cat urinary tract infection symptoms Urinary tract infections are a serious health problem affecting millions of people each year.
mens gymnastics clothinggirls gymnastics clothingSecond Month of Pregnancywomens-gymnastics-gripsInfections of the urinary tract are common -- only respiratory infections occur more often. Each year,
urinary tract infections (UTI's) account for about 8 million doctor visits.
to UTI's for reasons that are poorly understood. One woman in five develops a UTI during her
TRG
feline urinary tract infection symptoms
The Urinary Tract
The urinary system consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. The key players in the
system are the kidneys, a pair of purplish-brown organs located below the ribs toward the middle of
blood cells.
canine urinary tract infection symptomsNarrow tubes called ureters carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder, a triangle-shaped
Urine is stored in the bladder and emptied through the urethra.
The amount of urine varies,
The volume formed at night is about half that
It contains fluids, salts, and waste products, but it is free of bacteria, viruses,
and fungi.
the opening of the urethra and begin to multiply. Most infections arise from one type of bacteria,
Escherichia coli (E.
in the urethra. An infection limited to the urethra is called urethritis. From there bacteria often move on
to the bladder, causing a bladder infection (cystitis). urinary tract infection symptomsIf the infection is not treated promptly, bacteria
may then go up the ureters to infect the kidneys (pyelonephritis).
Microorganisms called Chlamydia and Mycoplasma may also cause UTI's in both men and women,
but these infections tend to remain limited to the urethra and reproductive system. Unlike E. coli,
Chlamydia and Mycoplasma may be sexually transmitted, and infections require treatment of both
partners. The urinary system is structured in a way that helps ward off infection. The ureters and
bladder helps wash bacteria out of the body. In men, the prostate gland produces secretions that slow
bacterial growth.
though, infections still occur.
Some people are more prone to getting a UTI than others. Any abnormality of the urinary tract that
obstructs the flow of urine (a kidney stone, for example) sets the stage for an infection. An enlarged
prostate gland also can slow the flow of urine,
signs and symptoms of urinary tract infection thus raising the risk of infection. A common source of
infection is catheters, or tubes, placed in the bladder.
critically ill, often needs a catheter that stays in place for a long time. Some people,
catheter for life. Bacteria on the catheter can infect the bladder, so hospital staff take special care to
keep the catheter sterile and remove it as soon as possible.
People with diabetes have a higher risk of a UTI because of changes of the immune system.
UTI's may occur in
infants who are born with abnormalities of the urinary tract, which sometimes need to be corrected
with surgery. UTI's are rarely seen in boys and young men. In women, though, the rate of
UTI's gradually increases with age.
bladder. Also, a woman's urethral opening is near sources of bacteria from the anus and vagina.
many women, sexual intercourse seems to trigger an infection, although the reasons for this linkage are
unclear.
Recently, researchers found that women whose
coli bacteria in the
vagina.
Recurrent Infections
Many women suffer from frequent UTI's.
another, and 30 percent of those will have yet another. Of the last group, 80 percent will have
recurrences.
the infection before it, indicating a separate infection. (Even when several UTI's in a row are due to E.
coli, slight differences in the bacteria indicate distinct infections.)
Research funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests that one factor behind recurrent
A recent NIH funded
Some
lining the vagina and urethra may allow bacteria to attach more easily. Further research will show
whether this association is sound and proves useful in identifying women at high risk for UTI's.
Infections in Pregnancy
it is more likely to travel to the kidneys. According to some reports, about 2 to 4 percent of pregnant
Scientists think that hormonal changes and shifts in the position of
the urinary tract during pregnancy make it easier for bacteria to travel up the ureters to the kidneys. For
this reason, many doctors recommend periodic testing of urine.
Symptoms
Not everyone with a UTI has symptoms, but most people get at least some. These may include a
urination.
not urinating. Often, women feel an uncomfortable urinary tract infection symptomspressure above the pubic bone, and some men
experience a fullness in the rectum. It is common for a person with a urinary infection to complain that,
despite the urge to urinate, only a small amount of urine is passed. The urine itself may look milky or
cloudy, even reddish if blood is present. A fever may mean that the infection has reached the kidneys.
Other symptoms of a kidney infection include pain in the back or side below the ribs, nausea, or
vomiting. In children, symptoms of a urinary infection may be overlooked or attributed to another
A UTI should be considered when a child or infant seems irritable, is not eating normally,
has an unexplained fever that does not go away, has incontinence or loose bowels, or is not thriving.
Diagnosis
To find out whether you have a UTI, your doctor will test a sample of urine for pus and bacteria. You
(This method of collecting urine helps prevent
bacteria around the genital area from getting into the sample and confusing the test results.) Usually,
the sample is sent to a laboratory, although some doctors' offices are equipped to do the testing.
In the urinalysis test, the urine is examined for urine tract infection symptomswhite and red blood cells and bacteria. Then the
bacteria are grown in a culture and tested against different antibiotics to see which drug best destroys
the bacteria.
