What is urinary tract infection : A urinary tract infection, or UTI, is an infection in any part of your urinary system, including your kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra.
If you are a woman, you are more likely to get a urinary tract infection. Some experts risk your life to be as high as 1 in 2, with many women having multiple infections. About 1 to 10 men will get a UTI in their lifetime.
Here's how to handle a UTI and how it is less likely that you will get one in the first place.
Symptoms of urinary tract infection
Symptoms of a UTI may include:
- Burning while urinating
- Frequent or intense urge to urinate, although very little comes out when you do.
- Cloudy, dark, bloody or peculiar smelling urine
- Feeling tired or unstable
- Fever or chills (a sign that the infection may reach your kidneys)
- Pain or pressure in your back or lower abdomen
Types of uti
An infection can occur in different parts of your urinary tract. Each type has a different name, depending on where it is.
Cystitis (bladder): You may feel like you need to urinate a lot, or it can hurt when you urinate. You may also have lower abdominal pain and cloudy or bloody urination.
Pyelonephritis (kidney): It can cause fever, chills, nausea, vomiting and pain in your upper back or side.
Urethritis (urethritis): This can cause a discharge and irritation when you urinate.
Due to uti
UTI is an important reason why doctors ask women to wipe from front to back after using the bathroom. The urethra - the tube that moves from the bladder to the outside of the body - is close to the anus. Bacteria from the large intestine, such as e. Coli can sometimes pass through your anus and out of your urethra. From there, they can travel to your bladder and if the infection is left untreated, it can infect your kidneys.
The ureters of women are shorter than men. This makes it easier for bacteria to reach their bladder. By having sex, bacteria can also enter your urinary tract.
Some women are more likely to have a UTI because of their genes. The size of their urinary tract makes others more likely to become infected. Women suffering from diabetes may be at greater risk as their weakened immune system enables them to fight infection. Other conditions that may increase your risk include hormone changes, multiple sclerosis, and anything that affects urine flow, such as kidney stones, a stroke, and a spinal cord injury.
UTI Test and Diagnosis
If you suspect that you have a urinary tract infection, go to the doctor. You will give a urine sample to test the UTI-causing bacteria.
If you get frequent UTIs and your doctor suspects a problem in your urinary tract, they can take a closer look with an ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI scan. They can also use a long, flexible tube called a cystoscope to look inside your urethra and bladder.
Treatment for uti
If your doctor thinks you need them, antibiotics are the most common treatment for urinary tract infections. As always, make sure to take all your prescribed medicines, even if you start feeling better. Drink lots of water to help flush out bacteria from your body. Your doctor may also give you a medicine to soothe the pain. You may find a heating pad helpful.
Cranberry juice is often promoted to prevent or treat UTIs. The red berry contains a tannin that e. Coli can prevent bacteria - the most common cause of urinary tract infection - by sticking to the walls of your bladder, where they can cause infection. But research has not found that it does much to reduce infection.
Experts are also looking at new ways to treat and prevent UTIs, including vaccines and things that boost your immune system.
If a person gets a UTI, he is likely to get another. About 1 in 5 women have a second urinary tract infection, and some occur more frequently. In most cases, each infection is brought on by a different type or strain of bacteria. But some bacteria can invade your body cells and form a colony of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. They then exit the cells and re-invade your urinary tract.
If you have three or more UTIs in a year, ask your doctor to recommend a treatment plan. Some options include:
- Low doses of an antibiotic over a long period to help prevent repeat infections
- A single dose of an antibiotic after sex, which is a common infection trigger
- Antibiotics for 1 or 2 days each time symptoms appear
- A non-antibiotic prophylaxis treatment
- An at-home urine test, which you can get without a prescription, can help you decide whether you need to call your doctor. If you are a
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