Urinary Tract Infection
URINARY TRACT INFECTION OVERVIEW
The urinary tract includes the kidneys (which filter the blood to produce urine), the ureters (the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder), the bladder (which stores urine), and the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside). Urinary tract infections (UTIs) happen when bacteria get into the urethra and travel up into the bladder.
If the infection stays just in the bladder, it is a called a bladder infection, or “cystitis.” If the infection travels up past the bladder and into the kidneys, it is called a kidney infection, or “pyelonephritis.” Bladder and kidney infections are both types of UTI.
Bladder infections are one of the most common infections, causing symptoms like a burning feeling with urination and the need to urinate frequently. Kidney infections are less common than bladder infections, and can cause similar symptoms, but they can also cause fever, back pain, and nausea or vomiting.
Both bladder and kidney infections are more common in women than men. Most cases of bladder infection in women are uncomplicated and easily treated with a short course of antibiotics. In men, bladder infections may also affect the prostate gland, and a longer course of antibiotics may be needed. Kidney infections can also usually be treated at home with antibiotics, but treatment typically lasts longer. In some cases, kidney infections must be treated in the hospital.
URINARY TRACT INFECTION CAUSES :
Bacteria do not normally live in the urinary tract, but they do live close to the urethra in women and men who are not circumcised. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) occur when these bacteria get into the urethra and travel up into the urinary tract.
Factors that increase the risk of developing a UTIs include:
● Having sex frequently
● Having diabetes
● Having a bladder or kidney infection in the past 12 months
● Using a spermicide for birth control
● For men, not being circumcised or having insertive anal sex.
In men and women, having a condition (such as kidney stones or ureteral reflux) that blocks or changes the flow of urine in the kidneys increases the risk of a kidney infection. There is also increasing evidence that there is a genetic predisposition to UTIs; that is, some people might just be more likely to get them regardless of their behaviors or other health conditions.
BLADDER INFECTION SYMPTOMS :
The typical symptoms of a bladder infection include :
● Pain or burning when urinating
● Frequent need to urinate
● Urgent need to urinate
● Blood in the urine
● Discomfort in the lower abdomen.
Is it a bladder infection or something else? — Burning with urination can also occur in women with vaginal infections (such as a yeast infection) or in people with urethritis (inflammation of the urethra). For this reason, it is important to call your health care provider before assuming you have a bladder infection.
KIDNEY INFECTION SYMPTOMS
Kidney infections can sometimes cause the same symptoms as those of a bladder infection (listed above), but they can also cause:
● Fever (temperature higher than 99.9◦F or 37.7◦C)
● Pain in the flank (one or both sides of the lower back, where the kidneys are located)
● Nausea or vomiting
If you have one or more of the symptoms of a kidney infection, you should see a health care provider as soon as possible. Although most kidney infections do not cause permanent damage, delaying treatment can lead to serious complications.