Submitted by: Krishan B Kumar

From the foregoing information on UTI, one should realize that the best course is to follow, strictly, the preventive measures, which are very simple, mostly relating to routine hygiene, rather than being on long-term prophylactic antibiotks; or, in neglected cases, developing terminal kidney disease, i.e. kidney failure, which may, require repeated dialysis, or even kidney transplant, depending on the case.

Various guidelines are mentioned below, and all individuals, irrespective of age and sex, are required to carefully follow them in their everyday life.

(i) Perineal hygiene

The perineum is the area where the openings of the anus, the urethra and the vagina are situated (of course, the scrotum and the penis in the male). It is the most dangerous area, especially in females, as all the three openings are lying close together (Fig. 21), and there is always a threat of infection to the urinary tract from anal-faecal organisms, which invade the urinary tract through the urethral opening. Hence if proper hygiene is maintained after each defecation, the infection from the anus to the urethra can be stopped/prevented since UTI is caused mostly by E. coli organisms present in the faeces. Of course, the various predisposing/associated factors responsible for UTI, if present, have to be simultaneously investigated and treated.

A simple cleansing with water, and preferably with soap and water after passing stools, and urine in the case of females, is strongly recommended at all ages, more so in children, girls, both married and unmarried women. However, those using toilet-paper, after passing stools, should be more careful, and see that the area has been thoroughly cleaned, especially in the case of females. Hence, it is of the utmost importance to always keep the perineal area clean, and thus it has been rightly said that ‘cleanliness is next to godliness.’

(ii) Passing of ur’ine after sexual intercourse (postcoital voiding) Since during sexual activity, the organisms may gain entry through the urethral opening into the urinary bladder, it is advisable for all women to pass urine after each sexual intercourse, so that the bacteria, in case they have entered the urinary bladder, are washed out. It is safer if urine is also passed before sexual intercourse.

Further, women who are more prone to UTI, or get recurrences of UTI as a result of intercourse, are advised to take a single dose of prophylactic broad-spectrum antibiotic like norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, lomefloxacin or ofloxacin, etc., after sexual intercourse/ coitus. This is an important step in the prevention of UTI in such patients, and has shown promising results..

The above step for the prevention of UTI is very important and calls for an urgent need to impart sex education at the appropria te age. Physicians / obstetricians / gynaecologists / paediatricians can also guide their patients as and when an opportunity arises. Mothers can also advise their children in this matter.

(iii) Passing of urine frequently

All persons, and especially those who are more prone to UTI, should pass urine frequently, say every 3-4 hours, so that the urinary bladder is constantly washed out, and the bacteria, if any, are pushed out in the urine. If the bladder is not evacuated frequently, the bacteria will get more time to increase in number in the urine collected in the urinary bladder. Hence, frequent urination is an esseI)tial step towards the prevention of UTI, which should be observed by everyone.

In any case, urination should not be postponed, as this will increase the rise of UTI.

(iv) Passing of urine at bedtime

Similarly, urine must be passed at bedtime, so that the minimum quantity of urine remains in the urinary bladder during the night. Since the duration of the night is long, there should be as little urine as possible in the bladder, and one should pass urine even during the night, if he or she happens to wake up.

(v) Plenty of fluids

It is obvious that the intake of plenty of fluids is required, so that there is frequent urination, and the bladder is constantly kept clean. At least about three litres of water/fluids must be taken daily to achieve the desired results.

Ideally, the habit of frequent urination or bladder training, including cleanliness, should be instilled right from childhood, especially in the case of female children. Above all, once the subject is made clear to the sufferers/others, it becomes routine.

(vi) Immediate treatment of predisposing factors

As soon as some predisposing/ obstructive lesions happen to occur, e.g. urinary stones, benign enlargement of prostate, etc., immediate attention should be paid, and surgery, if required, should not be delayed, so that UTI does not develop at all, and there is absolute prevention.

(vii) Control of high blood pressure and diabetes

Control of high blood pressure and diabetes is an essential requirement to prevent the kidneys from contracting an infection, since a damaged kidney, as a result of high blood pressure and/or high blood sugar, is always prone to get infection. The infection in such kidneys can only be avoided/ prevented if it is protected from damage by these diseases. That is, a strict control of both high blood pressure and diabetes is required. This aspect has also been emphasized earlier.

