Why can the symptoms of UTI after antibiotics show up? What could be the potential causes behind urinary tract infection (UTI) symptoms after taking antibiotics? In dentistry, some cases may require patients to take antibiotics before dental surgery. Will there be a possibility to develop urinary tract infections after these antibiotics? As a patient, we want every procedure to go smoothly before and after. Side effects are one of the factors we often feel scared of. So, let’s find out the relationship between UTI symptoms and antibiotics.
What is Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)?
Urinary tract infection is an infection affecting a person’s urinary tract. The urinary tract involves the following internal body parts: kidneys, bladder, and urethra.
Here is how they work together. The kidneys are body organs that remove the waste from the blood flowing in them. Meanwhile, the bladder stores this waste or urine. Then, the urethra is the tube carrying the urine from the bladder and out of the body. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) occur when bacteria happen to be in the urine and travel into the bladder.
According to reports from healthcare providers, UTIs are the principal reasons for visits among patients. Besides that, the majority of the patients with reported UTIs are women. It is because women have a shorter urethra than men, making bacteria travel shortly into the bladder.
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Symptoms
For older adults, it would be easier to identify the symptoms of UTI. It is because they can already understand what UTI is. Here are the signs signifying a bladder infection.
- There is a burning sensation while urinating.
- Additionally, there is a need to urinate more often than usual.
- Furthermore, it is also possible to feel the urge to urinate but are not able to.
- There is also an experience of leaking a little urine.
- Lastly, the urine becomes cloudy, dark, smelly, or bloody.
Adults often experience these UTI symptoms. Sometimes, the same bacteria also cause prostatitis or the infection of the prostate. Meanwhile, the UTI symptoms for children may include the following, in addition to those mentioned above.
UTI Symptoms for Kids
- Fever
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Irritability
- Being less active
- Stomach or back pain
- Urinates on pants despite being trained about it already
Causes of Urinary Tract Infections After Antibiotic Treatment
Antibiotics are the usual treatment that can help resolve the symptoms of UTI. Aside from that, procedures like those from a dental clinic may require taking antibiotics beforehand. However, some cases still show UTI symptoms even after taking antibiotic treatment. Below are the potential reasons why it can happen.
1. Antibiotic Resistance
A patient can become antibiotic-resistant when the bacteria causing the UTI do not respond to the applied antibiotics. In actuality, it results from the frequent administration of antibiotics. For example, the patient has chronic UTIs. It will then affect the evolution of the bacteria, making them antibiotic-resistant.
2. Wrong Antibiotics
The course of antibiotics differ from one another, and each antibiotic treats different infections. If the antibiotic is not proper for the bacteria strain causing UTIs, then it will become ineffective. Generally speaking, E. coli is the typical bacteria that cause UTIs. But then again, other bacteria strains, viruses, or fungi can also be a reason behind it.
3. Underlying Conditions
It is also possible that antibiotics are not working because the patient doesn’t have UTI in the first place. The reason behind it could be an underlying health condition that shows UTI-like symptoms. These conditions include the following.
Bladder irritation- Overactive bladder (frequent urination)
- Kidney infection
- Prolapsed uterus
- STIs
- Genital herpes
- Bladder or prostate cancer
What To Do Next?
If antibiotic treatment does not reduce the patient’s UTI symptoms, the doctor may perform other tests. The doctor is most likely to do a urine culture and sensitivity test to know what causes the infection. In effect, they could prescribe the most appropriate treatment.
The doctor may also require additional tests related to underlying conditions, such as a pelvic ultrasound or a computed tomography (CT) scan. This way, it would be easier for the doctor to find out the potential causes further.
Meanwhile, dental procedures may often require antibiotics before surgery. So, it would be best to take care of our teeth. Dental providers are everywhere (visit Radiant Smiles in Bundoora). For this reason, let’s make it a part of our routine to visit the dentists regularly.
Other Potential Contributors of Developing UTI
Aside from the causes mentioned, a person may also have a higher risk of developing UTI due to the following factors.
- body factors
- birth control
- abnormal anatomy
- weak immune system
In the final analysis, we have several reasons for us to develop UTI. If we do not work these out, the risk will increase even more. For this reason, it would be best to ask the doctor for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment to address UTIs as soon as possible.
Generally speaking, it would be best to prevent it in the first place instead of receiving treatment. Prevention is always better than cure. You can always do something to prevent yourself from incurring any health issues. That includes the prevention of UTI.
How to Prevent Urinary Tract Infections
Here are some simple tips that you can do to avoid UTIs. Applying them will be beneficial.
- The very first thing that you should maintain is to drink plenty of water. Water is the best way to flush out the bacteria causing UTI. Other individuals prefer drinking cranberry juice. However, it is still necessary to consult with the doctor, especially those taking warfarin (blood thinner).
- Never hold your urine. It would be best to urinate when you felt the need to. It is a habit we need to teach our children.
- After bowel movements, wipe from front to back direction.
- Additionally, urinating after a sexual interaction is necessary to wash away the bacteria.
- Moreover, it would be best to ask your doctor the best birth control method.
- Meanwhile, wearing loose-fitting clothes, including pants, would be better.
- Lastly, uncircumcised boys should learn how to wash the foreskin properly.
Generally speaking, it is also essential to practice good hygiene. Eating a healthy diet including fruits and vegetables may also help prevent UTI.
References:
Urinary Tract Infection, Familydoctor.org, Updated October 30, 2018, https://familydoctor.org/condition/urinary-tract-infections/
What is a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) in Adults?, Urologyhealth.org, Updated April 2019, https://www.urologyhealth.org/urology-a-z/u/urinary-tract-infections-in-adults
Can UTI Symptoms Linger After Antibiotics?, Dr. Jasmine Shaikh, MD, Medically reviewed by Pallavi Suyog Uttekar, MD, May 19, 2021, https://www.medicinenet.com/can_uti_symptoms_linger_after_antibiotics/article.htm
