Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) affects millions of people each year and can be considered a serious health problem.  As the name suggest, UTI is infection of the urinary tract, caused by bacteria.  If left untreated, it could result in kidney disease.  The kidneys become inflamed (due to bacterial infection), resulting in damage to the kidneys.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (in the United State of America), one in five women develops Urinary Tract Infection in  her lifetime.  It may also occur in infants, both boys and girls, who are born with abnormalities of the urinary tract.  However, infection of the urinary tract is generally rare in boys and young men.  Women are more prone to this disease because of the  short urethra, compared to men, and the proximity to the anus.

What Causes UTI?

Most infections are caused by one type of bacteria - Escherichia coli (E coli), which normally lives in the colon.  An infection usually occurs when tiny organisms, usually bacteria from the digestive tract, cling to the opening of the urethra and begin to multiply.

An infection limited to the urethra is called urethritis. If bacteria moves to  the  bladder and multiplies, a bladder infection called cystitis may occur.  If infection is not treated properly, bacteria may then travel further up and multiply, infecting the kidneys.

Sexual intercourse and having multiple sex partners may also increase your chances of developing a Urinary Tract Infection.  Because of the close proximity of the urethra to the vagina, bacteria can enter the urethra during sexual intercourse.  To minimize the risk of developing UTI, women should empty their bladder after sexual intercourse.

Another cause is, holding urine in the bladder for long periods.  If urine is held for long periods, the bladder stretches beyond its capacity, which weakens the bladder muscle.  Over time, the bladder may not empty completely and some urine is left behind, which could result in multiplication of bacteria.

Other causes of UTI include:

• Not drinking enough fluids
• Pregnancy - pressure on the bladder and urethra and also hormones released in pregnancy, namely progesterone, increases the risk.
• Diabetes - when the immune system is impaired, the risk of all types of infection increases
• Menopausal women - due to hormonal changes and dryness of the vagina
• Kidney stones

Symptoms of UTI

Some common symptoms include:

• Frequent urge to urinate
• Painful or burning sensation in the area of the bladder during urination
• Cloudy urine
• Back pain
• Fever
• Chills
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Headaches

Treatment

Urinary Tract Infection can be diagnosed by a simple urine sample.  It is typically treated with antibacterial drugs and the patient usually begins to experience some relief within 2 to 3 days.  The length of treatment depends on  the severity of the infection and how the patient responds to the antibacterial drug. If after a few days a patient doesn't begin to experience relief, they should return to their doctor to decide whether further test may be necessary.  Different medications might be required to deal with different strains of bacteria.

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