How Does a Urinary Tract Infection Occur?
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Urinary Tract Infections are Common
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UTIs, or urinary tract infections, may be more common than you think. According to "The New England Journal of Medicine," 50 percent of young to middle aged women will have at least one urinary tract infection in their lifetime. Over 7 million people will be treated for the infection each year.
Women are more prone to this infection than men because of a shorter urethra. The opening of a woman's urethra is much closer to areas where harmful bacteria are found.
E. coli, a bacteria usually found around the rectum, vagina and in the digestive tract, is the most common culprit behind urinary tract infections. Even though most urinary tract infections can be treated with antibiotics, they can be very painful and may also cause severe damage to the urinary system.
The Cause
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Any part that makes up the urinary system can become infected--kidneys, bladder, ureters and the urethra, which all work together to rid the body of waste. At times, bacteria gets into the urinary tract through the urethra and begins to grow in the bladder, causing a urinary tract infection.
Signs of an infection can include:
For the kidneys (acute pyelonephritis)--high fever, nausea/vomiting and upper back or side pain.
For the bladder (cystitis)--burning during urination, lower abdominal pain and sense of urgency to urinate.
For the urethra (urethritis)--burning during urination.
Infections of the urethra and the bladder are most common. -
Treating a Urinary Tract Infection
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Antibiotics are used to treat urinary tract infections, but a doctor must first test a sample of urine to insure bacteria is present. Because some urinary tract infections can be very painful, the doctor may also prescribe something to numb the symptoms of the infection.
There are numerous ways to prevent urinary tract infections: drinking plenty of water, drinking cranberry juice, not holding urine for long periods of time, urinating before and after sexual intercourse, and wiping front to back when using the bathroom.
Left Untreated
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Urinary tract infections cannot be treated at home. There is no amount of water--or any other liquid--that can flush the bacteria out of the system. If a urinary tract infection is left untreated, it may spread to the kidneys, which can lead to permanent damage or even death (see Resources below).
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Resources
- Photo Credit findmeacure.com
