Exploring the Pathogenesis and Prevention-Treatment Strategies of Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection Based on the Theory of"Latent Toxin"
JI Rongfu
GAO Zhan
LIU Lihong
ZHOU Yanyan
TANG Yiwen
LI Ming
LYU Yiming
DING Jiasen
Abstract：Recurrent urinary tract infection(rUTI)is characterized by repeated episodes and a protracted,hard-to-cure course.Frequent relapses of the disease severely impact patients'physical and mental health as well as their quality of life.Due to the abuse of antibiotics and the widespread dissemination of drug-resistant strains,rUTI has become a public health challenge.Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)methods have remarkable advantages in preventing relapses and improving clinical symptoms.The disease features an insidious onset,a high susceptibility to recurrence upon exposure to external pathogens,and a long-standing course,which is consistent with the theory of latent toxin in TCM.Therefore,guided by the theory of latent toxin,it is necessary to distinguish the depth and nature of the latent toxin,so as to clarify the pathogenesis and establish treatment principles.When there is deficiency of vital Qi and the latent toxin has not yet formed,methods of tonifying deficiency and regulating the body's state should be adopted to block the tendency of latent toxin formation.If the deficiency of vital Qi and the formation of latent toxin have occurred,the location where the latent toxin hides must be identified.If the latent toxin is superficially hidden,treatment should be carried out according to the situation.Methods such as dispersing lung Qi and promoting diuresis can be used to expel the pathogen externally.If the latent toxin is deeply hidden,it is necessary to tonify deficiency and nourish the body's origin.Methods including strengthening the spleen,nourishing the kidney,dispersing lung Qi,and nourishing the liver are employed to strengthen the vital Qi and drive the pathogen out.If the pathogen and toxin have been latent in the blood collaterals for a long time,the treatment of blood stasis must be emphasized.
Keywords：Theory of latent toxinRecurrent urinary tract infectionOverstrain stranguryStrengthening vital Qi and eliminating pathogens
Publication Date：2025-11-28
Online Publishing Date：2025-12-01(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：5( 1898-1902 )