I found a website about self-management of UTI's:
"Do It Yourself": Patients Treating Themselves for UTIsAs you know, medication is about the only way to TREAT a UTI, but try to increase your fluid intake, draink more cranberry juice to try to make the urinary environment more hostile for the bacteria. Do not 'hold' it.. but go when you have to go. Those are about the only things I can suggest other than seeing a doctor as soon as possible. You can get long term kidney damage which can lead to many much more severe problems.
Below I have included an article that discusses prevention of UTI.
quote:
According to WebMD, urinary tract infections, or UTIs occur when microorganisms or bacteria from the digestive tract cling to the opening of the urethra and start to multiply. Most infections are caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria that migrate out of the colon. Chlamydia and mycoplasma may also cause UTIs.
Kidney stones, diabetes, enlarged prostrate glands, and urinary catheters are also associated with UTIs. Bacteria on a catheter can infect the bladder, so special care is required to be sure catheters are sterile and changed as directed.
Women and UTIs
Women suffer UTIs more frequently than men. This is because a woman’s urethra (the tube between the bladder and the outside of your body through which you urinate) is short, allowing bacteria easy access to the bladder.
In addition, a woman’s urethral opening is closer to bacteria located in the vagina and anus. Women must always wipe from front to back so they don’t get fecal matter in their urethra. Sexual intercourse appears to trigger UTIs among some women.
The possibility of recurrent UTIs multiply with incidence. For example, four out of five women who have had three UTIs get another one within 18 months of the last infection.
Some helpful tips for avoiding UTIs include:
*Drink plenty of water every day
*Don’t resist the urge to urinate
*Take showers instead of baths
*Avoid bubble baths unless using very gentle products
Specific recommendations for women include:
*Wipe from front to back following urination to prevent spreading bacteria around the anus into the vagina or urethra
*Cleanse the genital area before sexual intercourse
*Urinate and cleanse the genital area after sex
Managing UTI's
