Urinary Tract Infection - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Methods
- Date: 2007-09-02 - Word Count: 611
Share This!
A urinary tract infection ( UTI ) is a bacterial infection that affects any part of the urinary tract. The most common cause of UTI are bacteria from the bowel that live on the skin near the rectum or in the vagna which can spread and enter the urinary tract through the urethra. Urinary tract infections usually develop first in the lower urinary tract (urethra, bladder) and, if not treated, progress to the upper urinary tract (ureters, kidneys). The urinary tract is normally sterile. Uncomplicated UTI involves the urinary bladder in a host without underlying renal or neurologic disease. In fact, half of all women will develop a UTI during their lifetimes, and many will experience more than one. It can also travel from the bladder into the ureter and kidneys. The most common type of UTI is a bladder infection which is also often called cystitis. Another kind of UTI is a kidney infection, known as pyelonephritis, and is much more serious.
Women are most at risk of developing a UTI. Pregnant women are at increased risk of having a bladder infection progress and develop into a kidney infection. About 40% of women and 12% of men have a urinary tract infection at some time in their life. Sometimes kidney or bladder stones can cause repeated infections. In rare cases, bacteria can reach the kidneys through the bloodstream. Frequent and complete voiding has been associated with a reduction in the incidence of UTI. Infections of the urinary tract are the second most common type of infection in the body. UTIs may cause different symptoms in different people. You may feel a burning when you urinate. You may need to urinate more often, sometimes 30 to 60 minutes later. If you do not take care of a bladder infection, it can spread to your kidneys. A kidney infection is serious and can cause permanent damage.
Causes of Urinary tract infection
The common causes and risk factor's of Urinary tract infection include the following:
The most common cause of UTI are bacteria from the bowel that live on the skin.
Suppressed immune system.
People with conditions that block (obstruct) the urinary tract, such as kidney stones.
The bacteria can travel up the urethra to the bladder, where they can grow and cause an infection.
Some women may be born with genes that make them more likely to get UTIs over and over again.
Microorganisms called Chlamydia and Mycoplasma may also cause UTIs in both men and women.
Symptoms of Urinary tract infection
Some symptoms related to Urinary tract infection are as follows:
Fever.
Loss of appetite.
Nausea and vomiting.
Frequent or urgent need to urinate.
Need to urinate at night.
Pus or blood in urine.
Cloudy and foul-smelling urine
Lower abdominal pain.
Treatment of Urinary tract infection
Here is list of the methods for treating Urinary tract infection:
UTIs are treated with antibacterial drugs. The choice of drug and length of treatment depend on the patient's history and the urine tests that identify the offending bacteria.
Various drugs are available to relieve the pain of a UTI. A heating pad or a warm bath may also help.
Oral antibiotics usually can treat kidney infections ( pyelonephritis ), although you may need brief hospitalization and a short course of intravenous (IV) antibiotics if you are too ill or nauseated to take medicine by mouth (oral medication).
Longer treatment is also needed by patients with infections caused by Mycoplasma or Chlamydia, which are usually treated with tetracycline, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, or doxycycline .
Use of low-dose antibiotics on a daily basis may be recommended to prevent UTIs if you get frequent infections.
Juliet Cohen writes articles for diseases cure and health care information.
Women are most at risk of developing a UTI. Pregnant women are at increased risk of having a bladder infection progress and develop into a kidney infection. About 40% of women and 12% of men have a urinary tract infection at some time in their life. Sometimes kidney or bladder stones can cause repeated infections. In rare cases, bacteria can reach the kidneys through the bloodstream. Frequent and complete voiding has been associated with a reduction in the incidence of UTI. Infections of the urinary tract are the second most common type of infection in the body. UTIs may cause different symptoms in different people. You may feel a burning when you urinate. You may need to urinate more often, sometimes 30 to 60 minutes later. If you do not take care of a bladder infection, it can spread to your kidneys. A kidney infection is serious and can cause permanent damage.
Causes of Urinary tract infection
The common causes and risk factor's of Urinary tract infection include the following:
The most common cause of UTI are bacteria from the bowel that live on the skin.
Suppressed immune system.