Some microbes, like Chlamydia and Mycoplasma, can only be detected with special bacterial cultures.
A doctor suspects one of these infections when a person has symptoms of a UTI and pus in the urine,
but a standard culture fails to grow any bacteria.
When an infection does not clear up with treatment and is traced to the same strain of bacteria, the
doctor will order a test that makes images of the urinary tract. One of these tests is an intravenous
An opaque dye
visible on x-ray film is injected into a vein, and a series of x-rays are taken.
of the urinary tract, revealing even small changes in the structure of the tract.
If you have recurrent infections, your doctor also may recommend an ultrasound exam, which gives
pictures from the echo patterns of soundwaves bounced back from internal organs. Another useful
test is cystoscopy. A cystoscope is an instrument made of a hollow tube with several lenses and a
Treatment
UTI's are treated with antibacterial drugs.
patient's history and the urine tests that identify the offending bacteria. The sensitivity test is especially
uncomplicated UTI's are trimethoprim (Trimpex), trimethoprim/sufamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra,
Cotrim), amoxicillin (Amoxil, Trimox, Wymox), nitrofurantoin (Macrodantin, Furadantin), and
ampicillin.
by an obstruction or nervous system disorder. Still, many doctors ask their patients to take antibiotics
for a week or two to assure that the infection has been cured.
recommended for some groups of patients, for example, those who have delayed treatment or have
signs of a kidney infection, patients with diabetes or structural abnormalities, or men who have
prostate infections. Longer treatment is also needed by patients with infections caused by
Mycoplasma or Chlamydia, which are usually treated with tetracycline, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole
A follow-up urinalysis helps to confirm that the urinary tract is
It is important to take the full course of
treatment because symptoms may disappear before the infection is fully cleared.
Severely ill patients with kidney infections may be hospitalized until they can take fluids and needed
drugs on their own. Kidney infections generally require several weeks of antibiotic treatment.
Researchers at the University of Washington found that 2-week therapy with TMP/SMZ was as
effective as 6 weeks of treatment with the same drug in women with kidney infections that did not
involve an obstruction or nervous system disorder. In such cases, kidney infections rarely lead to
kidney damage or kidney failure unless they go untreated.
Most doctors suggest that drinking plenty of water helps cleanse the urinary tract of bacteria. For the
time being, it is best to avoid coffee, alcohol, and spicy foods. (And one of the best things a smoker
can do for his or her bladder is to quit smoking. Smoking is the major known cause of bladder
About 4 out of 5 women who have a UTI get another in 18 months. Many women have them even
A woman who has frequent recurrences (three or more a year) should ask her doctor
about one of the following treatment options:
Take low doses of an antibiotic such as TMP/SMZ or nitrofurantoin daily for 6 months or longer. (If
taken at bedtime, the drug remains in the bladder longer and may be more effective.)
NIH-supported research at the University of Washington has shown this therapy to be effective
Take a single dose of an antibiotic after sexual intercourse.
Dipsticks that change color when an infection is present are now available without prescription. The
strips detect nitrite, which is formed when bacteria change nitrate the urine to nitrate. The test can
detect about 90 percent of UTI's and may be useful for women who have recurrent infections.
Drink plenty of water every day. Some doctors suggest drinking cranberry juice, which in large
amounts inhibits the growth of some bacteria by acidifying the urine. Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
supplements have the same effect.
Wipe from front to back to prevent bacteria around the anus from entering the vagina or urethra;
Take showers instead of tub baths;
Avoid using feminine hygiene sprays and scented douches, which may irritate the urethra.
Infections in Pregnancy
A pregnant woman who develops a UTI should be treated promptly to avoid premature delivery of her
Some antibiotics are not safe to take during
pregnancy. In selecting the best treatments, doctors consider various factors such as the drug's
effectiveness, the stage of pregnancy, the mother's health, and potential effects on the fetus.
Curing infections that stem from a urinary obstruction or nervous system disorder depends on finding
group of patients is at risk of kidney damage. Also, such infections tend to arise from a wider range of
bacteria, and sometimes from more than one type of bacteria at a time.
UTI's are unusual in men. They usually stem from an obstruction -- for example, a urinary stone or
infecting organism and the drugs to which it is sensitive.
symptoms of urinary tract infection in childrenUsually, doctors recommended lengthier
therapy in men than in women, in part to prevent infections of the prostate gland. Prostate infections
(prostatitis) are harder to cure because antibiotics are unable to penetrate infected prostate tissue
effectively. For this reason, men with prostatitis often need long-term treatment with a carefully
selected antibiotic.
Research in Urinary System Disorders
The NIH conducts and supports a variety of research in diseases of the kidney and urinary tract. The
knowledge gained from these studies is advancing scientific understanding of why UTI's develop and
is leading to improved methods of diagnosing, treating, and preventing infections.
Information provided by the NIH & NIDDK