Infections

Causes of Yeast Infections

January 29th, 2010

yeast infections are generally benign infections involving several body areas. The most common areas infected by the Candida yeast organism include the mouth, the intestine, the skin and the vaginal infections. There is also such a thing as systemic Candidiasis which is a severe form of yeast infection that affects hospitalized individuals.

The causes of yeast infection vary depending on the source of the infection. Vaginal yeast infections have many causes. The most common cause of a vaginal yeast infection is antibiotic use for another reason. The antibiotics kill off the normal healthy bacteria in the vagina and the small amount of yeast that?s left in the vagina grow and proliferate to create a vaginal infection. The symptoms are vaginal discharge, burning and itching of the vaginal area.

Another big cause of yeast infections of the vagina is diabetes. The yeast thrives off of the higher sugar environment in the body and yeast grows off of the excess sugar. In some cases, people who aren?t diabetic but who eat a lot of sugar can get yeast infections of the vagina as well.

The environment of the vagina is important to getting yeast infections. It should be slightly acidic and if a woman douches with anything other than vinegar, she can get a yeast infection as a result. Using perfumes, dyes or detergents as part of your underwear will trigger a yeast infection in susceptible people. Using antibacterial soap can also trigger a yeast infection as can underwear made from nylon or that doesn?t breathe very well. Wearing nylons can cause the air to circulate poorly which can trigger a yeast infection in some individuals.

Genital candidiasis is a sexually transmitted disease in some cases. The man can harbor it under the foreskin or on the glans of the penis and pass it back to the woman. Men can even get yeast balanitis, which is a yeast infection of the foreskin. Both male and female vaginal infections are treated with anti-fungal cream. The women?s treatment involves prefilled applicators of cream and men?s treatment involves the topical application of cream.

Causes of yeast infections that involve the mouth can be diabetes or immunosuppression. Babies are relatively immune suppressed and they haven?t been exposed to Candida before so they easily get infected with oral infections of Candida. Diabetics can, because of their high blood sugar, get oral yeast infections as well. These are treated with antifungal lozenges, troches or nystatin liquid which is squirted in the mouth and swished around the mouth and spit out. Babies just swallow the liquid given to them by eyedropper.

Skin yeast infections are fairly common as well. Causes of yeast infection of the skin include being diabetic, overweight or being immune suppressed. Overweight individuals have a lot of skin folds that can breed the organism. Common places you?ll see these Candida infections are the groin folds, abdominal skin folds, underneath the breasts and in the armpits. The skin is warm and moist there from sweating and the yeast will often grow there as a result. The treatment is to use an anti fungal powder or cream on the affected areas.

Gen Wright
http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/causes-of-yeast-infections-563830.html

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Most Common Symptoms of Sinus Infections

January 29th, 2010

This kind of infections usually appears because of the obstruction of the nasal passages and sinus cavities due to the incapacity of the cillate cells to filter all foreign particles. The cill failure is mainly caused by air pollution and viral or bacterial multitude in the air we breathe.

Knowing the signs and symptoms of a sinus infection is useful for understanding how it occurs and how it can be treated. The most common symptoms are:

1. Facial pain and tenderness of the sinus area

2. Headaches

3. Colored and thick nasal drainage

4. Bad breathe and cough

5. Pain in the upper jaw and sore throat

6. Swollen eye lids and sensitiveness to light

7. General weakness

Symptoms of the sinus infection depend on if the infection is acute or chronicle.

In case of acute frontal sinusitis located above the eye region the most common encountered symptoms are painas in the forehead, fever and mucous nasal release. The mucus slips behind the internal nose down the throat and the patients sensation is of great pain while in a horizontal position; pains decrease when the person sits with the head upright.

Maxillary acute sinusitis is localized in the cheekbones on one or both sides of the nostrils. The patients complains are pain in the cheekbones, pressure on the cheeks, redness, tenderness and swelling of the region. The pains worsen when the head is held upright and lessen while lying down. Other signs such as pain inside the cheekbones, pain under or around the eyes, pain around the upper teeth and nasal discharge.

