Live Life Team
Urinary Tract Infections or UTI is a condition when any part of the urinary system is infected. The urinary system consists of kidneys, ureter, urethra and bladder. The function of the kidney is to remove the waste product present in our blood. The urea present in our body is mixed with water and passed into the bladder as urine. The bladder stores the urine until it is full and then sends a signal to the brain indicating that it is ready to release. And then the urine is removed via the urethra. A urinary tract infection is developed when bacteria infected any part of the urinary system. Some women are found to have this infection after having an intercourse. Urinary tract infection is of two types:
Lower UTI – In lower UTI the lower portion of the urinary system, namely, the urethra and the bladder are infected. Cystitis is a condition when the bladder is infected and urethritis is a condition when the urethra is infected.
Upper UTI – In upper UTI the upper portion of the urinary system, namely, the ureters and the kidneys are infected. This condition is particularly serious as there is high risk of damage of the kidneys.
It is observed that UTI is common among women and research shows that more than 50% of the women get urinary tract infection once in their lifetime. It is a rare case that children get infected but the result can be very serious and it requires immediate attention. UTI in pregnant women too is a serious matter as it could cause premature birth or low birth weight. UTI is treated with antibiotics but if it is not treated then it will lead to the damage of the kidneys and even blood poisoning.
Symptoms for Lower UTI
- Pain during urination
- Feeling of wanting to urinate frequently
- Passing blood while passing urine or urine having bad smell
- Pain in the lower abdomen
- Mild fever
Symptom for Upper UTI
- Symptoms of lower UTI
- High fever
- Vomiting
- Shivering
- Aching of the lower back
Causes
The infection of the urinary tracts due to bacteria is called UTI. The bacteria that infects the urinary tract are usually found in the colon and it spreads infection once enters the bladder. It usually infects when the bacteria in the anus get in contact with the urethra. Once it reaches the urethra it moves up to the bladder and the kidneys.
Diagnosis
The urine will be tested if you show symptoms of UTI and then the doctor will prescribe antibiotics to check which one is suitable for the treatment of the infection. The symptoms of upper and lower UTI are same and so it is hard to tell if a person is suffering from lower UTI or upper UTI.
Treatment
Antibiotics are prescribed to the patient suffering from UTI. In most cases the lower UTI is cured by 3 days and upper UTI is cured by 7 days.
