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