MEDLINEplus Health Information: Return to home page   A service of the National Library of Medicine: Go to NLM home page
Search     Advanced Search    Site Map    About MEDLINEplus    Home
Health Topics: conditions, diseases and wellness Drug Information: generic and brand name drugs Dictionaries: spellings and definitions of medical terms Directories: doctors, dentists and hospitals Other Resources: organizations, libraries, publications, MEDLINE

Medical Encyclopedia

Disease     Injury     Nutrition     Poison     Special     Surgery     Symptoms     Tests

Urinary tract, female
Urinary tract, male
Voiding cystourethrogram
 
Overview   Symptoms   Treatment   Prevention   

Chronic or recurrent urinary tract infection

Alternative names:

chronic or recurrent UTI; urinary tract infection - chronic or recurrent; UTI - chronic or recurrent

Prevention:

Cleanliness of the genital area may help reduce the chances of introducing bacteria through the urethra. The genitals should be cleaned and wiped from front to back to reduce the chance of "dragging" bacteria from the rectal area to the urethra.

Increasing the intake of fluids may allow urination to "flush out" the bacteria from the bladder.

Refraining from urinating for long periods of time can give bacteria time to multiply, so those prone to urinary tract infections, should urinate frequently to help reduce the risk of developing cystitis.

Women who are prone to urinary tract infections should wear absorbent cotton underwear.

Long-term use of prophylactic (preventative) antibiotics may be recommended for some people who are prone to chronic or recurrent urinary tract infections.


Adam

The information provided herein should not be used for diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Copyright 2000 adam.com, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Health Topics | Drug Information | Dictionaries | Directories | Other Resources