Healthy Living

 

 

 

 

 

Bladder and Yeast Infections

 

Bladder/Urinary Tract Infections

The body’s urinary tract system is what makes urine and carries it out of your body. It includes your bladder and kidneys and the tubes that connect them. When germs get into this system they can cause infections. Most urinary tract infections are bladder infections. A bladder infection is usually not serious if treated right away. If you do not take care of a bladder infection, it can spread to your kidneys. A kidney infection is serious and can cause permanent damage.

You may be more likely to get an infection if you do not drink enough fluids, have diabetes, or if you’re pregnant. Kidney stones, which block the flow of urine from your bladder, can also cause bladder infections.

Symptoms of Bladder/Urinary Tract Infections

  • Pain or burning during urination (peeing).
  • Frequent desire to pee, often urgently and immediately but not much comes out.
  • Your belly feels tender or heavy.
  • Your urine is cloudy or smells bad.
  • You have pain on one side of your back under your ribs.
  • You have fever and chills.
  • You have nausea and vomiting.

If you think you have a bladder/urinary tract infection talk to your doctor. To figure out whether you have an infection the doctor will test your urine for the germs that cause bladder infections. If you have a bladder/urinary tract infection antibiotics will be prescribed to clear it up. If you are pregnant make sure you tell your doctor so that the antibiotics prescribed will not harm your baby. Make sure you take all of your antibiotics as prescribed so you do not get an infection again.

Tips on Preventing Bladder/Urinary Tract Infections

  • Drink lots of water everyday.
  • Try drinking cranberry juice or taking cranberry pills.
  • Go to the bathroom often, do not try and hold it.
  • Go to the bathroom right after having sex.

For more information on bladder/urinary tract infections visit the following sites:

Ontario Health: Urinary Tract Infections
http://www.healthyontario.com/ConditionDetails.aspx?disease_id=234

BC Health Guide: Urinary Tract Infections in Teens and Adults http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/kbase/topic/major/hw57226/descrip.htm

Yeast Infections

Vaginal yeast infections are very common among women and are usually not serious. These infections happen when bacteria in the vagina get out of balance. This imbalance causes yeast to grow in the vagina and uncomfortable symptoms to show up. Things that can cause imbalances include taking antibiotics, high estrogen levels caused by pregnancy, and health problems such as diabetes or HIV.

Symptoms of a Yeast Infection

  • Itchiness in the vagina.
  • Soreness in the vagina.
  • Pain or burning when you urinate.
  • Pain or burning when you have sex.
  • White discharge from your vagina that looks like cottage cheese and has no colour.

Treatment

If you’ve never had a yeast infection before and think you might have one, see your doctor so you can be properly diagnosed and treated for it. If you aren't pregnant and have had a yeast infection before and can recognize the symptoms, treat yourself at home with medicines you can buy without a prescription. These medicines include antifungal creams or suppositories that you put into your vagina or antifungal tablets that you swallow.

If you use a cream or suppository to treat the infection, don't depend on condoms or diaphragms for birth control. The oil in some medicines weakens latex, the material often used to make these birth control products. If you are pregnant and think you have a yeast infection, don't use any yeast infection medicine without talking to your doctor first.

Tips on Preventing Bladder/Urinary Tract Infections

  • Wear cotton, not nylon, underwear, and avoid tight fitting pants and panty hose.
  • Change out of a wet swimsuit right away.
  • Avoid douches and feminine sprays, scented toilet paper, and deodorant tampons.

For more information on yeast infections visit the following sites:

BC Health Guide
http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/kbase/topic/major/hw61044/descrip.htm

BC Health Files
http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthfiles/hfile08j.stm

 

Sources: Ontario Health: Urinary Tract Infections.
http://www.healthyontario.com/ConditionDetails.aspx?disease_id=234
BC HealthGuide: Urinary Tract Infections in Teens and Adults. http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/kbase/topic/major/hw57226/descrip.htm
BC HealthGuide: Vaginal Yeast Infections.
http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/kbase/topic/major/hw61044/descrip.htm