Dr. Donald Sonn: What is Urinary Tract Infection?

Over 8 million adults visit the doctor’s office each year with urinary tract infection (UTI). About 5% of all visits to the doctor’s office is for urinary tract infection. According to studies, around 12% men and 40% women will experience symptoms of this infection at least once in their lives.

The urinary tract is the part of the human body that makes and stores urine. Urine is produced by the kidneys and is passed down via the ureters to the bladder, which in turn stores the urine and empties it through the urethra.

Symptoms

UTI causes the lining of the urethra and bladder to become red, similar to what happens to the throat with a cold. The irritation and redness in the bladder and urethra cause pain in the pelvic area and will make the patient feel like emptying their bladder often. Patients may be able to urinate only a few drops and experience burning sensation at the same time.

Patients will experience fever and back pain because of the infection in the kidneys. If not treated immediately, it could develop into a life-threatening situation.

Causes

This infection is caused by bacteria on the skin and in the rectal area. Bacteria can get into the urine through the urethra and move to the bladder and even up to the kidney. The presence of estrogen in women help keep this infection at bay. Women who go through menopause experience a change in the lining of the vagina, which causes the protective layer of estrogen to decrease making them prone to infection. Sexual intercourse also increases the likelihood of contracting a UTI.

Diaphragms have shown to create an increased risk of contracting infection when compared to other forms of contraception. The use of condoms together with spermicidal foam has shown to be a factor in contracting a urinary tract infection.

Diabetes has also shown to put patients at a higher risk of contracting urinary tract infection because the body’s immune system is not capable of fighting off infections.

Diagnosing

This infection is diagnosed by visiting a doctor. UTI is diagnosed by performing urine culture and urinalysis. The urine sample is examined under a microscope for signs of white blood cells and bacteria in the urine. If blood is present in the urine, the patient will need to contact the doctor immediately. Patients suffering from fever and other urinary tract infection symptoms should contact their doctor immediately.

Treating Patients

Patients with simple infections can be treated with a course of oral antibiotics. The most simple case is treated with a three-day course of antibiotics. However, depending on the type of infection, patients will require more treatment. Serious cases could need hospitalization and intravenous treatment. If the patient’s kidneys are infected, the treatment will be extensive, and the case considered as complicated.

Dr. Donald Sonn is an experienced urologist with over seventeen years’ experience. Dr. Sonn recommends visiting your doctor if you have symptoms of urinary tract infection.

The Author writes articles for medical and business field. He has also contributed to Wikipedia, Squidoo and Hubpages. His articles have been published in print as well as online magazines.