The etmoid sinusitis, located at the base of the nose right between the eyes, develops with nasal congestion and discharge, a feeling of pressure in the inner side of the eye or on the inner side of the nose. Also headaches localized on the temples on in the eyes region can appear; the sensation of pressure worsens while coughing, sneezing or lying down.

Acute sphenoid sinusitis lies behind the ethmoid bone and behind the eyes. The particular symptoms are intense pain on top of the head or behind it, fever as sign for infection, nasal discharge; the pains intensify when binding forward and the patient develops sight problems as the inner pressure extends to the brain.

The chronic frontal sinusitis evolves with constant but low intensity pains in the forehead area and major damages to the sinuses.

The maxillary sinusitis as a chronic status develops by tooth pain, pressure around the eyes and a permanent discomfort. At night the patient complains of intense cough.

In the ethmoid chronic condition the bad breathe and the sore throat persists. Clear symptoms of the disease are discomfort across the nose-bridge, permanent nasal discharge, and nasal congestion. The pains worsen while wearing eye glasses and during late mornings pains stretch to the other sinuses as well.

In case of sphenoid chronic sinusitis the major symptom is low headaches with a permanent character.

So, if you want to find out more about antibiotics for sinus infections or aven about sinus infection symptoms you should visit this link http://www.sinus-infection-guide.com

Groshan Fabiola
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/most-common-symptoms-of-sinus-infections-89210.html

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Obesity and Yeast Infections – What’s the Connection?

January 29th, 2010

As if the overweight men and women of the world didn’t have enough to worry about, but yes, obesity is one of the risk factors of chronic yeast infections.

There are two reasons why overweight women get more vaginal yeast infections, and why both men and women who weigh too much can get skin rashes and oral thrush, which are both caused by Candida albicans yeast.

The first reason is purely physical – yeast loves warm, moist areas on the skin, and folds of fat create exactly the right conditions for yeast living on the skin. Yeast can overpopulate areas under the breasts, in the armpit, in the crotch, and in any area that stays damp from perspiration. An absorbent powder used in these areas can help.

The other reason has to do with hormones. As most of us know, obesity is one of the major risk factors for Type II Diabetes. And the risk of diabetes is caused by something that also causes yeast infections – a change in your hormone balance due to increased insulin resistance.

Insulin is a hormone that is used by your body to keep your blood sugar at a safe level. Extra fat cells can make your body resistant to insulin, so your pancreas needs to produce more and more of this hormone to be effective. When the pancreas is no longer able to pump out enough insulin to clear your blood of excess glucose, you are said to have insulin resistance. By this point, you will probably also be diagnosed with diabetes or pre-diabetes.

Since insulin resistance can cause yeast infections, many women are first diagnosed with diabetes when they go to their doctor about their chronic vaginal infections.

How can an overweight man or woman reduce their risk of yeast infections? By staying as dry as possible, of course. But the most important thing to do is to improve your health so you reduce your risk of diabetes, which is a far more serious condition than a yeast infection. To do that, you must lose weight, go on a healthy diet, and get regular exercise.

Since insulin resistance can make it difficult to lose weight, it’s important to include exercise in your daily routine. Exercise helps improve your cell’s ability to use insulin. It also helps to prevent heart disease, which often accompanies obesity and diabetes. The exercise will help you lose weight, too.

And, you need to talk to your doctor about a healthy diet that will help prevent or reverse your risk of diabetes. Studies have shown that a good diet, accompanied by regular exercise, are the most effective treatment for insulin resistance.

The Diabetes Prevention Program suggests a low-calorie, low-fat diet. Since yeast loves sugar, you may want to eliminate sugar from your diet, as well. It will help you reduce the daily calories you consume, help you lose weight, and reduce your risk for those aggravating yeast infections.

Your first step if you’re overweight and suffering from chronic yeast infections? Talk to your doctor, get checked for diabetes, and take your doctor’s advice! It could save your life.

