Causes, symptoms and treatments associated with urinary tract infection

Infection of the urinary tract is more common in women as compared to men. Men can also suffer from this condition at times. The urinary tract infection (UTI) refers to the infection in any part of the urinary system which embraces urethra, ureter, bladder and the kidneys.

Lower tract infections often are associated with urinary frequency and pain on urination, whereas upper tract infections commonly involve flank pain and constitutional symptoms (eg, fever, malaise); 30% of clinical lower tract infections involve the upper tract as well

Causes:

Infections of the urinary tract are generally caused by bacteria. It may enter the urethra from the gastrointestinal tract or anus, and also from the vagina, and then shift upwards to the bladder and other parts of the urinary tract. Women have a smaller urethra, and it is located very close to the vagina and anus. This can be the cause why women are more vulnerable to urinary tract infections, as compared to men. The bacteria, E.coli, have been found to be mainly responsible for causing urinary tract infections.

Signs and symptoms:

•A burning feeling or pain while urinating
•A strong or often urge to urinate
•Appearance of blood in urine or hematuria
•Cloudy or murky urine
•Presence of a foul odor in the urine
•Pain in the pubic region
•Vomiting
•Nausea
•Fever

Risk factors:
The risk factors of it embrace:

•Being female:

As women have a shorter urethra then men the infection is more common in women as compared to men.

•Being sexually active:

Women who are sexually active tend to have UTIs as compared to women who are not sexually active.

•Using certain birth control:

Women who use diaphragms for controlling birth are at a greater risk of developing it.

•After menopause:

After menopause, UTIs may become more common due to lack of estrogen which causes changes in the urinary tract that make it more vulnerable to infection.

•Having obstructions in the urinary tract:

Kidney stones can pitfall urine in the bladder and increase the risk of UTI.

Treatment:

Antibiotics are prescribed by the doctor to treat urinary tract infection. It may help to drink lots of water and other fluids which may cause frequent urination in order to empty your bladder. Antibiotics that can be recommended are:

•Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX)

•Fluoroquinolones

•Tetracyclines

•Amoxicillin

•Ampicillin

•Cephalosporins

•Nitrofurantoin

•Aminoglycosides

•Fosfomycin

Prevention:

These infections can be prevented. There are various measures which can help in preventing it:
• Drink lots of water every day.
• Urinate frequently and do not try to hold it.
• If you are a woman, urinate instantly after having sex