What is a UTI (urinary tract infection)?
An infection of the urinary tract (UTI) can be described as an infection of your urinary system. This infection can affect your bladder (a condition known as cystitis), kidneys (a condition known pyelonephritis), or urethra.
Most often, your urine doesn't contain germs (bacteria). Our filtration system, the kidneys, creates
urine. Urine is formed when excess water and waste
products are removed from the bloodstream by your kidneys. Normally,
urine flows through your urinary tract without contamination. But bacteria
can enter the urinary tract from the outside, causing inflammation and
infection. This is called a UTI (urinary tract infection).
What is the urinary tract?
The urinary tract is responsible for storing and making
urine, which is one of the body’s liquid waste products. These are the parts of the urinary tract:
The kidneys are small organs located at the back of your
body just above your hips. They act as
filters for your body, removing water and waste from your blood. This waste is
converted into urine.
Ureters: These are thin tubes that transport urine from
your bladder to the kidneys.
The bladder: This is a sac-like container that stores
urine before it leaves your body.
Urethra is the tube that carries your urine from the
bladder to the outside.
What
are the most common urinary tract infections (UTIs).
UTIs are very common and affect 1 in 5 women. UTIs are more common in women than they are in
children. UTIs are a common problem in children, with as
high as 2% of them resulting from urinary tract infections. UTIs are the
leading cause of hospitalizations in children, with 8 to 10 million to
10,000,000 visits each year.
Who
is at risk for developing urinary tract infections (UTIs).
A urinary tract infection can happen to anyone, but it is
more common in women. The reason
is that the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of your body, is shorter
in females than it is in males. This is where E.coli bacteria is most common. Cystitis is
more common in older adults. The incomplete emptying of bladder
may increase the risk. This could be due to a variety of medical
conditions, such as an enlarged prostate and a bladder prolapse (a condition in
which the bladder slips or falls out its normal position).
Your healthcare provider may perform tests to determine
if you have frequent urinary tract infections. To prevent the infection from returning, people
with frequent UTIs may be given low-dose antibiotics for a time. You should
be cautious when treating frequent UTIs. Your body may develop resistance to
antibiotics and you could get other types of infection, such as C. diff colitis. This is a
very rare practice.
Our experienced healthcare providers will discuss your diagnosis, provide UTI treatment, and counsel you on preventative care and healthy choices.
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