Jonni Good
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/obesity-and-yeast-infections-whats-the-connection-93406.html

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How To Prevent Eczema From Bacterial Infections

January 29th, 2010

Eczema symptoms are characterised by inflammed, red and blotchy skin. If you have eczema, it is likely that you will want to scratch youself in the affected parts due to the intense itch. There is also no cure for eczema.

Eczema is not contagious or infectious. What can worsen eczema is the possibility of getting a secondary infection from bacteria. Dry skin can cause eczema symptoms to become worse and increased permeability of the skin means that it is easy for it to be invaded by a viral or bacterial infection. Itching and scratching yourself also increased the chances of you getting a bacterial infection.

Herpes simplex, viral molluscum, and warts are a few of the secondary infections that eczema sufferers may get, as well as bacterial infections like staphylococcal and streptococcal infections. There are other skin problems that can develop from eczema worsening, including crusting or scaling of the skin, cheilitis (inflammation around the lip area), papules (small, raised, rough bumps on the skin), and darkened eyelids.

Keeping your skin moisturized is one of the easiest ways to prevent skin infections from eczema. This is to stop yourself from scratching your scaly skin. Some gentle moisturizers that I recommend are Lubriderm, Moisturel, Aquaphor, Alpha Keri, Eucerin, Curel, or even Vaseline at least two to three times. Check with your health practitioner to see what he or she recommends as well.

It is important that you do not allow your skin to become dry or to the point of feeling dry and scaly. If that happens, moisturise more times than what you are currently doing. It is also important to hydrate yourself inside by drinking six to eight glasses of water a day. This helps to guard against infections by flushing out your organs.

If you have broken or cracked skin, then you have an open door for bacteria to come into your body through your skin. The way to prevent this is to try to keep from scratching. You may need to use extra moisturizer or hydrocortisone cream to assist control the itching.

Cutting your fingernails to a short length will also help, because you this will prevent you from causing much damage. If you find that you scratch at night while you sleep, then you may want to find a pair of thin gloves and wear them while you sleep so that you cannot damage your skin.

If, despite all your efforts, you still have cracks or breaks in your skin, then you need to apply an antibiotic cream to the area and bandage it until it starts medical.

There are other ways to assist prevent eczema related infections, too. An air purification system in your home or office can filter out many of the allergens that can cause a flare-up of your eczema. A humidifier can add moisture to the air and keep your skin moist, too.

Adding fatty fish, like sardines and salmon, can also assist, as well as adding flax seed in powder or oil form. These foods have omega-3 acids in them, which assist remove swelling in the skin. Avoid hydrogenated oils as much as possible because they can cause a flare-up of your eczema

Learning more about your eczema will help you to learn to live with it and help prevent infections.

Evelyn Lim
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/how-to-prevent-eczema-from-bacterial-infections-55071.html

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Natural Treatments for Dog Itching and Cat Bladder Infections

January 29th, 2010

The skin: why your dog is itching

The skin is the largest organ of your pets’ body and reflective of what is going on in the body. Regularly brush your pet looking for fleas, lice or ticks. The hair coat should be soft and shiny.

If you are seeing areas of excessive shedding in your pet then you may be dealing with certain skin conditions such as mange, ringworm, hypothyroid disease or allergies; treatments for these are discussed in detail in my book, Veterinary Secrets Revealed.

If your pet has areas of hair missing around the face that are not itchy, then he may have a type of mange called demodex. This small parasite shows up in pets with depressed immune systems.

One very safe effective treatment is Vitamin E given at 400IU per 40lbs once daily for 3-4 weeks.

If your pet has an excess of flaky skin (dandruff), then she may be in need of a essential fatty acid supplement. Flax is the best source for dogs at a dose of 1 teaspoon per cup of dog food. For cats use the liquid supplement (such as fish oil).

Take note of any palpable lumps or bumps.

Lipomas (benign fatty tumors) commonly occur on the chest wall. If your dog has a soft moveable lump on her chest, then it is probably a fatty tumor.

Sebaceous cysts are another common lump; they can often be distinguished by squeezing out a cheesy substance. They are also very soft. Lumps and bumps become more prevalent as your pet ages and their immune system weakens.

