What Are Urinary Tract Infections?
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are bacterial infections in the body's urinary system -- the bladder , kidneys, ureters, and urethra. In the kidneys , the infection is called pyelonephritis ; in
the bladder , it is called cystitis.
Urinary tract infections are common in women.
Children with UTIs may show different symptoms than adults.
Risk for a Urinary Tract Infection
People with a higher risk of developing urinary tract infections include:
People with conditions that affect the bladder's nerve supply (including diabetes, multiple sclerosis , Parkinson's disease, and spinal cord injuries)
Older adults
Pregnant women
People who have any kind of obstruction blocking the passage of urine, such as a tumor, kidney stone, or an enlarged prostate
Those who use a contraceptive diaphragm or spermicide for birth control
People who use a catheter, a tube placed into the bladder to drain urine from the bladder into a bag
outside of the body.
Men who engage in anal intercourse, who have HIV infection, or who have never been circumcised
Most of the risk factors listed also increase the chance that a simple bladder infection may quickly become to a more serious kidney infection, or to sepsis (an infection that has entered the bloodstream). Pregnant women with
kidney infections have a greater chance of delivering their babies prematurely.
Causes of Urinary Tract Infections
Bacteria that are normally found in the
gastrointestinal tract, such as E. coli , cause most urinary tract infections. Other bacteria that can
cause urinary tract infections include
staphylococcus, proteus, klebsiella, enterococcus, and pseudomonas.
Some bladder infections in both men and women have been linked to two sexually transmitted organisms: Chlamydia trachomatis and
mycoplasma. Another sexually transmitted organism, trichomonas, can cause similar symptoms.
Women are more likely to get urinary tract infections, because the tube running from the bladder to the outside (the urethra) is much shorter than in men. Because the urethral opening
is relatively close to the anus in women, bacteria from stool can easily contaminate the female urethra. A urinary tract infection in young women may be associated with sexual activity.
In men, however, a bladder infection is almost always a symptom of an underlying disorder.
Often, the infection has migrated from the prostate or some other part of the body, signaling problems in those locations. Or it may mean that a tumor or other obstruction is interfering with
the urinary tract.
Chronic kidney infections in children are
sometimes caused by a structural problem that allows urine to flow back from the bladder to kidneys (reflux), or by an inability of the bladder to empty completely.
The symptoms of urinary tract infections include:
Pain or burning during urination
Abdominal pain in the area over the bladder (above the pubic bone)
A need to urinate immediately, as soon as any urine collects in the bladder
Need to urinate frequently
Passage of small amounts of urine at a time
Need to get up from sleep to urinate
Low back or flank pain
Cloudy urine
Bloody urine
Bad-smelling urine
Pain behind the scrotum
Painful ejaculation or, rarely, bloody semen
Symptoms such as fever or chills or nausea suggest the presence of a more serious infection,
such as a kidney infection , and should receive immediate medical attention. Pregnant women may not have any symptoms of infection, so their
urine should be checked during their regular prenatal doctor visits.
Diagnoses and treatment
Most urinary tract infections are diagnosed by a description of your symptoms, such as painful,
frequent urination , and a test of your urine for white blood cells, blood , and bacteria ( urinalysis ).
A urine culture is another test that can tell the type of bacteria causing the infection, as well as help determine which antibiotic can best treat the infection.
Other tests may be ordered if your doctor thinks that there is some other problem causing the urinary tract infection, such as a kidney stone or
a condition called reflux, in which the urine backs up from the bladder toward the kidneys, or if there is a history of recurrent infections.
Because urinary tract infections in men are quite rare, most men who are diagnosed with a urinary tract infection will be advised to have other tests
to determine if something else is responsible.
Other Tests for Urinary Tract
Infections Include:
Blood tests
Ultrasound test of the urinary tract
X-rays of the kidneys , ureters, and bladder
CT scans Cystoscopy , in which a long, thin telescope is inserted up the urethra to examine the inside of the bladder Intravenous pyelogram , an X-ray test that uses dye so your doctor can better see the urinary system. See your doctors when you noticing certain signs.
Prevention
Women should urinate right after sexual
intercourse.
Women should wipe from front to back after urinating or having a bowel movement .
Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
Drink cranberry juice or any citrus juice.
Use a form of contraception other than a
diaphragm and/or spermicidal jelly.
Women should use vaginal estrogen cream if they are past menopause.
Women should avoid bubble baths, which do not cause infections but can irritate the urinary tract.
In rare cases, antibiotics may be used for prevention. For example, women who consistently develop urinary tract infections after intercourse may be advised to take a single dose of
antibiotics after sex.
