AZO Answers the Burning Question: What's Up Down There?

CROMWELL, Conn., May 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Though many do not realize its prevalence, urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the second most common type of infection in the body, and account for more than 8 million doctor visits each year. One-third of women will be diagnosed with a UTI by the age of 24(1), and 50 percent of women will get at least one in their lifetime.(2) However, many women do not realize the signs of a UTI in the first place. In response Amerifit Brands is taking the lead this summer (when incidence of UTIs is the highest) to inform women about their over-the-counter treatment options, as well as how to recognize the symptoms of a UTI.

More Serious than Many Realize

"Symptoms of a urinary tract infection can be tricky to recognize," said Rosemary Young, NP, Scientific Affairs Manager at Amerifit Brands. "Though frequent urination and bladder pain are well-known symptoms, other indicators which can be misleading include tiredness, nausea, back pain and fever, which are often associated with other ailments."

An untreated urinary tract infection may result in bacteria traveling through the body creating infections in the bladder and kidneys. The result is 250,000 women developing kidney infections and 100,000 being hospitalized for treatment.(3)

To test for a urinary tract infection, Amerifit Brands came out with AZO TEST STRIPS(R) which offer the same test pads as the strips used by doctors and take just two minutes to diagnose a urinary tract infection. In addition, AZO STANDARD Maximum Strength(R) is the No. 1 pharmacist recommended brand for over-the-counter urinary health. It contains the highest amount of phenazopyridine permitted in a non-prescription product. This active ingredient is known to relieve painful UTI symptoms, such as burning and urgency in as little as 20 minutes.

"I love AZO STANDARD Maximum Strength because as soon as I feel a UTI coming on, I use it right away to relieve the pain and it gets me through until I can see a doctor," says consumer Pam Tournoux. "It is the best stuff ever!"

However testing and taking something for the immediate pain is not enough. Though pain may subside, a doctor must treat the infection with an antibiotic.

Overcoming Shame

The main causes of urinary tract infections are sexual intercourse, medications that lower immunity, hormonal changes and exposure to damp clothes, like bathing suits.

Yet, many still feel embarrassed about going to the doctor.

"There tends to be a lot of self-blame with urinary tract infections, whether the female is a young girl or an older woman. However, the truth is that these infections are very prevalent, particularly in the summer months and can be managed very successfully," said Dr. Lauri Romanzi, Clinical Associate Professor of Gynecology at Weil Corner Medical Center/New York Presbyterian Hospital inNew York City.

To facilitate proactive urinary health, AZO recently came out with an improved version of AZO CRANBERRY(R), which includes the immune-boosting probiotic Lactobacillus. This supplement can enhance protection of the urinary bladder wall, without the sugars and tart taste associated with cranberry juice. In fact, studies reported in Clinical Infectious Diseases showed a 50 percent drop in infections for sexually active adult women with recurring UTIs when their cranberry intake increased.(4)

Education is Key

In order to educate women about treating urinary tract infections, Amerifit Brands encourages people to visit www.AZOproducts.com. The Web site includes information about urinary tract infections, including an interactive quiz and discusses over-the-counter tools that are currently available.

The AZO urinary tract product line, which includes AZO STANDARD Maximum Strength(R), AZO STANDARD(R), AZO CRANBERRY(R) and AZO TEST STRIPS(R) is available over-the-counter at food, drug and mass retail outlets and wherever urinary health treatments are sold.

About Urinary Tract Infections:

A Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is an infection anywhere in the urinary tract, such as the kidneys, bladder and urethra. Usually, bacteria that cause a UTI enter the urethra and may travel to the bladder and kidneys. Your body often removes these bacteria, so there may not even be symptoms.

Although women are 30 times more likely to get a UTI, men can also get the infection. UTIs are commonly caused by the bacteria found in the digestive tract, stool, or on the skin around a women's vagina which is why women are more likely to get the infection.

About Amerifit Brands:

Amerifit Brands is a leading developer, marketer and distributor of a variety of innovative health and wellness products. Leading the way is the Estroven(R) brand, which currently offers the #1 selling menopause supplement in America and is the leading brand of supplements for women's health. Amerifit Brands' other key product lines include the newly acquired AZO brand of products for pain and symptom relief of urinary tract and yeast infections; Sootherbs(R), all-natural cough cold lozenges; Vitaball(R), a leading children's vitamin gumball product, Flex Able(R) glucosamine joint care supplements, and Culturelle(R), Amerifit Brands' most recent acquisition, is America's leading probiotic for digestive health.

    (1)  Foxman B, Barlow R, D'Archy H, Gillespie B, Sobel JD. Urinary Tract
         Infection: Self-reported incidence and associated costs. Ann
         Epidemiol 2000:509-15
    (2)  Health information Web site.  Retrieved April 2008
         http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/urinary-tract-infection/DS00286
    (3)  Data on file.  Amerifit Brands, 2007
    (4)  Infectious Diseases Society Of America (2004, April 29). Cranberry
         Juice May Reduce Risk Of Female Urinary Tract Infections.
         ScienceDaily.
         http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/04/040429054703.htm

SOURCE Amerifit Brands

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