The most important thing in helping your pet is having them on a premium quality diet and supplementing with additional antioxidants. The ones I suggest using are Vitamin E, Vitamin C and specific flavonoids.

Any lumps that are firm, rapidly growing, not easily moveable should be considered serious and examined by your veterinarian.

Allergies are one of the most common reasons that I see pets. There are a huge number of allergens. The 3 main classes are Food, Fleas and Environmental. The most common signs are excessive scratching, paw and anal licking, hair shedding and excess dandruff.

If you suspect that your pet has an allergy, then the first 2 things that I suggest are to eliminate external parasites as a cause, and to feed a hypo-allergenic diet for 4-6 weeks (there are many available).

Some very helpful at home remedies that I often use are:

TO THE BATH. An oatmeal shampoo with cool water will ease the itchiest skin. Leave the shampoo on for 10 minutes then rinse well. With the most severe allergies, bathe your pet twice weekly.

SOOTHE IT TOPICALLY. Calendula ointment is a herbal medication that has been successfully used to relieve the itch. Apply a thin coat twice daily to affected areas.

THE SUPPLEMENT CONNECTION. Fatty Acid supplements are very helpful in decreasing the level of inflammation. Omega 3 fatty acids are most important. A great, inexpensive source is ground Flax Seeds; I give 1 tsp per cup of dog food. Cats are unable to metabolize Flax, so I only recommend the liquid supplement for them. Other sources include fish oil, primrose oil and specific veterinary supplements.

Evaluation of the Genital and Urinary system – cat bladder infections…

In male dogs look at the sheath of the penis to ensure there is no abnormal discharge. This is more common in intact males, so an easy remedy is to have your dog neutered. In female dogs examine the vulva. A common problem is skin fold infections.

These can be treated by washing the skin folds twice daily with an antiseptic such as Hibitane and applying a soothing cream such as Aloe Vera.

The urinary system is more difficult to evaluate, but there are some things you can do at home. Signs of a bladder infection are frequently urination, which may have blood and may be painful.

There are a number of home remedies for bladder infections, the most effective are Vitamin C and Cranberry juice. The Vitamin C acidifies the urine making it more difficult for the bacteria to grow, as well as dissolving the more common type of crystal, struvite. The Vitamin C dose is 250mg per 20lbs daily.

If you have a male cat, then it is imperative to determine that he is not completely blocked up. Using your thumb and other four fingers, palpate the entire lower abdomen. An obstructed bladder will feel like a firm distended balloon. If your male cat has this condition, it is an emergency and he must be treated by a veterinarian!

I discuss ways to prevent your cat from getting obstructed in my book; the most important thing is to feed a diet higher in moisture. This is accomplished with canned food. Then depending on the type of crystal he has it is important to either acidify the urine (with struvite) or make the urine more alkaline (oxalate crystals). An easy way to acidify the urine is to raise the meat protein level. Making the urine more alkaline involves decreasing the protein level and adding a supplement, potassium citrate.

If some of these tips and treatments have helped you, then get your copy of my book, Veterinary Secrets Revealed, today.

Dr. Andrew Jones
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/natural-treatments-for-dog-itching-and-cat-bladder-infections-123211.html

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Penile Yeast Infections

January 29th, 2010

Male yeast infection, or better yet penile yeast infection, are not uncommon although they are not common either. Since, for the most part yeast producing bacteria tend to thrive in places like the vagina which are warm and humid, it’s not often that penile yeast infections will originate with the man.

In point of fact most penile yeast infections will originate with a woman who has a vaginal yeast infection and who, through sexual intercourse, passed it on to her partner. Penile infections can also however, be contracted through such things as using the same towel as an infected person.

These are two very good reasons to abstain from sexual intercourse with an infected person, whether male of female, and also to avoid using anyone else towel or intimate items such as underwear.

The symptoms for penile yeast infections are more or less the same they are for vaginal infections with only a very few minor differences like the fact that the infection is now located on the penis and not the vagina!

