What Is a UTI?
A
urinary tract infection (
UTI) is a serious health problem that affects millions of people each year.
Urinary tract infections are the second most common type of infection in the body, and they account for about 8.3 million doctor visits each year. Urinary tract infections are more common in women than men, and 1 out of 5 women will develop a urinary tract infection during their lifetime. Although urinary tract infections in men are not as common, they can be very serious when they occur
(see UTI in Men for more information).
Understanding the Urinary System
The urinary system consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.
The kidneys:
- Remove excess liquid and wastes from the blood in the form of urine
- Keep a stable balance of salts and other substances in the blood
- Produce a hormone that aids the formation of red blood cells.
Narrow tubes called ureters carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder, a sack-like organ in the lower abdomen. Urine is stored in the bladder and emptied through the urethra.
The average adult passes about a quart and a half of urine each day. The amount of urine varies, depending on the fluids and foods a person consumes.
A
UTI is also called a
urinary tract infection. A UTI in the urethra is called urethritis. A UTI that causes a bladder infection (bacteria move to the bladder and multiply) is called cystitis. A UTI that causes a kidney infection (bacteria move to the kidneys) is called
pyelonephritis.
Normally, urine is sterile, meaning it is free of bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The urinary system is also structured in a way that helps ward off infection. However, despite these safeguards, UTIs can still occur. In most cases, UTIs are caused by a type of bacteria known as
Escherichia coli (
E. coli) that normally lives in the
colon.
Although most doctors believe that a UTI is caused by a type of organism (such as bacteria), they have a hard time explaining why one person will get a UTI and another person will not.
Urinary tract infection research has shown that people with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop a UTI. A risk factor is anything that increases a person's chance of developing a disease.
UTI risk factors include:
- Gender (women are more likely than men to have a UTI)
- Urinary tract problems (such as an enlarged prostate or kidney stones)
- Sexual intercourse
- Certain habits (such as waiting too long to pass urine)
- Urinary catheter
- Old age (elderly people are more likely to have an urinary tract infection)
- Medical conditions (such as diabetes, sickle cell anemia, and vesicoureteral reflux)
- Immunosuppressant medications
- Urinary tract abnormalities
- Diaphragms or spermicidal foam
- Menopause
- Skin allergies to soaps and cleansers used in the vaginal area.
Common UTI symptoms may include:
- A frequent urge to urinate
- A painful, burning feeling in the area of the bladder or urethra during urination
- Feeling bad all over -- tired, shaky, washed out -- even when not urinating
- An uncomfortable pressure above the pubic bone (in women)
- A fullness in the rectum (in men)
- Passing only a small amount of urine (despite the urge to urinate)
- Milky or cloudy urine (urine may even look reddish if blood is present).
Normally, a UTI does not cause fever if it is in the bladder or urethra. However, a fever may mean that the infection has reached the kidneys. Other symptoms of kidney infections include pain in the back or side below the ribs, nausea, or vomiting.
Not everyone with a
urinary tract infection will develop symptoms. Children who have urinary tract infections are more likely to have a fever and no other symptoms, which often results in a misdiagnosis.
In order to diagnose a patient with a urinary tract infection, doctors will perform a physical exam and order other tests or procedures.
A UTI is treated with antibiotics. The choice of drug and length of UTI treatment will depend on the patient's medical history and the results of urine tests, which will identify the type of bacteria. The sensitivity test is especially useful in helping the doctor select the most effective drug.
Many women suffer from chronic
UTIs, which are also known as recurrent UTIs. Chronic
urinary tract infections are defined as: at least 2 infections in 6 months or 3 infections in 1 year. Statistics on chronic UTIs include the following:
- Nearly 20 percent of women who have a UTI will have another UTI
- 30 percent of women who have two UTIs will have another UTI
- 80 percent of women who have more than two UTIs will have recurrences.
Men also frequently get repeat urinary tract infections.
If you get
recurrent urinary tract infections, talk with your doctor about special UTI treatment plans. Your doctor may refer you to an urologist, who is a doctor who specializes in urinary problems. Also, your doctor may have you take antibiotics over a longer period of time to help prevent repeat infections.
Doctors suggest some additional steps that a woman can take to help reduce the chances or prevent urinary tract infections:
- Drink plenty of water every day
- Urinate when you feel the need; don't resist the urge to urinate
- Wipe from front to back to prevent bacteria around the anus from entering the vagina or urethra
- Take showers instead of baths
- Cleanse the genital area before sexual intercourse
- Avoid using feminine hygiene sprays and scented douches, which may irritate the urethra.
Some doctors suggest drinking cranberry juice can help prevent a UTI.
