Urinary Infections – Symptoms and causes

What is a urinary tract infection (UTI)?
It is an infection usually caused by bacteria from the intestinal flora, which can affect the kidneys, the bladder or the urethra.

Today we are going to talk about a topic that is more common among women than men, due to the way their anatomy is built. Intestinal bacteria usually trigger UTI, but fungi or viruses can also cause it.

But why is a women’s body more susceptible to these infections?
In the human anatomy, the women’s urethra besides being shorter than the males is also closest to the anus. Which causes a higher probability of access to the bacteria of the intestinal flora.

But who is more prone to UTI’s?

• Women
• Those who have Diabetes
• Those who use a diaphragm as a contraceptive method
• Those who have low immunity
• Those who have a history of kidney stones

Symptoms differ slightly, depending on what organ is triggering the infection.

Let’s look at what symptoms we should consider before seeking medical attention:

If it is a bladder infection (cystitis), the most common symptoms are:

• Pain or burning when urinating
• A constant urge to urinate, but in small quantities
• Cloudy or turbid urine
• Urine with an unpleasant odor

Now if is a kidney infection (pyelonephritis), the most common symptoms are:

• Abdominal discomfort
• Chills
• Fever
• Lower back pain
• Vomiting and/or dizziness
• Pain or burning when urinating

If the urethra is infected (urethritis), the most common symptoms are as followed:

• Yellowish discharge in the urethra
• Pain or burning when urinating

If you notice any of these symptoms you should seek immediate medical attention.
After you have a diagnosis, you’ll know what the source of the problem is, its extent and how to fix it.

Next week we will talk about preventive care and the most common treatments for urinary tract infections.

See you next week!