That said, penile symptoms can include, but are not limited to rash, redness of the affected area, swelling, and soreness. A person suffering from penile yeast infections might also feel a burning sensation on the tip of the penis, or when urinating.

Pain during sexual intercourse is also not uncommon with penile infections, and most people find this sufficient reason to abstain from sexual intercourse until the infection has cleared up.

Penile yeast infections sufferers might also have intense or unbearable itching of the affected area. If this is the case you might want to look into finding something to contain this itching sensation.

Your doctor should be able to help you out with that, but if you’re feeling adventurous you might want to try applying unsweetened yogurt to the affected area, relief should be immediate and if you continue with this remedy for a few days you might even begin to see a lessening of infection symptoms.

If however, you do suffer from penile yeast infection or think that you do, the first thing that you should do is to consult your doctor. This worthy person can tell you definitely whether you have yeast infection or whether you have a different type of infection.

This is always good information to have at hand so that you don’t mistakenly treat yourself thinking you have penile yeast infection, when in reality you have a different infection.

Penile yeast infections are treatable however, and by getting the proper treatment you can be infection free within a short period of time.

Graham Winmill
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/penile-yeast-infections-113774.html

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Candida Nail Infections – More Common Than You Think

January 29th, 2010

Candida is the genus name for a number of bacterial yeasts. The most common variety is Candida albicans. It lives in the small intestine and the mucous membranes, where it generally doesn’t cause any trouble because it is kept in check by the “friendly bacteria” that live there, too. But if the balance is upset, Candida can thrive and start to cause problems, including infections on the fingernails and toenails.

While nail infections are common enough — about 7 percent of adults suffer from them, usually in the toenails as opposed to the fingernails — the leading cause is not Candida but fungi from the genus Trichophyton. Those fungi are responsible for the vast majority of nail infections. Still, Candida is sometimes to blame. Whatever the specific cause, if a fungus invade the nails, it is known as onychomycosis

Studies show that men are twice as likely to suffer from nail infections than women are, and that the likelihood increases with age. Also, those with compromised immune systems (as with HIV) are particularly susceptible to it.

In the most common kind of nail infection, distal subungual onychomycosis (DSC), the fungus enters between the tip of the nail and the toe (or finger, but rarely) and causes the nail plate to separate from the skin underneath it. The nail also turns white, green, or yellow.

There is usually no pain at first, but the nail is ugly, and people suffering from onychomycosis are often embarrassed to let others see it and may avoid social situations where it would be visible. Because of that, while the infection may not be painful or medically dangerous, treating it is more than merely a cosmetic consideration. Psychologically, no one wants to have something dead and ugly attached to their bodies.

As the fungus progresses, the nail becomes thick and hard and separates farther from the toe. Also, dead, dry material collects between the nail and the nail bed. Sometimes it becomes painful, though often, if the nail is thick enough, the pain is negligible or absent altogether.

The most effective treatments for nail infections, whether candida-induced or otherwise, are basic systemic antifungal medications. Slightly less effective are topical treatments (ointments or creams that go directly on the affected area), though better ones are being developed.

There are folk remedies, too, that some people swear by while others scoff. Tea tree oil is a known antifungal that, when applied topically to the nail itself, is generally effective. (It’s one of the few “home remedies” that medical science can back up.) Grapefruit seed extract is also used, but its effectiveness has not been confirmed. Likewise, applying vinegar to the cuticle, a few drops a day for several weeks, may be helpful in some patients.

In general, the home remedies get the basic idea right: Pay attention to your nails! It is so much easier to prevent the condition than to treat it. Keep your feet clean and dry, don’t wear tight or moist socks or shoes, and keep your nails trimmed and clean.

Jane Symms
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/candida-nail-infections-more-common-than-you-think-92501.html

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Some Knowledges About the Urinary Tract Infections

January 29th, 2010

Affecting millions of people each year, the urinary tract infections are more frequent in women, but they can affect men as well, and can cause a serious condition.