About the Author: Author sites:

Home Remedies

,

Health Articles

and

Self Help

Source:

isnare.com

Permanent Link:

isnare.com/?aid=221925&ca=Medicines+and+Remedies

By Robert M. Bernstein M.D., F.A.A.D.

The Old Way of Hair Transplantation

When hair transplantation first came onto the scene, men and women with thinning hair or bald scalps (who had been hiding under their hats and scarves for years) finally had some hope. Those who could afford this new technology ran to the first doctor who claimed they could cure their baldness.

Unfortunately, the technology, which seemed advanced for the time, could often result in pluggy, unnatural looking hairlines. For many who had these baby doll transplants, the results were both cosmetically and psychologically disastrous.

Older methods of hair transplantation included punching out circles of hair-bearing scalp that were then moved to the balding areas. Practices such as scalp reductions (literally cutting out the balding areas of scalp and raising the two sides of hair-bearing scalp toward the center) often left long visible scars. For a time, there was also the method of planting synthetic hair directly into the scalp and then surgically sewing it beneath the skin, a procedure that is now illegal in the United States. This latter was a short lived experiment which caused the hair to be rejected and the scalp to be severely scarred.

Problems with the Surgical Procedure

The older surgical procedures presented numerous cosmetic problems, the most common of which were the large, unnatural look of plug-grafts. These punch graft techniques of hair transplantation also tended to leave circular scars throughout the donor area (the donor area is the area of scalp where the hair is harvested from for the transplant). Other problems included poor hair direction, inconsistent hair growth, and a generally unnatural look to the hair restoration procedure. In many cases the results were so bad that patients were left wishing they were bald again.

From Old to New

With the introduction of todays state-of-the-art techniques there are now ways of not only restoring hair in a natural way, but also of repairing and redesigning the results of the older techniques. Procedures such as Follicular Unit Hair Transplantation (FUT) are able to address the issue of transplanting hair without the consequence of unsightly scarring.

Undoing the Damage

Reversing the unnatural appearance of the older plugs and repairing scars is obviously more involved than using the right technique in the first place, but it can be accomplished in most cases with excellent results. Addressing the repair of existing scars requires finesse and careful assessment of the problem area as well as the remaining donor supply. Choosing the correct restorative technique is critical as the wrong strategy can make the situation worse.

Different techniques must be used to resolve different problems. Large plugs can be removed, divided microscopically into individually follicular units and placed back into the scalp in a pattern which is much more natural in appearance. Smaller grafts can be camouflaged. Scars that are raised can often be helped with cortisone injections. These can help to decrease the inflammation which is often present in a raised scar. Sometimes excessive scar tissue can also be excised and removed in itself, particularly when associated with poorly positioned grafts of hair.

The Proper Way to Transplant Hair

A lot of improvements in scientific techniques, medical developments and methods of artistic design have been made since hair transplantation was first introduced. Todays hair transplant techniques can mimic the way hair grows in nature. The most important advancement is the identification of naturally occurring tiny bundles of hair called follicular units. This discovery has been fundamental to the major advances in literally all of the surgical hair restoration procedures used today.

These methods not only enable the physician to produce results that mimic nature but provide the hair restoration surgeon with the tools to actually fix the problems of old unsightly grafts and scars. The number of people who will benefit from hair transplant repair techniques will continue to grow over time as more people become aware that the older procedures can actually be corrected.

With the introduction of Follicular Unit Hair Transplantation (FUT), a technique that transplants hair in its naturally occurring groups of follicular units, patients are able to have much more predictably natural results. The technique, however, requires substantial knowledge and skill and is performed well by only a limited number of physicians. Thorough research is important in picking the best physician for the job. The decision to have this or any cosmetic procedure should never be rushed.

Hair transplantation has changed dramatically since the first cases were performed. We have now gone beyond the Wild West days of the old hair plugs and there is new hope for people who have been harmed by bad hair transplants. Most importantly, with adequate research in finding the proper surgeon, now there is a much better chance to get it right the first time around.

About the Author: Robert M. Bernstein M.D., F.A.A.D. is Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Columbia University in New York and founder of the

New York Hair Transplant

facility: Bernstein Medical – Center for Hair Restoration. Recognized world-wide for developing Follicular Unit Hair Transplantation, the procedure that has revolutionized modern hair restoration surgery, you can visit his award winning

Hair Transplant Blog

for answers to all of your hair loss questions.

Source:

isnare.com

Permanent Link:

isnare.com/?aid=188912&ca=Medicines+and+Remedies