chatwithketch

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Q: Doc what causes pee urine that has blood? I have a friend…She is having itching on her vagina and as a result anytime she urinates she sees blood coming out as she urinate. What kind of infection is that?

A: This question is quite common…but comes with a couple of variations. I repeat a post ?I/ had made to a similar question in the past.

A common cause of this is Urinary Tract Infection. This is an infection that occurs anywhere in the urinary tract (Genius me, right :D) and includes infections of the kidneys, the ureters (the tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder),  the bladder (the reservoir or store house for the urine) and the urethra (the tube that transports the urine from the bladder to the outside).

So, who is more likely to have an infection and why? Women are more likely to have infections and this is because they have short urethrae (those tubes that transport the urine outside) and because the opening of this tube is very close to the opening of the anus. And so, if a woman urinates and has not quite mastered the art of cleaning from the front to the back, she could transfer bacteria from her anus to her urethra and this in turn travels up and infects the bladder.

Women who also use the birth control method, diaphragm are also at risk as it may cause the bladder not to empty completely when they urinate. Indeed, not urinating immediately after sexual intercourse in women may also predispose to this as the urethra may have may have become irritated, making it easier for germs to move in. People with depressed immune systems, frequent constipation and some people born with some disorders of their uro-genital system are also prone to UTIs. In men, narrowing of the urethra which may happen in men who have had straddle injuries (eg falling astride {with legs apart} on a pole…ouch!), history of STIs or prostrate problems may make a man open to UTIs.

What symptoms does a person with UTI have? They would complain of feeling they have to urgently urinate often and then when they do get to the toilet, they can only pass out very little urine, pain or burning sensation during urination, pain in the flank (just under the ribs at the back), the urine may be cloudy or reddish or coke coloured, fever with chills and rigours etc. Where these infections are due to candida albicans, there will be associated itching.

UTIs have to be treated because these infections could keep back tracking from the urethra to the bladder to the ureters and then to the kidneys…we don’t want that do we?! 😀

Treatment is focused on eradicating the infection…of course 😀 Usually a urine sample is taken to the lab. Part of the lab work is a culture and sensitivity test to find out the organisms causing the infection and the specific antibiotic that is active against it. Please take your prescription for the right period of time even if your symptoms disappear before you finish. Your doctor may also order other tests as he sees fit eg checking out for congenital defects etc.

Apart from the preventive tips above, be sure to drink lots of water which help dilute your urine and help flush out the bacteria. As I have written several times before, leave douches well alone, ladies! This habit may lead to irritation of the urethra and we don’t want that J

Other causes of blood in urine include:

• Kidney stones
• Bladder stones
• Kidney infection
• Kidney disease
• Cancer
• Medications

I hope this helps.

Have a goodnight, everyone 😀

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Erectile dysfunction (ED), once shrouded in secrecy, is now in the spotlight, thanks to high-profile advertisements for drugs like Cialis, Viagra, Levitra, and Stendra. But despite this greater awareness of ED, many men — and women — don’t really know much about this condition. Here are four things to know about ED.

Want to know more, please click on the links below: below: http://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/4-things-you-should-know-about-erectile-dysfunction

http://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/5-natural-ways-to-overcome-erectile-dysfunction

Have a great weekend

It is National Doctors’ Day in the US. Unfortunately, we do not have such a day in Nigeria…at least, not yet 🙂

This day is set aside to honour doctors and the sacrifices they make everyday for the good of everyone. And yes, I know that our healthcare system in Nigeria is fractured and has a whole lot of problems, but today, I choose to celebrate my colleagues who go out every single day to save lives and make a difference.

Dear family, join me in celebrating all doctors worldwide, without whom the world would have a little bit more pain. Happy Doctors’ Day to all physicians!

Feel free to share stories of special doctors who have made a difference in your respective lives.

Have a good evening, everyone 😀

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Q: Good day Doc. Please I am 9 months pregnant approximately 40 weeks old. I was given a drug at hospital to take at night which the doctor said will cause contraction and diarrhea. My EDD from hospital is 27th march while scan gave me 7th April. Is it proper to induce labor through this drug at this stage or to allow labor on its own? What’s the effect of this drug on my baby and me? Please ma’am, help a confused mum to be. Thanks

A: Usually pregnancy lasts for 40 completed weeks plus or minus 2 weeks. Generally though, from 37 weeks, your baby is good to be born…all things being equal. And so, if a woman gets to 40 weeks without any sign of labour, she is tentatively given 2 more weeks, especially if there are no other risk factors present in the pregnancy. This is called watchful waiting and during this period, the baby’s kicks are counted, baby’s heartbeat is monitored and indeed, baby’s growth and other parameters are monitored. From the 41st week, if she does not spontaneously go into labour (without help), then there is a plan made for induction, having fully informed the woman of all possible scenarios. Some women do not like the idea of induction and so, having discussed with the medical team, may opt for a sweep of the membranes. This involves the separation of the membranes (the ‘bag’ in which the baby lies) from the lower part of the womb (uterus). This releases prostaglandins, which help stimulate labour.

When a pregnancy goes beyond the Expected Date of Delivery (EDD), which is 40 weeks, it is called a post-dated pregnancy. If the pregnancy lasts beyond 42 weeks, it is called post term. It is not really clear why some pregnancies become post-dated but some associated risk factors include previous post-dated pregnancy, first pregnancies, mothers with high BMI and advanced age.

The main challenge with allowing a baby to remain in the womb beyond the 42nd week is that of the placenta no longer being able to supply sufficient amounts of oxygen to the baby. This can lead to brain damage or even death of the baby. The second issue is the threat of the baby having its first poop inside the womb and then aspirating (breathing in) it. The baby may also become bigger (fetal macrosomia) with potentials for complications like genital tract tears during vaginal delivery, prolonged labour etc.

You still have a couple of days before your 42^nd week deadline. Perhaps, your medical team is prepping you for that week or perhaps, there are some other factors that make an induction critical now. I suggest that you have a long chat with your medical team. Ask all your questions and make sure they understand your fears and explain everything to your satisfaction. Discuss all options available and the one(s) you are comfortable with.

Remember that you can also ask for a second opinion if you are not comfortable.

All the best! Let’s know when the baby is born! Lots of love and hugs.

Have a goodnight everyone 😀