Urinary
Tract Infection (UTI)
The
"urinary tract" consists of the kidneys, the
ureters, the bladder, and urethra. These organs
together produce, store, and excrete urine.
Approximately 8 to 10 million people in the United
States develop a UTI each year. Women are more
prone to develop the condition.
The
urinary tract can be infected from above - by
bacteria entering the kidneys through the
bloodstream, or from below - by bacteria entering
the urethra and traveling upward.
In
adults and older children, infection most often
originates in the urethra.
Bacteria
called Escherichia coli (E. coli) which is
normally present in the bowel cause about 80% of
urinary tract infections. Other bacteria that
cause urinary tract infections include Klebsiella,
Proteus, Enterbacter, Psedomonas, Group D strep,
Staphylococcus saprophyticus, and Chlamydia
trachomatis.
Bacteria
enter the opening of the urethra and then multiply
in the lining of the urethra. If not treated, the
infection progresses to the bladder, ureters, and
finally affects the kidneys.
Symptoms
of UTI are:
1.Burning
sensation during urination
2.Frequent
urge to urinate
3.Sudden
pressure to urinate immediately (sometimes
incontinence may occur)
4.Having
the sensation to urinate but being unable to do so
5.Cloudy
urine which may be foul smelling
6.Blood
present in the urine
7.A
fever, vomiting or flank pain may mean that the
infection has reached the kidneys
Treatment:
UTIs are
treated with antibiotics. The type of drug used
and the duration of treatment depends on the
specifics of the patient, the symptoms and
sometimes the type of bacteria that is detected by
tests done on the urine samples
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