Women's Health Blog

Urinary Tract comprise of:

1. Kidney is a pair small organ located by the sides of spine in the waist area. They have a very important function of removes wastes from the body along with Excess water from the blood and excrete it as Urine.
2. Ureter is a tube like structure connected with Kidneys and the Urinary Bladder. The urine formed in the Kidneys is drained through the Ureter to the Bladder for collection.
3. Urinary Bladder is a Sac Like structure in which Urine is collected till it is filled to a certain level. The Bladder contracts to expel urine outside through Urethra.
4. Urethra is a small tube having muscular sphincter, which relaxes with simultaneous contraction of Bladder muscles, to evacuate urine out side the body.

Urinary Tract Infections:

Any part of the Urinary Tract can be infected. If the Urtethra is infected it is considered superficial infection, the deeper inside the location infection, the more serious are the complications associated with it.

The infections of the kidney and Ureter are called Upper Tract infections and they are usually Pyelonephritis of the Kidneys.

The Infections of the Lower Urinary Tract, are the infections of  Bladder, called Cystitis and Urethra infections are called Urethritis.

Incidence of Urinary Tract Infections:

Urinary infections are more common in adults than in Children.

Besides bed wetting, Urinary Tract Infection in Children is a very common Problem. If a Urinary Tract infection is found in children, it can take a very serious turn and should not be ignored.

Urinary Tract Infections are more in Girls and Women as compared with Boys and Men below the age of 50 years.

Looking at the statistics 50 % of women and 12 % men suffer from Urinary Tract Infections at one time or another in their life.

Types of Infections:

Simple Infections are found in healthy Urinary tract and can be easily treated with a mild medication and do not spread to other parts of body.

The Complicated Infections are the ones, where structural changes have also taken place and are more difficult to treat because they become resistant to common antibiotics.

Kidneys are the organs where blood is filtered. Urea present in the Blood is removed along with excess fluids in the body. The urine thus formed is moved through Ureters into the urinary Bladder, where it is collected till it is full and there is an urge to urinate and the urine is excreted out through the Urethera.

Causes of Urinary Tract Infections:

Normally Urine is sterile, infection occurs, when an infection enters into urine and starts its growth. The infection usually starts at the opening of the Urethra and moves upward into Urinary Tract. The most common Bacteria involved is E. coli, which are found in the  Bowel and anus and can move to the urethra. The most Common cause is poor Hygiene and sexual intercourse.

If the infection is minor, it is expelled out by passing of the urine, but if the infection is too much, uncontrolled infection  can spread to the Bladder, Ureters and Kidney causing Pyyelonephritis in the Kidney, which can cause damages to the kidney tissues and its functions.

Persons Susceptible to Urinary Tract Infections:

1. Persons having obstructions in Urinary Tract like kidney stone.
2. Persons suffering from conditions that cause incomplete Bladder Evacuation in case of a spinal injury or Bladder Decompensation as in menopause.
3. Persons with Suppressed Immune System like in Aids, Diabetes or persons taking immune suppressant medications.
4. Women who have frequent sexual intercourse, with each intercourse more number of bacteria also can reach the bladder and grow very rapidly to enormous numbers causing Urinary Tract Infections.
5. The pregnant women need to get their Urine sample examined for Urinary Tract infections and get proper treatment if it is present so that complications do not arise in the new born baby.
6. Men with Enlarged Prostrate Causing incomplete Evacuation of the bladder.

Following Category of Persons also have a High Risk of Urinary Tract infections:

1. Very young Children, where Bacteria can enter through Blood stream into Urinary Tract from other parts of body.
2. Young Children have difficulty in wiping themselves and washing their hands properly after bowl movement.
3. Poor Hygienic uncared conditions prevailing.
4. In partially blocked Urinary Tract condition the urine moves backwards causing spread of infection.
5. Patients hospitalized and having catheters inserted in the Urinary Tract have chance of getting infection in Urinary Tract.

Symptoms of Urinary Tract Infections:

Following Symptoms are experienced in Lower Urinary Tract Infections:

1. Pain or burning sensation during urination.
2. More Frequent Urination.
3. Sensation of not being in a position to hold the Urine.
4. Cloudy Foul smelling urine.
5. Mild Fever.

Symptoms of Upper Urinary Tract Infections:

The Symptoms appear rapidly in Pylonephritis, with a High Fever, Nausea and Vomiting accompanied by back ache.

Treatment Guidelines:

If the Urinary Tract infection is suspected proper investigations and treatment as advised by the medical specialist should be carried out till the investigations confirm that the infection has been completely cured.