| Affecting millions of people each year, the | | | | happens because woman's urethra is shorter, |
| urinary tract infections are more frequent in | | | | and so, bacteria will travel a shorter |
| women, but they can affect men as well, and | | | | distance to the bladder, and also because |
| can cause a serious condition. | | | | woman's urethral opening is near sources of |
| | | | bacteria from the anus and vagina. For many |
| It is known that the urinary system contains | | | | women, it is possible that sexual intercourse |
| the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. | | | | to trigger an infection as well. It was also |
| The kidneys, which are a pair of | | | | seen that women who use a diaphragm for birth |
| purplish-brown organs situated below the ribs | | | | control are more predisposed into getting a |
| toward the middle of the back have the role | | | | urinary tract infection. |
| to remove excess liquid and wastes from the | | | | |
| blood, to form the urine, to produce a | | | | Researchers say that a factor that determines |
| hormone that aids the formation of red blood | | | | the recurrence of the urinary tract |
| cells and to keep a stable balance of salts | | | | infections may be the ability of bacteria to |
| and other substances in the blood. The | | | | attach to cells lining the urinary tract. It |
| ureters have the role to carry urine from the | | | | was made a recent study, and it was |
| kidneys to the bladder, and here, the urine | | | | discovered that bacteria formed a protective |
| is stored and then the urine exits the body | | | | film on the inner lining of the bladder in |
| through the urethra. | | | | mice. This is a step forward, because if this |
| | | | process can be demonstrated in humans too, |
| Normally, the urine is sterile, but there can | | | | there can appear new treatments to prevent |
| appear infections when bacteria, from the | | | | the recurrent urinary tract infections. |
| digestive tract usually, cling to the opening | | | | |
| of the urethra and start multiplying. | | | | Other studies suggest that women who are |
| Usually, the bacteria type Escherichia coli | | | | non-secretors of certain blood group antigens |
| is responsible for these infections. | | | | are more predisposed to recurrent urinary |
| | | | tract infections. The scientists explain this |
| If the infection is limited to the urethra, | | | | happens because the cells lining the vagina |
| we are dealing with urethritis. If bacteria | | | | and urethra may allow bacteria to attach more |
| traveled to the bladder and multiplied, we | | | | easily. |
| have a cystitis. It is very important that | | | | |
| infection to be treated as quickly as | | | | Seems that pregnant women who develop a |
| possible, because the kidneys can become | | | | urinary tract infection have a greater risk |
| infected, causing pyelonephritis. | | | | for the infection to affect the kidneys. It |
| | | | is believed this happens because hormonal |
| Some microorganism, called Chlamydia and | | | | changes and shifts in the position of the |
| Mycoplasma can be sexually transmitted, and | | | | urinary tract during pregnancy make it easier |
| they can cause urinary tract infections. | | | | for the bacteria to travel to the kidneys. |
| These infections usually are limited to the | | | | That's why period testing of urine during |
| urethra and reproductive system and treatment | | | | pregnancy is recommended. |
| is required for both partners. | | | | |
| | | | Although not all the patients with urinary |
| There are some persons more predisposed to | | | | tract infections have symptoms, there usually |
| develop a urinary tract infection. For | | | | appears a frequent urge to urinate, a |
| example an abnormality of the urinary tract | | | | painful, burning feeling in the area of the |
| that obstructs the flow of urine, or an | | | | bladder or urethra during urination, women |
| enlarged prostate gland can lead to an | | | | can experience an uncomfortable pressure |
| increased risk of infection. | | | | above the pubic bone and men a fullness in |
| | | | the rectum. If there appears fever too, it is |
| Also, it is known that catheters, or tubes, | | | | possible that the infection has reached the |
| placed in the urethra and bladder are a | | | | kidneys. The symptoms of a kidney infection |
| common source of infection, and people with | | | | also include symptoms like pain in the back |
| diabetes or any other disorder that | | | | or side below the ribs, nausea and vomiting. |
| suppresses the immune system have an | | | | |
| increased risk to develop a urinary tract | | | | Usually, in a urinary tract infection, the |
| infection. | | | | urine may look milky or cloudy, and if blood |
| | | | is present, it will look reddish. |
| It was seen that urinary tract infections may | | | | |
| occur in infants born with abnormalities of | | | | It is important to know that children with |
| the urinary tract and sometimes surgery is | | | | urinary tract infections may have fever as |
| needed. The scientists do not know for sure | | | | the only symptom, that is why very often, the |
| why women develop more often then men urinary | | | | symptom of a urinary tract infection can be |
| tract infections, but it is believed this | | | | attributed to another disorder. |