Does it burn or pain while you urinate? Well, you might be a victim of urinary tract infection which is most common amongst women. The good news is that now you don’t have to wait for your doctor to give you a prescription; there are a few over-the-counter UTI medicines which could relieve your pain.
Urinary tract infection is usually very painful and at the same time, it can also be very awkward and embarrassing. The urine passes through the urinary tract before being excreted from the body. The tract consists of the kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra. Majority of the UTIs are due to bladder infection. This happens because of the germs that enter into the system through the urethra and cause the infection. This infection usually is not serious if treated immediately with proper care. Although, if ignored, this can spread to the kidneys and can cause serious and permanent damage.
Diagnosis
Apart from going to the doctor and getting the infection examined through urine sample test or other tests, you can confirm the infection yourself by using various home testing kits available at the drug store. AZO test strips are one of them. Just follow the three steps stated below:
» Wet the test pads by holding in your urine stream for 2 seconds.
» Immediately get the test strip in contact with a clean paper towel so that it absorbs the excess urine.
» Wait for a minute or two. Match the test pad’s color to the color bars printed on the pouch.
OTC Medication for UTI
Once it is confirmed that you are suffering from UTI, you can buy one of these over-the-counter medicines from the pharmacy:
» Cystex
» Consumers Choice Systems UTI relief tablets
» AZO urinary pain relief tablets
» Rite Aid tract pain relief tablets
» Uricalm pain medicine tablets
Note: All these medicines may have few minor side effects. These drugs are not to be consumed if you are diabetic, pregnant, breastfeeding, suffering from stomach ailments, kidney infections or if you are a heart patient.
Always …
✔ .. Drink plenty of water as it helps in flushing out the bacteria and keeps you hydrated.
✔ .. Maintain a healthy diet. Increase the intake of foods which are rich in vitamin C. Cranberry juice has proved to be the best remedy for UTI.
Never …
✖ .. Consume alcohol while you are taking these tablets as it might result in adverse effects.
✖ .. Use bathtubs and do not use any kind of spray or perfume near the sensitive areas.
✖ .. Make use of public toilets.
✖ .. Wear tight-fitting clothes and instead use cotton or other natural fabrics.
Causes of UTI
UTIs are not life-threatening, but you would feel a lot of discomfort if you are suffering from it. The most common cause of UTI is the E.coli bacterial strain that lives in the colon. It is a bacterial infection that occurs when bacteria intrude on the urinary tract system. Once entered, the bacteria starts to mutate and spread throughout the system. The major reasons for this infection are insufficient hygiene, while using public toilets, sex with multiple partners and holding the urine for a long time. Urinary tract infection is less common in men. Kidney stones and spinal injury may also cause urinary tract infections.
Symptoms of the Infection
» An urge to pass urine every few minutes, even though little or nothing comes out
» Pain and burning sensation when urinating
» The amount of urine is reduced
» The urine passed appears darker than usual
» Fever, nausea or vomiting
» Lower back pain
» Diarrhea
» Weakness
» Loss of appetite
Prevention is always better than cure. Hence, take proper care of yourself. In case of emergency wherein you have to use public toilets, make sure you use toilet seat covers, which are easily available in the market.
Disclaimer: This article is purely for informative and educational purposes. Please seek the advice of a registered medical practitioner before consuming any of the medicines mentioned here.