It is known that the urinary system contains the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. The kidneys, which are a pair of purplish-brown organs situated below the ribs toward the middle of the back have the role to remove excess liquid and wastes from the blood, to form the urine, to produce a hormone that aids the formation of red blood cells and to keep a stable balance of salts and other substances in the blood. The ureters have the role to carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder, and here, the urine is stored and then the urine exits the body through the urethra.

Normally, the urine is sterile, but there can appear infections when bacteria, from the digestive tract usually, cling to the opening of the urethra and start multiplying. Usually, the bacteria type Escherichia coli is responsible for these infections.

If the infection is limited to the urethra, we are dealing with urethritis. If bacteria traveled to the bladder and multiplied, we have a cystitis. It is very important that infection to be treated as quickly as possible, because the kidneys can become infected, causing pyelonephritis.

Some microorganism, called Chlamydia and Mycoplasma can be sexually transmitted, and they can cause urinary tract infections. These infections usually are limited to the urethra and reproductive system and treatment is required for both partners.

There are some persons more predisposed to develop a urinary tract infection. For example an abnormality of the urinary tract that obstructs the flow of urine, or an enlarged prostate gland can lead to an increased risk of infection.

Also, it is known that catheters, or tubes, placed in the urethra and bladder are a common source of infection, and people with diabetes or any other disorder that suppresses the immune system have an increased risk to develop a urinary tract infection.

It was seen that urinary tract infections may occur in infants born with abnormalities of the urinary tract and sometimes surgery is needed. The scientists do not know for sure why women develop more often then men urinary tract infections, but it is believed this happens because woman’s urethra is shorter, and so, bacteria will travel a shorter distance to the bladder, and also because woman’s urethral opening is near sources of bacteria from the anus and vagina. For many women, it is possible that sexual intercourse to trigger an infection as well. It was also seen that women who use a diaphragm for birth control are more predisposed into getting a urinary tract infection.

Researchers say that a factor that determines the recurrence of the urinary tract infections may be the ability of bacteria to attach to cells lining the urinary tract. It was made a recent study, and it was discovered that bacteria formed a protective film on the inner lining of the bladder in mice. This is a step forward, because if this process can be demonstrated in humans too, there can appear new treatments to prevent the recurrent urinary tract infections.

Other studies suggest that women who are non-secretors of certain blood group antigens are more predisposed to recurrent urinary tract infections. The scientists explain this happens because the cells lining the vagina and urethra may allow bacteria to attach more easily.

Seems that pregnant women who develop a urinary tract infection have a greater risk for the infection to affect the kidneys. It is believed this happens because hormonal changes and shifts in the position of the urinary tract during pregnancy make it easier for the bacteria to travel to the kidneys. That’s why period testing of urine during pregnancy is recommended.

Although not all the patients with urinary tract infections have symptoms, there usually appears a frequent urge to urinate, a painful, burning feeling in the area of the bladder or urethra during urination, women can experience an uncomfortable pressure above the pubic bone and men a fullness in the rectum. If there appears fever too, it is possible that the infection has reached the kidneys. The symptoms of a kidney infection also include symptoms like pain in the back or side below the ribs, nausea and vomiting.

Usually, in a urinary tract infection, the urine may look milky or cloudy, and if blood is present, it will look reddish.

It is important to know that children with urinary tract infections may have fever as the only symptom, that is why very often, the symptom of a urinary tract infection can be attributed to another disorder.

For more resources about kidney infection or especially about please review signs of kidney infection please review http://www.kidney-infection-center.com/signs-of-kidney-infection.htm

Groshan Fabiola
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/some-knowledges-about-the-urinary-tract-infections-118417.html

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Bladder Infections

January 29th, 2010

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection that involved the kidneys, ureters, bladder, or urethra. These are all body parts in which urine passes through before exiting the body. Any or all of these parts can become infected, and the rule is that the farther up the urinary tract the infection is, the worse it is considered.

In your body the upper urinary tract is made up of the kidneys and the ureters. Infections of the upper urinary tract usually affect the kidneys and are referred to as pyelonephritis. Lower urinary tract is composed up of the bladder and urethra. Infection of the lower urinary tract that affects the urethra is known as urethritis and the bladder infection is referred to as cystitis.

