How to Treat Urinary Tract Infection for PKD Patients

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one common complication of PKD especially among women patients. About 50%-70% PKD patients have at least one urinary tract infections.

In case of urinary tract infection, patients will have the following symptoms---urinary urgency, urinary pain, pubis pain and if the infection involves the upper urinary tract, it can cause persistent high fever and back pain.

If the infection enters into the cysts, it can cause cyst rupture and blood in urine which are relatively severe illness conditions. Timely and effective prevention and treatment can bring urinary tract infections under control and prevent more serious consequences and damages to renal functions.

Antibiotics and over-the-counter painkillers are the commonly prescribed medicines if you go to see a doctor. Usually urinary tract infections can be controlled after taking antibiotics. However if the symptoms do not disappear and become even worse, you should pay more attention to it. Urine culture and renal imaging tests such as B ultrasound and CT scan are recommended to see if there is kidney stone, urinary obstruction or other illness conditions such as urinary tract tumor or enlarged prostate, etc.

There are many natural herbal medicines and daily foods that also help a lot in preventing and treating urinary tract infections. These beneficial herbs and foods include dandelion root, uva ursi, marshmallow, stinging nettle, red clover, cranberry, juniper berry, celery, parsley, etc. Some are natural diuretics and some can cleanse the kidneys and urinary tract infections and some can protect kidney functions.

Besides, drinking a lot of water can increase urinary output so as to help flush more infections and viruses out of the urinary tract.

Lowered immunity is one important reason of frequent urinary tract infections in PKD patients. Therefore at the same time of treating infections, medicines that can help enhance immunity and disease-resistance ability should be taken to further reduce the risk of urinary tract infections and other infections.