Introduction

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection in any part of your urinary system -your kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. Most infections involve the lower urinary tract -the bladder and the urethra.

Women are at greater risk of developing a UTI than are men. Infection limited to your bladder can be painful and annoying. However, serious consequences can occur if a UTI spreads to your kidneys.

Symptoms

Urinary tract infections don't always cause signs and symptoms, but when they do they may include:

• A strong, persistent urge to urinate
• A burning sensation when urinating
• Passing frequent, small amounts of urine
• Urine that appears cloudy
• Urine that appears red, bright pink or cola-colored- a sign of blood in the urine
• Strong-smelling urine
• Pelvic pain, in women — especially in the center of the pelvis and around the area of the pubic bone.

Causes

Infection of the bladder (cystitis): This type of UTI is usually caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli), a type of bacteria commonly found in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. However, sometimes other bacteria are responsible.

Sexual intercourse may lead to cystitis, but you don't have to be sexually active to develop it. All women are at risk of cystitis because of their anatomy-specifically, the short distance from the urethra to the anus and the urethral opening to the bladder.

Infection of the urethra (urethritis): This type of UTI can occur when GI bacteria spread from the anus to the urethra. Also, because the female urethra is close to the vagina, sexually transmitted infections, such as herpes, gonorrhea, chlamydia and mycoplasma, can cause urethritis.

Risk factors

• Female anatomy
• Sexual activity
• Certain types of birth control
• Menopause
• Urinary tract abnormalities
• Blockages in the urinary tract
• A suppressed immune system
• Catheter use
• A recent urinary procedure

 Complications of a UTI may include:

• Recurrent infections, especially in women who experience two or more UTIs in a six-month period or four or more within a year.
• Permanent kidney damage from an acute or chronic kidney infection (pyelonephritis) due to an untreated UTI.
• Increased risk in pregnant women of delivering low birth weight or premature infants.
• Urethral narrowing (stricture) in men from recurrent urethritis, previously seen with gonococcal urethritis.
• Sepsis, a potentially life-threatening complication of an infection, especially if the infection works its way up your urinary tract to your kidneys.

Prevention

• Drink plenty of liquids, especially water
• Drink cranberry juice
• Wipe from front to back
• Empty your bladder soon after intercourse
• Avoid potentially irritating feminine products
• Change your birth control method

Conclusion

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John Robert                               
Assistant Managing Editor

Journal of Kidney Treatment and Diagnosis