When someone experiences symptoms of a urinary tract infection, or common cold, and wants to ascertain the cause of the symptoms, they often just buy a test available at a pharmacy. But can such an over-the-counter test be enough for treatment? What are the situations when it is still worth seeing a doctor and what is the role of differential diagnosis? Dr. answered these questions. Gábor Bajor, urologist at the Urological Center.
A urinary tract infection causes typical symptoms
Cystitis or urinary tract infection (misnomer cold) is usually caused by bacteria that are normally present in the human colon, but can become pathogens when they enter the urinary tract and multiply. One of the most common and well-known such bacteria is Escherichia coli (E. coli). Characteristic and painful symptoms such as
– frequent, possibly constant urge to urinate,
– bladder and urethral pain,
– stinging, painful urination,
– a sudden, urgent urge to urinate,
– pain in the sacrum,
– cloudy, possibly smelly, rarely bloody urine.
What does the pharmacy test test?
For those who experience symptoms for the first time, the various tests available in pharmacies can be a useful tool. These usually work by dipping a test strip into the urine to identify signs of infection: white blood cells (leukocytes) or nitrite (numerous bacteria that are not present in the urinary tract in a healthy state convert nitrate into nitrite). To perform the test, it is recommended to use the first urine in the morning, as it is the most concentrated.
The urine used for the test must not come into contact with toilet water or any cleaning or disinfecting agent, the test must not be performed during or three days after menstruation, and must not be mixed with vaginal secretions, as this can lead to misleading results. At the same time, the manufacturers themselves warn that if the test is positive, further examination of the urine and the patient is required.
– A medical examination is especially important when it comes to recurring complaints. When investigating recurrent lower urinary tract complaints – in female patients – it is absolutely necessary to clarify the condition of the genitals, because asymptomatic vaginal bacteriosis plays a causal role in the development of the disease in many cases. So, if the infection affects any part of the urinary system, this is definitely a sign that something is not working properly, and recurrence may be due to some kind of anatomical or functional anomaly. If this can be identified, we can avoid unnecessary antibiotic treatment, which can be dangerous for the specific patient and the population, due to the spread of antibiotic resistance, he emphasizes. dr. Gabor Bajorurologist at the Urological Center.
Urinalysis is the basis of diagnosis
Dr. Nagy emphasizes that although a urinary tract infection can often be clearly diagnosed based on its symptoms, it is also true that urine that looks clear and not cloudy can also come from a patient with cystitis. In such cases, the test strip used for urine and, if necessary, the urine sediment test can reveal the presence of the disease. Therefore, laboratory urinalysis is definitely the basis for diagnosis, but if it is a recurring, chronic urinary tract infection, additional tests may be necessary. Urine cultures, catheter urine tests, abdominal ultrasound, cystoscopy or cystoscopy, and native or contrast X-rays can be considered, among others.
In some cases, a more thorough examination is necessary, taking into account the patient’s medical history, symptoms, underlying diseases, etc. Of course, this requires time and perseverance, but the patient’s detailed report can provide additional information compared to diagnostic tests. After all this, it may even turn out that it is not the recurring urinary tract infection, but, for example, the so-called overactive bladder or bladder pain syndrome causes the excruciating symptoms.
Source: Urology Center
Source: www.patikamagazin.hu
