Grow Youthful: How to Slow Your Aging and Enjoy Extraordinary Health
Grow Youthful: How to Slow Your Aging and Enjoy Extraordinary Health

Urinary tract infection (UTI)

What is a urinary tract infection?

UTI Symptoms

Severe long-term UTI

Risk factors

Causes

Treatment

What is a urinary tract infection?

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a bacterial infection of any part of the urinary tract. This can range from the kidneys, down through the ureters (the tubes which run from the kidneys to the bladder), the bladder itself, and the urethra.

Cystitis is inflammation of the bladder, often caused by a bacterial infection, but also by other causes such as trauma or injury. An infection of the upper urinary tract or kidney is known as pyelonephritis, and is potentially more serious.

A healthy bladder and urine usually contains little or no bacteria, viruses or fungi. A urinary tract infection can occur if bacteria reaches the urethra from the digestive tract via the anus. Women suffer from urinary tract infections more often than men because their urethra is closer to the anus and shorter.

The most common bacteria in a UTI is Escherichia coli, and this particular bacteria is the cause of 80% of cases. However, many other bacteria can also cause a UTI, including Chlamydia and Mycoplasma, which are sexually transmitted.

The standard mid-stream urine test for a UTI misses 50% of infections. This means that many people have an infection but do not take any action or make any changes. Usually a UTI will resolve on its own, but if symptoms continue for weeks or months without diagnosis or any action, the bacteria may become more deeply rooted.

A UTI is different to thrush, which is a yeast rather than bacterial infection.

UTI Symptoms

Severe long-term UTI

Severe, long term, and frequently reoccurring UTIs can occur if:

Severe long-term UTI can prevent one leading a normal life. Sex and exercise become painful ordeals, and in the worse cases it is not possible to socialise, work as normal, or even leave the home.

UTI Risk factors

UTI Causes

UTI Treatment