Many individuals see their physicians each year for urinary tract infections. Fortunately, many of these infections can be successfully treated and many serious complications are prevented. In some cases, complications develop some of which can be serious and life threatening.
What is a urinary tract infection?
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection in any part of your urinary system — your kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. Most infections involve the lower urinary tract — the bladder and the urethra. They tend to be more common in females than males.
What causes a urinary tract infection?
Most urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria that enter the urethra and then the bladder. The infection most commonly develops in the bladder, but can spread to the kidneys. Most of the time, your body can get rid of these bacteria. In some cases the infection spreads and can lead to severe complications if not treated.
What are the symptoms of a urinary tract infection?
Some individuals might have a urinary tract infection and do not have any symptoms. UTIs may be overlooked or mistaken for other conditions in older adults. When symptoms of UTIs occur they might include the following:
• A strong, persistent urge to urinate
• A burning sensation when urinating
• Passing frequent, small amounts of urine
• Urine that appears cloudy
• Urine that appears red, bright pink or cola-coloured
• Strong-smelling urine
• Pelvic pain, in women
• Rectal pain, in men
Each type of UTI may result in more-specific signs and symptoms, depending on which part of your urinary tract is infected. You should see your doctor if you have signs and symptoms suggestive of a urinary tract infection.
Risk factors for getting a urinary tract infection
Almost anybody can get a urinary tract infection, but there are some factors that increase your chances of getting one – and these include the following:
• Being female. UTIs are common in women, and many women experience more than one infection. Women have a shorter urethra than men do – which cuts down on the distance that bacteria must travel to reach a woman’s bladder.
• Being sexually active. Sexually active women tend to have more UTIs than do women who are not sexually active.
• Completing menopause. After menopause, UTIs may become more common because the lack of oestrogen causes changes in the urinary tract that make it more vulnerable to infection.
• Having urinary tract abnormalities. Babies born with urinary tract abnormalities that do not allow urine to leave the body normally – or cause urine to back up in the urethra – have an increased risk of UTIs.
• Having blockages in the urinary tract. Kidney stones or an enlarged prostate can trap urine in the bladder and increase the risk of UTI.
• Having a suppressed immune system. Diabetes and other diseases that impair the immune system — the body’s defense against germs — can increase the risk of UTIs.
• Using a catheter to urinate. People who cannot urinate on their own and use a tube (catheter) to urinate have an increased risk of UTIs. This may include people who are hospitalized, people with neurological problems that make it difficult to control their ability to urinate, and people who are paralyzed.
Complications
When treated promptly and properly, lower urinary tract infections rarely lead to complications. But left untreated, a urinary tract infection can have serious consequences. It is important to seek medical attention if you have a urinary tract infection.
Complications of UTIs may include:
•Permanent kidney damage from an acute or chronic kidney infection (pyelonephritis) due to an untreated UTI, especially in young children
•Recurrent infections
•Increased risk of women delivering low birth weight or premature infants
Diagnosis
Your physician will carry out a detailed history and clinical examination, and then arrange for investigations to include testing your urine to confirm the diagnosis. Other tests might be needed depending on the individual patient.
Treatment
Doctors typically use antibiotics to treat urinary tract infections. Which drugs are prescribed, and for how long, depend on your health condition and the type of bacterium found in your urine.
Conclusion
Urinary tract infections are very common especially in women. Sometimes the symptoms might resemble other conditions, but if you have symptoms suggestive of a urinary tract infection you should see your doctor. The vast majority of urinary tract infections can be successfully treated and complications prevented.
Ask Your Doctor is a health education column and is not a substitute for medical advice from your physician. The reader should consult his or her physician for specific information concerning specific medical conditions. While all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that all information presented is accurate, as research and development in the medical field are ongoing, it is possible that new findings may supersede some data presented.
Dr Brett Hodge is an Obstetrician/Gynaecologist and Family Doctor who has over thirty two years in clinical practice. Dr Hodge has a medical practice in The Johnson Building in The Valley (Tel: 264 4975828).