Simple infections that occur in a healthy urinary tract do not usually spread to other areas of the body and can be treated easily. Those who have complications that are connected to a UTI can experience infection caused by anatomic abnormalities, spread to other areas of the body, or are resistant to the antibiotics available are more challenging to treat.

UTIS are quite common in America, accounting for more than seven million medical office and hospital visits each year. UTI is more common for adults but can affect about two percent of children. If your child does get a UTI they are treated as more serious than an adult’s so seek medical attention as soon as possible if you think your child may have one.

It is good to know that children who have bedwetting problems are most likely to develop a UTI. When it comes to men and women under the age of fifty women are much more likely to develop a UTI. If your son develops a UTI it is likely going to be more serious than a girl’s. It has been estimated that bout forty percent of women and twelve percent of men have experienced a UTI at some point in their life.

In a normal healthy body urine is sterile. When an infection occurs it is caused by bacteria that got into the urine and started to grow. The infection will generally start at the opening of the urethra and begins its upward journey through your urinary tract infecting everything it comes in contract with.

The most common cause of UTIS is Escherichia Coli (E coli) which is bacteria that usually lives in the colon. E coli make up for about ninety percent of uncomplicated infections. The bacteria can move from the anus area to the opening of the urethra due to poor hygiene or sexual intercourse. The emptying of the bladder is how you flush out these bacteria.

Sven Ullmann
http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/bladder-infections-111893.html

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About Viral and Bacterial Throat Infections

January 29th, 2010

It is known that if you have a sore throat which does not cause many problems, is not severe, and you also have symptoms caused by a flu , then, you can follow some remedies in order to feel better.

You can drink a lot of fluids, humidify your bedroom by using a steamer, take non-prescription throat lozenges, gargle with warm salt water several times daily, and you can also take acetaminophen or ibuprofen to relieve pain.

In some cases, the sore throat can be severe, and can last more than 5-7 days. In this situation, it is necessary that you seek medical help. There can appear symptoms that should determine you to go to the doctor. We can mention here difficulty opening the mouth, swallowing, breathing, severe and prolonged sore throat, blood in saliva or phlegm, fever, earache, rash, lump in the neck and hoarseness lasting over 2 weeks.

It is important to know if the patient has a viral or a bacterial infection. Antibiotics are drugs that kill bacteria, and they are being prescribed when the patient suffers of streptococcal or other bacterial infection. Usually, the doctor prescribes penicillin or erythromycin, but there is a number of bacterial throat infections that do not respond to penicillin. In this case, there is prescribed another antibiotic.

Antibiotics should not be used when we are dealing with a viral infection, because they will have no effect against the virus, they work only against bacterial infections.

The viruses lower the body’s resistance to bacterial infections, so there exists the possibility that a combined infection to appear, situation that requires the use of antibiotics.

It is important to take antibiotics as long as the doctor says it is necessary – usually for ten days- because, otherwise there exists the possibility for the remaining bacteria to cause a worse infection and to develop resistance to the antibiotic.

To find out if a streptococcal infection is present, the doctor will perform a strep culture test. When the test is negative, the doctor will prescribe you a treatment basing on the severity of your symptoms and the appearance of your throat on examination.

When the strep culture test is positive, an antibiotic treatment is started, and some doctors may recommend that the treatment to be followed by the patient’s family members too, because streptococcal infections are very contagious.

You can’t keep a strep infection away, but you can take some measures of precaution. You should avoid close physical contact with infected persons, sharing towels, napkins and utensils with them, and another wise thing to do is to wash your hands as often as possible. It is known that bacterial infections are very contagious, but practicing good sanitary habits helps us to lower the risk of getting an infection.

For more resources on different strep throat subjects check out this link http://www.strep-throat-center.com. You can find great content regarding strep throat in adults, strep throat symptoms, home remedy for strep throat and many more strep throat related issues.

Groshan Fabiola
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/about-viral-and-bacterial-throat-infections-122066.html

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