Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a disease found in any part of your urinary system – the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. Many diseases involve the lower urinary tract – the bladder and the urethra.

Women are at greater risk of developing UTI than men. A limited infection in your bladder can be painful and irritating. However, side effects can occur if the UTI spreads to your kidneys.

Doctors often treat urinary tract infections with antibiotics. But you can take steps to reduce your chances of getting a UTI early.

Symptoms

Urinary tract infections do not always cause symptoms and symptoms, but when they do occur they may include:

Strong, persistent desire to urinate

Feeling hot when urinating

Frequent passing, small amounts of urine

Urine that looks cloudy

Urine from red, bright pink, or cola color – a sign of blood in the urine

Urine with a strong odor

Pelvic pain, in women – especially in the middle of the pelvis and near the area of ​​the pubic bone

UTI may be overlooked or confused with other conditions in adults.

Types of urinary tract infections

Part of the urinary tract affected Signs and symptoms

Kidney (acute pyelonephritis)

Back pain or side pain (flank).

High fever

Shivering and chills

Nausea

Vomiting

Bladder (cystitis)

Pelvic pressure

Lower abdominal discomfort

Frequent, painful urination

Blood in the urine

Urethra (urethritis)

Burning urine

Causes

The most common UTI occurs mainly in women and affects the bladder and urethra.

Infection of the bladder (cystitis). This type of UTI is usually caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli), a type of virus commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract (GI). Sometimes, though, some germs are responsible.

Having sex may lead to cystitis, but you do not have to have sex to improve it. All women are at risk for cystitis because of their physical condition – in particular, a short distance from the urethra to the urethra and urethral opening to another.

Infection of the urethra (urethritis). This type of UTI can occur when GI bacteria spread from the anus to the urine. Also, because the female urethra is so close to the vagina, sexually transmitted diseases, such as herpes, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and mycoplasma, can cause urethritis.

Risk factors

Urinary tract infections are common in women, and many women become infected more than once during their lifetime. Risk factors for women with UTIs include.

Female anatomy. A woman has a shorter urethra than a man’s, which reduces the distance the bacteria have to travel to the bladder.

Having sex. Women who have sex tend to have more UTIs than women who do not have sex.

Some forms of birth control. Women who use diaphragm contraceptives may be at greater risk, as are women who use spermicide.

Other risk factors for UTI include

Abnormal urinary tract. Babies born with urinary tract problems that do not allow urine to flow out of the body normally or cause urine to return to the urethra have an increased risk of UTIs.

.The immune system is suppressed. Diabetes and other diseases that impair the immune system – the immune system – can increase the risk of UTIs.

Catheter use. People who cannot urinate and use a catheter to urinate are at greater risk for UTIs. This may include people who are hospitalized, people who have neurological problems that make it difficult for them to control their urination, and people who are disabled.

Recent urinary procedures. Urine surgery or testing of your urinary tract involving medical instruments can increase the risk of developing a urinary tract infection.

Problems

If treated promptly and appropriately, urinary tract infections often do not lead to complications. But if left untreated, urinary tract infections can have serious side effects.

UTI complications may include

Recurrent infections, especially in women who receive two or more UTIs over six or four months or more during the year.

Permanent kidney damage resulting from a severe or chronic kidney infection (pyelonephritis) due to untreated UTI.

Increased risk for pregnant women with low birth weight or premature babies.

Urethral degeneration (stricture) in men from recurrent urethritis, previously seen with gonococcal urethritis.

Prevention

You can take these steps to decrease the danger of urinary tract infections:

Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Drinking water helps to reduce your urination and ensures that you will urinate more often – allowing germs to be excreted in your urinary tract before infection begins.

Drink cranberry juice. Although studies do not confirm that cranberry juice inhibits UTIs, it is almost harmless.

Wipe from front to back. Doing so after urination and after the bowel movement helps to prevent germs in the anus from spreading to the vagina and urine.

Remove from your bladder immediately after sex. Also, drink a full glass of water to help clean up germs.

Avoid products that might irritate you. Using deodorant sprays or other women’s products, such as douches and powders, in the private area can irritate the urinary tract.

Change your method of birth control. Diaphragms, or condoms that are not lubricated or fertilized, can all contribute to the growth of germs.