People with conditions that block (obstruct) the urinary tract, such as kidney stones.
The bacteria can travel up the urethra to the bladder, where they can grow and cause an infection.
Some women may be born with genes that make them more likely to get UTIs over and over again.
Microorganisms called Chlamydia and Mycoplasma may also cause UTIs in both men and women.
Symptoms of Urinary tract infection
Some symptoms related to Urinary tract infection are as follows:
Fever.
Loss of appetite.
Nausea and vomiting.
Frequent or urgent need to urinate.
Need to urinate at night.
Pus or blood in urine.
Cloudy and foul-smelling urine
Lower abdominal pain.
Treatment of Urinary tract infection
Here is list of the methods for treating Urinary tract infection:
UTIs are treated with antibacterial drugs. The choice of drug and length of treatment depend on the patient's history and the urine tests that identify the offending bacteria.
Various drugs are available to relieve the pain of a UTI. A heating pad or a warm bath may also help.
Oral antibiotics usually can treat kidney infections ( pyelonephritis ), although you may need brief hospitalization and a short course of intravenous (IV) antibiotics if you are too ill or nauseated to take medicine by mouth (oral medication).
Longer treatment is also needed by patients with infections caused by Mycoplasma or Chlamydia, which are usually treated with tetracycline, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, or doxycycline .
Use of low-dose antibiotics on a daily basis may be recommended to prevent UTIs if you get frequent infections.
Juliet Cohen writes articles for diseases cure and health care information.
Related Tags: urinary, urinary tract infection information, urinary tract infection causes, urinary tract infection symptoms, urinary tract infection treatment tips
Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- Dental Insurance For Individual Can Be Of Help At Time
Dental problem may cost one a lot of money and pain. But, practicing a reasonable care could decreas - Personal Trainer For Perfect Health
There is a general misconception that need for a fitness trainer comes for novice or from those who - Varicose Veins - Causes, Symptoms, Treatment
The majority of people after thirty notice the changes that appear with the maturing. In this case t - Scenar Therapy - Self-treatment Or Healing Partnership
Do you want to learn about a device which will help you to ease your pain? If you get this kind of a - Scenar - 5 "no, Nos" Of Scenar
Are you fed up with the pain in your body? Various parts of our body seem to ache due to different r - Scenar Device - 5 Tips On Travelling With Your Scenar (skenar) Device
You might be aware of scenar which has become quite popular these days. This is actually the acronym - Scenar Therapy - How To Treat Your Pet With Scenar
There are many alternative methods of treatment that are being invented these days. Lots of people a - Your Options For The Treatment For Appendicitis
Appendicitis is considered to be a surgical illness. Due to its severe character, the treatment for - How To Choose The Right Copd Medication
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD does not have any cure. But with the help of medicines - Septic Arthritis: Infectious Agents Penetrate Joints' Spaces
Another major type of arthritis is septic arthritis, which is also known in various terms like: pyog
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Drugs - the Last Alternative for Adhd in Kids
Anyone over the age of thirty who has grown up with ADHD understands that there was not much help av - Foods To Eat To Gain Weight
Malnutrition has the same degree of problem as obesity. There are people who are too skinny, they fi - Understanding Postpartum Clothing
The same way most pregnant women dream of the day when they will begin showing for wearing maternity - Kegel Exercising for Bladder Control and Enhanced Sexual Pleasure
Kegel exercises strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor, thereby improving the urethra and/or rec - The Use Of Weight Loss Herbs
Nothing has garnered more attention in today's world than the success or failures of weight loss pro - A Simple Acid Relux Cure
Many people today are afflicted with heartburn. If they eat food that is too spicy, they get heartbu - Five Effective Household Back Pain Treatments
Back pain treatment comes in lots of forms, from exercise to pain mediction. Standard and most wides - Herbal Remedies - Can They Cure What Ails You?
You've probably heard about herbal remedies before and how they can treat a variety of health proble - Natural Relief for Tinnitus - What are your Choices
Natural Relief For Tinnitus - Alternative Options Did you know that there are an estimated 50 t - Birthing Around the World
Since ancestral times, different cultures showed off different customs and beliefs around the miracl