Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Causes Symptoms and Treatment

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is commonly found in women. Men are less prone to this disease. UTI is an infection in the urinary track usually caused due to bacteria called E-Coli. Almost 90% of UTI cases are attributed to E.Coli (Escherichia coli). But from where do we get this bacteria might surprise you.

• Around 40% of women and 12% of men are affected by UTI at some point in their life.
• Only 1 -2% children face UTI and it is more serious condition in them.
• UTI is more common in women compared to men. Experts say that its due to shorter urethra in women and bacteria has to travel a shorter distance to infect a women.
• More than 7 million cases of UTI are reported in US every year.

Organs that can be affected by Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

• Kidneys: Two small organs at waist level on both sides of spine. They extract the impurities/toxins from blood and make it clean. Thus it makes urine.
• Ureters: Two tube like structures around 10 inches long. They take urine from kidneys and fill it into bladder.
• Bladder: Its is a sac like structure. When urine get filled in it up to a certain level, then we feel an urge to pee.
• Urethra: It is the duct that leads urine from bladder to outside the body. Its shorter in women compared to men.

Symptoms of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

Symptoms of UTI depends on which part of urinary track is infected.
If the infection is in the upper organs i.e. kidneys and ureters then symptoms are:

• fever
• chills
• nausea
• vomiting

If infection is in lower organs i.e. bladder and urethra then symptoms are:

• Pain while urinating
• Burning sensation during urination
• Frequent urination with less amount of urine
• feeling to urinate urgently
• blood in urine
• mild fever

What causes Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) ?

As we told in the beginning that E.Coli (Escherichia coli) bacteria is responsible for almost 90% cases of UTI. This bacteria normally resides in our digestive system around colon (large intestine) and anus. In some cases it can easily travel from these locations into urethra. Shorter urethra of women makes then more prone to UTI infection. At the beginning of infection you may try to flush out the bacteria by frequent urination by drinking more water, but if the bacteria are more in count then they can still travel to bladder. Further the infection can spread over ureters and kidney which can become a serious problem if not treated properly.

What makes you prone to Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) ?

• Being a women
• Kidney stones
• Being sexually active
• Using a diaphragm for birth control
• Using  immunosuppressant medications
• HIV
• Diabetes
• Postmenopausal women
• Enlarged prostate in men
• Patients using catheters

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Treatment

Usually medical practitioners prescribe antibiotics to treat UTI as most of the infection are caused due to E.coli . They can also get your urine and blood examined to figure out the exact reason and place of infection in urinary tract. Depending on the symptoms pelvic examination may also be done to figure out any other reason reason of infection such as kidney stones. Urine culture may be suggested by some doctors to figure out exact bacteria and know if it is resistant to some antibiotics. A timely treatment can save you from a severe infection in upper urinary tract. So whenever you feel the symptoms of UTI, you must visit an expert within 24 hours.