Urinary tract infection: Causes, Symptoms and treatment

[Mirror]

All over the world, urinary tract infections are one of the commonest types of diseases that ravage the reproductive anatomy. It occurs more commonly in women than men, with half of women having at least one infection at some point in their lives.

According to medical experts, the reason behind this constant occurrence in women is basically because of the way the female anatomy is shaped and positioned.

Speaking to Sunday Mirror on the causes and symptoms of Urinary Tract infections (UTI), the Medical Director of Open Doors Medical Services in Isolo area of Lagos, Dr Azuka Moghalu, said: "Although both male and female have the potentials of having urinary infections, women tend to get them more often because their urethra is shorter and closer to the anus than in men. Because of this, women are more likely to get an infection after intercourseual activity, after using the toilet or when using a diaphragm for birth control. Menopause also increases the risk of a UTI. Many women suffer from frequent UTIs. About 20 per cent of young women with a first UTI will have a recurrent infection. With each UTI, the risk that a woman will continue having recurrent UTIs increases. Some women have three or more UTIs a year. UTIs are not intercourseually transmitted infections (STIs) but irritation from having intercourse can sometimes trigger a UTI. For the men, UTIs are far less common than in women, and need investigating to find an underlying cause such as a previous STI, a bladder stone or a problem with the prostate gland.''

Dr Moghalu stressed that the most common cause of UTIs is bacteria from the bowel that live on the skin near the rectum or in the vagina, which can spread and enter the urinary tract through the urethra.

He explained that once these bacteria enter the urethra, they travel upward, causing infection in the bladder and sometimes other parts of the urinary tract. "This bacterium is called Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria, which normally lives in the colon. An infection occurs when microorganisms, usually bacteria from the digestive tract, cling to the opening of the urethra, the hollow tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body, and begin to multiply. This can lead to infection, most commonly in the bladder itself, which can then spread to the kidneys. Most of the time, your body can get rid of these bacteria. However, certain conditions increase the risk of having UTIs,'' he said.

The expert attributed intercourseual intercourse as a common cause of urinary tract infections mostly in females because the female anatomy can make women more prone to urinary tract infections. According to him, "during intercourseual activity, bacteria in the vaginal area are sometimes massaged into the urethra. Women who change intercourseual partners or begin having intercourseual intercourse more frequently may experience bladder or urinary tract infections more often than women who are celibate or in monogamous relationships. Although it is rare, some women get a urinary tract infection every time they have intercourse.

Another cause of bladder infections or UTI is waiting too long to urinate. The bladder is a muscle that stretches to hold urine and contracts when the urine is released. Waiting too long past the time you first feel the need to urinate can cause the bladder to stretch beyond its capacity. Over time, this can weaken the bladder muscle. When the bladder is weakened, it may not empty completely and some urine is left in the bladder. This may increase the risk of urinary tract infections or bladder infections.

The urinary tract is the body's drainage system for removing wastes and extra water. The urinary tract includes two kidneys, two ureters, a bladder, and a urethra. A urinary tract infection or UTI is an infection that can happen anywhere along the urinary tract. According to medical research, urinary tract infections have different names, depending on what part of the urinary tract is infected.

It could originate from bladder, kidneys, ureters or the urethra. Various medical studies have indicated that urinary tract infections are the second most common types of infection in the body, accounting for about 8.1 million visits to the hospital each year. Women are especially prone to UTIs for anatomical reasons.

One factor is that a woman's urethra is shorter, allowing bacteria quicker access to the bladder. Also, a woman's urethra opening is near sources of bacteria from the anus and vagina. For women, the lifetime risk of having a UTI is greater than 50 per cent. UTIs in men are not as common as in women but can be serious when they occur.

The medical studies also illuminated that UTIs are uncommon in children younger than three to five years. They are much more common in girls as a result of a shorter urinary tract. Uncircumcised males are more likely to develop UTI than circumcised males. Children with a complete or partial blockage in the urinary tract are more likely to develop UTI. In young children, the only symptom of a urinary tract infection (UTI) may be a fever.

The medical expert says the symptoms of a UTI vary by age and gender. Among young women, UTI symptoms typically include a frequent and intense urge to urinate and a painful, burning feeling in the bladder or urethra during urination. In younger kids and infants, the symptoms may be very general. The child may seem irritable, begin to feed poorly, or vomit. Sometimes the only symptom is a fever that seems to appear for no reason and doesn't go away. Symptoms of a UTI in adults may include the following:

* A frequent and intense urge to urinate

* A painful, burning feeling in the bladder or urethra during urination

* Feeling tired, shaky, and weak

* Muscle aches

* Abdominal pain

* Only small amounts of urine passed, despite a strong urge to urinate

* Cloudy, dark, or bloody urine or urine that has a foul smell

* Pain in the back or side below the ribs

* Nausea and vomiting

* Fever may indicate a kidney or prostate infection.

Dr Azuka said if you notice that you have a urinary infection, it is important you consult your doctor, especially if it does not relieve you within a day or two. "UTIs are treated with antibiotics. The type of antibiotic used and how long it must be taken will depend on the type of bacteria that is causing the infection and how severe it is, which is gotten through a urine test. After several days of antibiotics, your doctor may repeat the urine tests to confirm that the infection is gone. It's important to make sure the infection is cleared because an incompletely treated UTI can recur or spread,'' he stressed.

Prevention they say is always the best option when it comes to contracting bacterial infections. What is the best way to avoid contracting urinary infection? Dr Moghalu said, "Changing some daily habits may help a person prevent recurrent UTIs. The changes have to be in the area of personal hygiene, clothing, eating and nutritional diet. Drinking lots of fluid can help flush bacteria from the system. Water is the best remedy in flushing the body system of microorganisms. People should drink six to 8, 8-ounce glasses a day."

National Mirror