It is felt that urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common infections ranked closely behind colds and flu in frequency. It is estimated that almost half of all women experience at least one UTI in their lifetime. Urinary tract infection has a significant healthcare cost burden on any country.

Dr. Brett Hodge

What is a urinary tract infection?
Your urinary tract is the system that makes urine and carries it out of your body. It includes your bladder and kidneys and the tubes that connect them (ureters) and the urethra. When germs get into this system they can cause an infection. Bacterial infections of the bladder (cystitis), urine (bacteriuria) or kidney (pyelonephritis) may be either uncomplicated or complicated. Uncomplicated UTIs occur in individuals with normal genitourinary tracts, no recent history of urethral catheterization and no other underlying disease states. Complicated UTIs occur in patients with metabolic, functional or anatomic abnormalities. Other factors associated with an increased risk of UTI include genetic predisposition, congenital abnormalities and urinary tract obstruction. Behavioural risk factors include frequency of sexual intercourse and the use of condoms and spermicides.
Who gets Urinary tract infections?
Men and women get UTIs but women are more likely to get them than men. UTIs in men are primarily a concern at the extremes of life in the neonatal period and after the age of 50.
What causes urinary tract infections?
Usually, organisms (germs) get into your system through your urethra - the tube that carries urine from your bladder to the outside of your body. The germs that usually cause these infections live in your large intestine and are found in your stool. If these germs get inside your urethra, they can travel up into your bladder and kidneys and cause an infection.
Women tend to get more bladder infections than men. This is probably because women have shorter urethras, so it is easier for the germs to move up to their bladders. Having sex can make it easier for germs to get into your urethra.
You may be more likely to get an infection if you do not drink enough fluids, have diabetes, or if you are pregnant. The chance that you will get a bladder infection is higher if you have any problem that blocks the flow of urine from your bladder. Examples include having kidney stones or an enlarged prostate gland.
For reasons that are not well understood, some women get bladder infections again and again.
What are the symptoms of urinary tract infections?
Not, everyone with a urinary tract infection has symptoms, but most people have at least some symptoms. Signs of a urinary tract infection include:
• Pain or stinging when urinating;
• Needing to urinate often or really badly;
• Urine that smells bad or looks milky, cloudy, or reddish in colour;
• Pain in the lower belly (abdomen);
• Feeling tired, shaky or having a fever.
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How are urinary tract infections diagnosed?
A medical history and examination might point to a diagnosis of UTI but your doctor might ask for a sample of your urine. The urine is tested to see if it has germs that cause bladder infections. If you have infections often, you may need extra testing to find out why.
What is the treatment for a urinary tract infection?
Urinary tract infections are treated with antibiotics to get rid of the infection. Pregnant women with urinary tract infections are more likely to get kidney infections and so quick treatment is especially important for these women. If you are pregnant and think you have a urinary tract infection, see your obstetrician as soon as possible.
How can I prevent a urinary tract infection?
There are some things you can do to make it less likely that you will get urinary tract infections, especially if they get them often.
• Drink plenty of water every day.
• Urinate when you need to; don’t hold it in.
• In women, wipe from front to back to prevent bacteria from entering the vagina or uretha.
• If you are a woman, urinate right after having sex.
• Avoid use of feminine hygiene sprays or douches.
• If you get a lot of urinary tract infections and use spermicides or creams that kill sperm, talk to your health care provider about using other forms of birth control.
Conclusion
Urinary tract infections are very common occurring more frequently in women than men. Any part of your urinary tract can become infected, but bladder infections are the most common. Urinary tract infections can be very painful, but if treated early and correctly serious complications can be avoided.
Ask Your Doctor is a health education column and is not a substitute for medical advice from your physician. Dr. Brett Hodge is an obstetrician/gynaecologist and family doctor who has over twenty years in clinical practice. Dr. Hodge has a medical practice in the Johnson Building in The Valley.

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