Urinary tract infections Causes Symptoms, UTI Treatment
Urinary tract infection is called as uti. Urinary tract infection is the common infection which occurs in the urinary tract or excretory system. Urinary tract infection may include the infection of urethra, kidney, kidney pelvis, ureter or urinary bladder or all the parts of urinary tract.
Description about Urinary tract infection or uti
Urinary tract infection is more common in women than men. Usually one out of five women will develop UTI in their life time at once at least. The exact cause of more chances of uti in women is not known clearly. Men are not excluded of uti and they also get infected. Nearly 8 million people per year seek medical help with uti or urinary tract infection through out the globe. Most of the uti are asymptomatic in majority of patients. The urinary tract infection is diagnosed when an individual go to health canter with some other problems such as fever, painful micturation, red blood cells in urine, frequent urination, etc.
What causes uti? Causes of Urinary tract infection
Bacteria are the main cause of urinary tract infection. Gram negative bacteria have more tendency to cause urinary tract infection and most of the infections are asymptomatic in the initial stage.
Using unhygienic public toilets causes Urinary tract infection.
Prolonged hospital stay leads to growth of pathogens and causes UTI.
Urinary catheterization increases the chance of Urinary tract infection.
Using contraceptive devices also increases the chance of Urinary tract infection.
Medical or surgical procedures in the urinary tract,
Transmission of infection with physical contact,
Systemic illness,
Bacteremia and septicemia
Are the main causes of urinary tract infection.
Urinary tract infection – Physiology
The urinary system consists of
- Two kidneys
- Two ureters
- One urinary bladder
- One urethra
The two kidneys are located in both side lower back. The main function of kidneys is to purify the blood. The kidneys purify the blood and excrete the wastes such as ammonia, urea through the urine.
The ureters convey the urine formed in the kidneys. The two ureters moves downward and joins urinary bladder.
The urine is collected in the urinary bladder. When the urge is generated with voluntary or involuntary motor impulses, the urine is expelled via Urethra.
The length of urethra is very low in case of females and is long with men. The shorten urethra may be one of the cause of uti in women.
The infection of any of these urinary structures i.e. kidneys, ureter, urinary bladder infection or urethral infection is called as UTI or urinary tract infections. Usually the urine is sterile and does not contain bacteria or viruses. The bacterial infection of the excretory organs or urinary tract is the main cause of uti. The E coli are the common bacteria causes uti in women or men. Streptococcus aureus also causes uti infection. The pathogen such as Chlamydia and Mycoplasma also causes uti.
Infection of kidneys is called as pyelonephritis. Infection of urethra is called as urethritis and Infection of urinary bladder is called as cystitis or bladder infection. If any of urinary structures are infected, the bacteria travel to other structures and the severity of infection increases.
Immuno compromised patients, HIV infected patients, individual with surgical procedure in abdominal region or pelvic region are at risk of getting uti infections or urinary tract infection.
Children, infants, aged persons, perinatal or postnatal mothers soon after delivery of baby are also prone to get uti or urinary tract infection.
Symptoms of Urinary tract infection or UTI
Most of the urinary tract infections are asymptomatic. The people who admit to hospital with other health problem and signs are diagnosed with uti. The uti symptoms may range from mild to moderate and sever. The severity of uti infection also counts for the signs and symptoms of urinary tract infection (UTI).
Mild to moderate Urinary tract infections UTI
- Urge to urination,
- Painful micturation,
- Frequent urination is also a uti symptoms,
- Women complaint of mood changes with uti symptoms,
- Unusual irritation in the pelvic region,
- Feeling of fullness of bladder
- are the some the main symptoms of uti or urinary tract infection.
Severe infections of uti symptoms are
- Fever of mild to moderate degree,
- Red blood cells in urine,
- pharyngitis is associated with uti as a uti symptoms,
- General weakness,
- Nausea and vomiting,
- Urinary incontinence,
- Throat infection is usually associated with pharyngitis in children.
Treatment of urinary tract infection or uti
Antibiotic are the treatment of choice for uti treatment. Urinary infections are treated after the diagnosis and finding susceptible micro-organisms.
Amoxicillin is the best antibiotic for uti treatment or urinary tract infection treatment.
Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole has a wide range of action and also effective in (uti) urinary tract infection treatment.
Ofloxacin is also a good drug for uti treatment.
Hospitalization is needed for patients with severe degree of uti or kidney infections.
Bed rest is suggested for fast recovery.
Intravenous administration of antibiotics is effective treatment of uti in hospitalized patients.
Urinary track infections in children need special care, and lowering the pyrexia and nutritional supplement is recommended.
UTI or urinary track infection in men or women also requires calculated amount of calories and protein supplement.
Fluid and electrolyte balance should be taken care with uti treatment.