A Summary of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Therapy for the Urinary Tract Infection after Stroke

As a common disease, stroke could be divided into two types: ischemic and haemorrhagic. The classic risk factors for stroke include hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, tobacco smoking, obesity, diabetes mellitus, previous TIA, and atrial fibrillation. WHO pointed to the survey data that stroke was the second factor leading to death worldwide (the first factor is heart disease). And stroke is a leading cause of disability in the United States. There are amount of complications of stroke, among them, urinary tract infection is a recognized complication of stroke. Gram-negative bacteria is the most common cause of infectionamong them, Escherichia coli is the most common germ, accounting for 85 per cent, some research indicated that urinary tract infection is obviously correlated with prognosis of stroke. Factors claimed to predict increased risk of urinary tract infection include stroke severity, depressed conscious level increased post-void residual urine volume and diabetes mellitus. Urinary tract infection is common complication of stroke, it could increase the mortality among stroke patient, undermine the effect of rehabilitation, due to the progressing stroke. Due to the complication of hemiplegia, the patients lost their motor function largely, and it would tremendously increase the risk of infections. Urinary tract infection could be classified into two types: the upper urinary tract infection and the lower urinary tract infection. The former is known as pyelonephritis and the latter is known as cystitis. Complicated urinary tract infection ultimately could generate nephropyelitis, damage renal function, even can be life-threatening. In addition, the nursing of such patients is difficult, resulting extra health costs, substantial economic burden. Traditional Chinese medicine has the principle of rendering the treatment according to the differentiation of the syndrome, and can be utilized on various diseases. Acupuncture and moxibustion is a key component of traditional Chinese medicine therapy. This traditional Chinese medicine therapy is effective, convenient, inexpensive and less side-effect. Especially in infectious diseases, acupuncture and moxibustion has the superiority to the other methods. Acupuncture and moxibustion is a safe and effective therapy for urination disorders and the urinary tract infection after stroke.