Urinary tract infection is a common infection that can affect any part of your urinary system, including your bladder, ureters, urethra, and kidneys. Most urinary tract infections (UTIs) involve the bladder and urethra, which can be painful and annoying. However, sometimes the infection can spread to the kidneys, resulting in serious health problems. Fortunately, your South Charleston board certified OB-GYN can easily treat UTIs with antibiotics. There are also steps you can take to lower your chances of getting a urinary tract infection in the first place. Read on to learn more about UTIs.
What are the symptoms of a urinary tract infection?
A urinary tract infection does not always cause symptoms, but when it does, you may experience pain in the side, abdomen, or pelvic area. Other symptoms include frequent urination, a strong urge to urinate that does not go away, blood in urine, painful urination, abnormal urine color, or strong-smelling urine. You may also need to urinate at night.
More specific symptoms vary depending on which part of the urinary tract is affected. For example, kidney infection may cause back or side pain, high fever, shaking and chills, nausea, and vomiting. If the infection is limited to the bladder, you may experience lower belly discomfort, pelvic pressure, frequent, painful urination, and blood in the urine. An infection in the urethra may cause discharge and burning with urination.
What causes urinary tract infections?
Urinary tract infections occur when microorganisms, usually bacteria, enter the urethra and begin to spread to the bladder, causing inflammation and infection. Although UTIs mostly affect the urethra and bladder, the bacteria can travel up the ureters, causing a kidney infection. For this reason, it is vital to seek early treatment if you have symptoms of a UTI for treatment before the bacteria spreads to your kidneys.
More than 90% of bladder infections are caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli), a bacteria found in the gastrointestinal tract. But a bladder infection (cystitis) can also be caused by other bacteria. Engaging in intercourse can also lead to a bladder infection, but you can develop one even if you are not active.
Who is at risk of urinary tract infections?
Although anyone can develop a bladder infection, women are more likely to because of their anatomy. In women, the urethra and anus are close, and the urethral opening is also close to the bladder. As such, it is easier for the bacteria in the anus to enter the urethra and travel up the bladder. Using spermicide agents and certain types of birth control methods can also increase your risk of a urinary tract infection; for instance, diaphragms increase your risk of UTIs. Older women are also more likely to develop UTIs due to a decline in estrogen, which causes changes in the urinary tract. A suppressed immune system also increases your risk of urinary tract infections; for instance, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and other diseases can impair your immune system.
If you have symptoms of a urinary tract infection, visit your doctor at Patel & Patel, M.D., Inc. for treatment to avoid the spread of bacteria to your kidneys.