, and exposure to prolonged urinary retention.
In conclusion, men should observe and pay attention to the symptoms of a urinary tract infection, and consult a specialist doctor if similar symptoms appear.
With early diagnosis and proper treatment, men can overcome a UTI and regain their health and personal well-being.
