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Suggest Treatment For Bladder Infection In An Elderly Person
Question: I have had bladder infections frequently over the past few years. I take antibiotics that seem to help,
but the infection always come back. I have no symptons, it just shows up in my urine tests. I'm
78 yrs. old and been told this continuing condition will cause other problems in my body i.e.
the brain etc. Is this true.
but the infection always come back. I have no symptons, it just shows up in my urine tests. I'm
78 yrs. old and been told this continuing condition will cause other problems in my body i.e.
the brain etc. Is this true.
Brief Answer:
Somehow true especially if immunity is low&infection not well treated...
Detailed Answer:
Hi my dear,
Frequent bladder infections are common at your age.
Apart age as main factor, other possible factors include malformations in urinary pathways.
I usually advice culture of the urine to determine the type of infection and the right antibiotic to use.
However, that is not enough. I always advise my patients with the same problems as you to increase fluids intake especially when it comes to plain water. This will help your kidney/urinary tract to clear off the metabolites/bad bacteria.
I also advise to use herbal remedies like cranberry, fern stone, or uva-ursi to optimize the urine pH and minimize the risks for infection.
With regards to your worries about causing other problems in your body, I advise to monitor your blood pressure frequently and keep checking your urine through urine analysis to evaluate albuminuria (presence of protein in urine) that can cause high bp.
In case the infection is not well treated, then, the bad bacteria can cause general infection (septicemia) that might also affect the brain. However, this is rarely happening because you are treating it well with antibiotics. Furthermore, the infection is being subsided after using antibiotics.
Hope it answered to your queries!
Dr.Albana
Somehow true especially if immunity is low&infection not well treated...
Detailed Answer:
Hi my dear,
Frequent bladder infections are common at your age.
Apart age as main factor, other possible factors include malformations in urinary pathways.
I usually advice culture of the urine to determine the type of infection and the right antibiotic to use.
However, that is not enough. I always advise my patients with the same problems as you to increase fluids intake especially when it comes to plain water. This will help your kidney/urinary tract to clear off the metabolites/bad bacteria.
I also advise to use herbal remedies like cranberry, fern stone, or uva-ursi to optimize the urine pH and minimize the risks for infection.
With regards to your worries about causing other problems in your body, I advise to monitor your blood pressure frequently and keep checking your urine through urine analysis to evaluate albuminuria (presence of protein in urine) that can cause high bp.
In case the infection is not well treated, then, the bad bacteria can cause general infection (septicemia) that might also affect the brain. However, this is rarely happening because you are treating it well with antibiotics. Furthermore, the infection is being subsided after using antibiotics.
Hope it answered to your queries!
Dr.Albana
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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