A UTI, or urinary tract infection, is an infection of the urinary tract, which is made up of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. Urine is filtered by the kidneys to the ureters, which in turn fill the bladder. The bladder is emptied of urine via the urethra. All parts can be infected, but the most commonly affected areas are the urethra and bladder. UTI is usually caused by bacteria and affects women more than men. The infection becomes serious when it spreads to the kidneys.
Causes
The most common cause of UTI is wiping from back to front during a bowel movement, which allows bacteria like E. coli to enter the urethra and spread. Sexual intercourse, a diaphragm or condoms may also push germs from the vagina to the urethra. Holding the urine in the bladder for long periods and inserting catheters into the urethra allows bacteria to grow and spread. Finally, diseases like diabetes and kidney stones also increase the risk of UTI.
Symptoms
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine's MedlinePlus website, symptoms of a bladder infection include cloudy or bloody urine with strong odor, low fever, painful or burning urination, a strong need to urinate, and cramping in the lower abdomen.
If the infection spreads to the kidneys, symptoms may include chills/shaking, fatigue, high fever of greater than 101 degrees F, back or groin pain, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, and confusion in the elderly.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is usually done in several ways. Urinalysis involves looking at a urine sample for nitrite chemicals, bacteria, and white and red blood cells. Urine cultures are done to correctly identify the type of bacteria for treatment.
Other tests that may be run to detect the severity of the infection include a CT scan, which is an advanced X-ray, of the abdomen; a kidney scan with ultrasound; and an intravenous pyelogram, which uses dye to scan the urinary system.
Treatment
Mild infections are treated with oral antibiotics like trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, amoxicillin, Augmentin, doxycycline and fluoroquinolones. Drugs like phenazopyridine hydrochloride may be prescribed to relieve the burning pain and need to urinate. Severe infections may require hospitalization with intravenous antibiotics.
Prevention
One should never hold urine for long periods of time. Urine should be passed before and after sexual intercourse and this includes wiping from front to back. Drink six to eight glasses of water every day to flush out the kidneys and bladder of bacteria. The outer lips of the vagina and anus should be cleaned every day, as these are the sources of bacteria. If one is susceptible to UTIs, then spermicides, douches and feminine hygiene sprays should be avoided.
