Symptoms of a Urinary Tract Infection in Men
A urinary tract infection is an infection that begins in your urinary system. Your urinary system is composed of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. Any part of your urinary system can become infected, but most infections involve the lower urinary tract---the urethra and the bladder.
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Who's At Risk?
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Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are rare in men younger than 50 and become more common as men age. In men 50 and older, an infection can be present without symptoms. An enlarged prostate is often to blame for a UTI in older men, but other causes may include the use of a catheter or the presence of a kidney stone.
The urethra in men is long, which is why UTIs in men are not common. Bacteria doesn't spread as easily to the bladder as it does in women.
If the prostate is enlarged, urine does not completely drain from the bladder, which can lead to a UTI.
A more rare cause of UTIs in men is a structural problem in which the urethra is narrow from the formation of scar tissue. This is called a urethral stricture.
Common Symptoms
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Depending on the location of the infection, symptoms can vary. For an infection of the kidneys, the patient may experience a high fever, chills, upper back, and flank pain and vomiting. In cases of urethritis, or an infection of the urethra, urination may be accompanied by burning. Bladder infections, or cystitis, may be signified by discomfort in the lower abdomen, pressure in the pelvic region, pain during urination and fever.
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Causes
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Urinary tract infections are usually brought on by bacteria. In men, these can result in prostatitis (prostate infection), urethritis (urethra infection, which usually accompanies a sexually transmitted disease), cystitis (bladder infection) and pyelonephritis (kidney infection). Cystitis occurs more frequently in older men, and pyelonephritis is more common in women than in men.
Treatment
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Urinary tract infections are typically treated with antibiotics. A urine sample can reveal the strain of bacteria, which helps determine the antibiotic to be prescribed.
Lifestyle Remedies
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Urinary tract infections are somewhat preventable. Some general rules of thumb include drinking plenty of fluids, emptying the bladder frequently and completely, practicing safe sex and urinating after intercourse.
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