Where There Is No Doctor 2011 235
Many women suffer from urinary infections. In men they are much less common.
Sometimes the only symptoms are painful urination and the need to urinate often.
Other common signs are blood in the urine and pain in the lower belly. Pain in
the mid or lower back, often spreading around the sides below the ribs, with fever,
indicates a more serious problem.
Treatment:
♦ Drink a lot of water. Many minor urinary
infections can be cured by simply drinking a lot
of water, without the need for medicine. Drink at
least 1 glass every 30 minutes for 3 to 4 hours,
and get into the habit of drinking lots of water.
(But if the person cannot urinate or has swelling
of the hands and face, she should not drink
much water.)
♦ If the person does not get better by drinking a lot of water, or if she has a fever,
she should take cotrimoxazole (p. 357) or amoxicillin (p. 352). Pay careful
attention to dosage and precautions. To completely control the infection it
may be necessary to take the medicine for 10 days. If the infection moves into
the kidneys or if these medicines do not work, try ciprofloxacin (p. 358). It is
important to drink a lot of water while taking these medicines.
♦ If the person does not get better quickly, seek medical advice.
Kidney or Bladder Stones
Signs:
• The first sign is often sharp or severe pain in the lower back, the side, or the
lower belly, or in the base of the penis in men.
• Sometimes the urinary tube is blocked so the person has difficulty passing
urine—or cannot pass any. Or drops of blood may come out when the person
begins to urinate.
• There may be a urinary infection at the same time.
Treatment:
♦ The same as for the urinary infections described above.
♦ Also give aspirin or another painkiller and an antispasmodic (see p. 380).
♦ If you cannot pass urine, try to do it lying down. This sometimes allows a stone
in the bladder to roll back and free the opening to the urinary tube.
♦ In severe cases, get medical help. Sometimes surgery is needed.
Enlarged Prostate Gland
This condition is most common in men over 40 years old. It is caused by a
swelling of the prostate gland, which is between the bladder and the urinary tube
(urethra).
• The person has difficulty in passing urine and sometimes in having a bowel
movement. The urine may only dribble or drip or become blocked completely.
Sometimes the man is not able to urinate for days.
• If he has a fever, this is a sign that infection is also present.