UIT
Unary Tract Infection Treatment in Pimpri Chinchwad - Dr. Rashmi Dharaskar
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 men are.
The urinary tract is a system in the body for removing waste and excess water. It consists of the bladder, the kidneys, the ureters and the urethra. The kidneys filter the blood and remove waste and surplus water to form urine, which then travels down the ureters and is stored in the bladder until it is ready to be passed through the urethra (urination).
The opening of the urethra is the end of the penis in males and at the front of the vagina in females. The urinary tract can be divided into the upper urinary tract and the lower urinary tract. The upper urinary tract consists of the kidneys and the ureters, and the lower urinary tract consists of the bladder and the urethra.
Urinary tract infections are caused by microbes such as bacteria overcoming the body’s defenses in the urinary tract.
Urinary tract infections can have different names referring to the different parts of the urinary tract:
- Bladder infection = Cystitis
- Urethra infection = Urethritis
- Kidney infection = Pyelonephritis.
What is a urinary tract infection?
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection of any part of the urinary system. Most infections involve the lower urinary tract.
The urinary tract is comprised of the bladder, kidneys, ureters and urethra.Urinary tract infections are the second most common type of infection in the body and account for around 8.1 million visits to health care providers each year.Over 50% of all women will experience at least one UTI during their lifetime, with 20-30% experiencing recurrent UTI. Women are more likely to develop UTIs than men, due to anatomical differences; the urethra is shorter in women than in men, and it is closer to the anus, making it more likely that bacteria are transferred to the bladder.With each UTI, the risk that a woman or man will have another UTI increases.Pregnant women are not more likely to develop a UTI than other women, but if one does occur in a pregnant woman then it is more likely to travel up to the kidneys due to anatomical changes affecting the urinary tract in pregnancy.As a UTI in pregnancy can prove dangerous for both maternal and infant health, most pregnant women are tested for bacteriuria, even if asymptomatic, and treated with prophylactic antibiotics.
Causes of urinary tract infections
Urinary tract infections are caused when microbes manage to get past the body’s natural defenses.
The vast majority of UTI cases are caused by the bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli), usually found in the digestive system. Chlamydia and Mycoplasma bacteria can infect the urethra but not the bladder.People of any age and sex can develop a UTI; however, some people are more at risk than others.
Symptoms of urinary tract infections
The symptoms of a urinary tract infection can depend on age, gender, the presence of a catheter and what part of the urinary tract has been infected.
Abdominal pains are a common symptom of urinary tract infections.
Common symptoms of urinary tract infection include:
- Strong and frequent urge to urinate
- Cloudy, bloody or strong smelling urine
- Pain or burning sensation when urinating
- Nausea and vomiting
- Muscle aches and abdominal pains.