As many people probably already know, the pain from UTIs does not stop after antibiotics. Here are the reasons for which this is happening, according to the latest reports.
Symptoms persist after antibiotics in case of UTIs
Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) can cause nerve overgrowth in the bladder, leading to persistent pain and discomfort. Researchers have discovered that immune cells release nerve growth factor (NGF) in response to repeated UTIs, causing new pain nerves to develop in the bladder.
This breakthrough finding could help explain the chronic pain associated with UTIs and lead to new treatments for the condition.
UTIs are treated with antibiotics, but lingering pain can occur after the infection clears.
E. coli bacteria from fecal matter cause the infection, leading to painful urination and frequent urges. Women are more susceptible, with at least 25% experiencing recurring infections within six months.
Doctors consider three or more UTIs per year, or two or more within six months, as recurrent. Antibiotics are often used to treat it, but they may not alleviate persistent discomfort, and overuse can lead to drug-resistant bacteria.
A recent Science Immunology study may explain this mystery, potentially guiding more effective treatments.
Nerve growth could be the cause
Researchers have conducted a study to investigate the reason why pain persists even after UTI-related bacteria are eliminated using antibiotics.
They collected urine samples from women who suffer from recurring UTIs and compared them to samples from women who do not have recurring infections. The researchers found signs of nerve activation, which could explain the persistence of pain.
To further understand this issue, the scientists induced multiple UTIs in mice.
They observed that the infected mice exhibited significant nerve growth, compared to UTI-free mice. This finding helps in shedding light on the potential cause of the persistent pain that some people experience after UTIs.
Researchers conducted a study to investigate the cause of Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) by infecting mice bladders with E. coli bacteria and treating them with antibiotics. Even after the bacteria was eliminated, the mice continued to display UTI symptoms such as frequent urination and pelvic sensitivity.
Upon further analysis, it was discovered that mice that were subjected to three infection and treatment cycles developed a similar nerve overgrowth to that found in human biopsies. In contrast, mice that were infected only once did not show an overabundance of nerves.
The research findings suggest that repeated bacterial infections can activate mast cells, which are white blood cells that can release nerve growth factor.
This factor is a compound that stimulates nerve growth and could lower the bladder’s pain threshold.
A randomized controlled trial conducted in 2018 found that patients who drank less than 1.5 liters of water per day (about 0.39 gallons or 6 cups) and increased their intake reduced the risk of recurrent bladder inflammation.
Drinking cranberry juice or taking cranberry supplements, which contain proanthocyanidins (PACs), is also an effective option according to experts.
