A burning sensation while urinating is never going to feel good. In UTIs, this feeling is accompanied by a persistent urge to urinate. Worse still, one is never able to pass out all the urine at once. You visit the toilet frequently to pass little amounts of urine each time. This is why people often seek urgent care near you for UTIs. In this article, we will learn all about infections.
Our urinary tract starts from our kidneys to the ureters, then the bladder, and finally ends in the urethra. An infection anywhere along this route is known as a UTI. Most times, the infection happens in the lower part of the track, as in the bladder and urethra. Wherever it happens, the infection is always discomforting and you will need urgent care for UTI near you. Women have a shorter urethra hence are prone to UTIs more than men. We have mentioned the three major symptoms associated with UTIs earlier. Urine may appear cloudy or red, a sign of blood in the urine. It can also come with a strong smell. Women can have pain in the pelvis. Sometimes, urinary tract infections in the elderly are mistaken for other conditions. When it occurs in the kidneys, it is known as acute pyelonephritis. In the bladder, it is known as cystitis. Ureteritis or urethritis is when the ureters or urethra get infected.
Causes/Risk Factors
Bacteria usually enter the urethra then travel up to replicate and live in the bladder. This is the reason why women are more prone because the bacteria travel a shorter distance through their short urethras. Normally, the urinary system keeps out the invaders. However, the system succumbs sometimes, causing UTI in Houston, TX. The bacterium most responsible for cystitis is known as Escherichia coli. This organism is usually found in our gut. This is why UTI treatment with antibiotics is a good course of action. Women are more prone to this infection because the anus is not too far from the urethra in their anatomy. Hence, there’s a potential for the transfer of the organism from the anus to its urethra. Moreover, the organism will travel through a short urethra to get to the bladder. These are risk factors for UTIs.
Sexual intercourse may lead to cystitis. Sexually active women are more prone to the infection than those who are not. STIs can lead to urethritis in women because the vagina is close to the urethra. Certain types of birth control such as diaphragms and spermicidal agents increase risk too. After menopause, the fall in levels of estrogen can cause changes in the urinary tract that increase the risk for an infection.
Babies born with abnormalities in their urinary tracts also have increased risk. This is especially true when the abnormality prevents the expulsion of urine and causes it to back up in the urethra. Blockages in the urinary tract also do this and increase the risk of UTIs. The use of a catheter to pass urine for people that are unable to do so themselves also increases the risk of infection.
Complications
Untreated UTIs are dangerous. They can lead to permanent kidney damage from an acute or chronic kidney infection. Women who have UTIs during pregnancy are at risk of delivering low birth weight or premature infants. Narrowing of the urethra(stricture) is possible in men. It can also lead to sepsis, an overwhelming infection in the body.
Prevention
UTIs are very uncomfortable hence they are best prevented. It is also good to avoid the urgent care UTI cost. Drink plenty of water always. This ensures that you urinate frequently and flush out bacteria. Women should wipe from front to back always. They should also endeavor to empty their bladder after intercourse. Safer forms of birth control should be used. Some feminine products like deodorant sprays and powders are irritating to the urethra. They should not be used in that region.
Treatment
UTI treatment with antibiotics is the best course of action. The doctor will prescribe the right antibiotics based on the bacteria causing the infection.
