Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) may be caused by bacteria, viruses (herpes simplex Type 2), fungi (Candida) and a variety of parasites (worms, protozoa). Unfortunately, UTIs have become increasingly resistant to first-line antibiotic therapy. There are two types of UTIs lower and upper.

Lower UTIs occur in urethra or bladder and are more common in women than in men (because the female urethra is much shorter and provides less of a barrier to bacterial invasion). Urine that is in the bladder should be sterile. In healthy adults, the large bowel is not sterile and bacteria coming from normal intestinal flora can pass into the bladder. When large-bowel bacteria colonize the bladder, the result is cystitis or a bladder infection.

Cystitis or infection of bladder is common example of a lower UTI. Although rare in young men, cystitis occurs in men as a result of urethral obstruction from a prior infection of a sexually transmitted disease or from a congenital defect of urethra requiring surgical correction.

Upper UTIs are infections that involve kidneys (pyelonephritis), ureters (ureteritis), or both. Upper UTIs occur in both men and women as a complication of a lower UTI. Upper UTIs also arise without lower urinary tract involvement.

Although men are not generally prone to lower UTIs, they develop upper UTIs as they become older because they cannot fully empty their bladders as a result of prostatic enlargement. Urine cannot remain sterile when it stays in the bladder for long periods of time. In elderly men, this evolves into full-blown urinary retention, a condition in which a liter or more of urine may have to be drained via a catheter. Urinary retention is potentially very serious and results in urosepsis, a condition in which overwhelming disseminated infection invades the bloodstream. Urosepsis can be fatal.

One of the more common predisposing factors for UTIs is diabetes mellitus: spillage of glucose into urine and other factors provide a good culture medium for bacteria. Other causes include improper bladder emptying from neurological diseases like paraplegia; valve leakage between urethra and bladder; and in dwelling urinary catheters that are left unchanged for too long a period of time.

Bacterial Utis and Interstitial Cystitis

•  Bacterial UTIs
•  Interstitial Cystitis

Bacterial UTIs : In women of reproductive age, bacterial infections are the most common type of infection occurring in bladder. Often this is the result of a bruised urethra resulting from intercourse, although the exact mechanism is not entirely clear. However, we now know that condoms may be a contributing factor to the high incidence of UTIs in reproductive age groups. Symptoms of cystitis include a frequent, urgent desire to urinate, burning pain with urination and often pain above the pelvic bone and in the lower back. Urine may be cloudy and contains visible blood. What is most significant is that many women have recurrent bouts of cystitis, but no underlying cause, including sexual intercourse (recurrent cystitis is found in nuns), can be found. The infection is clearly caused by bacteria, but the reason for recurrence remains unclear.

Interstitial Cystitis : As noted earlier, cystitis is caused by an infectious organism. This distinguishes cystitis from another disease called interstitial cystitis. Interstitial cystitis is also more common in women than in men. A person who has interstitial cystitis can usually tell you the exact moment the symptoms begin. Often interstitial cystitis is characterized by severe superpubic pain, relieved by urinating. Time after time, when patients go to a physician, bacteria do not grow in a culture of their urine.

In a worst-case scenario, the condition progresses with ever-increasing replacement of normal bladder tissue with fibrosis or scar tissue. The bladder capacity lessens. Persons with interstitial cystitis can go a few places and cannot maintain employment because they must urinate constantly. They cannot sleep at night because they must continually get up to urinate.

What causes a UTI?

Escherichia coli (E. coli), a bacterium normally found in the digestive tract and present on the skin around the rectal area, is the organism most often responsible for UTIs. Other bacteria can also be involved, but E. coli is by far the most prevalent cause of UTIs (over 80%).

Structure of the female anatomy predisposes women to infection because the urethral opening is located very close to the anus, which is a common source of bacteria. Therefore, bacteria can easily migrate across the perineum (the narrow band of flesh between anus and vagina) to the urethra. Bacterial invasion results in acute cystitis, the most common type of UTI. A more rare condition is urethritis, a condition in which only the urethra is inflamed. When bacteria from the bladder ascend to the kidneys via the urethra, they can cause a more serious infection called pyelonephritis. Although men do get UTIs, the structure of their physical anatomy makes infection less likely. The male urethra is much longer and secretions from prostate gland provide a better barrier against this type of infection.

Role of Noni to control Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

Noni can be an effective deterrent to the recurrence of simple UTIs. It developed into a popular nondrug means to reduce or treat UTIs. As long as Noni  consumption is continued, the infections are not likely to return. One way that Noni works is to prevent bacteria from adhering to the linings of urinary tract. Studies suggest that bacterial infections (bacteriuria) and the associated influx of white blood cells into the urine (pyuria) can be reduced by nearly 50% in elderly women who drink Noni regularly. In addition, Noni contains pro-anthocyanidinsa and that inhibits adhesion of all isolates at concentrations ranging from 6-375 mcg/ml Noni offers protection against both sensitive and resistant strains of P-fimbriated E. coli (the initial step in development of UTIs). Noni has bacteriostatic properties. Noni is widely recommended for reduction of UTIs. Sufficient water must be taken in UTI.   

Recommended Dosage

Divine Noni Concentrate

5ml morning and 5ml evening for 3 days. Then

10ml morning and 10ml evening for next 3 days. Then

15ml morning and 15ml evening for next 8 months.