Facts about UTI

Infection of the urinary tract is one the commonest infections affecting the Americans. This infection is more predominant in women than men.

Cause- Urinary tract infection commonly known as UTI occurs when the offending bacteria enters the bladder and passes through the urethra along with the urine. Every part of the urinary system including the kidneys, urethra and bladder can be affected by the bacteria.

Symptoms- UTI is usually a painful infection and often associated with low grade fever. Nausea and vomiting may also be noticed during UTI. The urine passed is often cloudy or of an altered color. Blood in urine can be seen in extreme cases.

Diagnosis- UTI can be confirmed only by a urine analysis. The presence of bacteria within the urine can be detected by specific pathological tests.

Treatment- Doctors usually prescribe anti bacterial drugs for containing UTI. The dosage of the antibiotics depend on the severity of the infection. Sometimes a one off dose of the drug is sufficient whereas other people infected by the urinary bacteria need a 3 to 10 day course of the antibiotic. It is necessary to complete the entire antibiotic course as discontinuation of antibiotics midway may result in reoccurrence of the infection. A follow up urine analysis test after completion of the antibiotic course may help to ascertain the arrest of infection. However, people with affected kidneys may take much longer to recover and most of them require to be hospitalized so that they can be provided with the requisite medicines and fluid exchange in a timely manner.

Persistent Infections- If the infection continues even after taking antibiotics, it normally indicates the presence of  a serious underlying disease like urinary obstruction. Men afflicted with UTI usually take a longer period to recover as infections of the prostrate are more difficult to treat and requires time.