17 August,2021 07:21 AM IST | Mumbai | A Correspondent
It is being primarily diagnosed in women having diabetes. Representation pic
Of late, doctors across the city have started to see an unusual rise in post-Covid urinary tract infection (UTI), which is primarily being diagnosed in women who have diabetes and those who have been on steroids or were using catheters during treatment of the viral infection.
Speaking to mid-day, Dr Tarun Jain, urologist, Apollo Spectra Mumbai, said, "Last week, we had a 35-year-old woman patient, who came to us and complained of a burning sensation and pain while passing urine, which was then detected as UTI. She said she developed these symptoms while recovering from Covid." He added that the patient, who is a lawyer by profession, had received steroids during treatment, which probably predisposed an otherwise healthy woman to UTI. Dr Jain said that many Covid patients were having UTI due to fungal infection.
"The infection is being diagnosed especially in women who received steroids and men who had been catheterised during the treatment of Covid. Steroid treatment and uncontrolled diabetes are some of the common reasons for UTI in Covid patients. Also, the widespread use of antibiotics coupled with steroids result in fungal UTI, which is a rare condition otherwise," observed Dr Jain.
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Dr Santosh Palkar, consultant urologist, Zen Multispeciality Hospital, Chembur, said, "After recovering from Covid, people are coming with various complaints like mucormycosis, aspergillosis, UTI and genital infection. Those with UTI and genital infection will have to be extra careful. It is advisable for them to wear loose clothes, preferably cotton, to keep moisture away, avoid bubble baths and use of body wash or chemically-laden soaps in the infected area, have probiotics to maintain a healthy gut and fight bacteria in the urinary tract."
Dr Palkar warned that bladder infections could become life threatening if not tackled at the right time. "Do not wait till your symptoms worsen and make it difficult for you to do your daily activities with ease. Timely treatment is the key," he said.
Dr Sheshang Kamath, urologist, Wockhardt Hospital, Mira Road, said, "About 200 patients, in the age group 35-75 years, have been treated for UTI during the second wave. It is necessary to stick to lifestyle changes such as avoiding caffeine and alcohol, because they irritate the bladder. Place a hot water bottle on the pelvic region to get rid of pain and discomfort. Even a warm bath can do the trick here."
Burning sensation during urination, cloudy urine, frequent urination, blood in the urine, fever, foul-smelling urine, pelvic and abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting are the symptoms of the infection. A UTI invites serious complications like inflammation of the kidney or even sepsis, if not tackled at the right time.
