What is the urinary tract? Her urinary tract are the organs that collect and store urine and release it from your body. These organs are the kidneys, which remove liquid waste from the blood as urine, maintain the balance of salts and other substances in the blood, and produce a hormone that helps form red blood cells. They are also the urethers, thin tubes that carry urine from the kidney to the bladder, a triangular chamber in the lower abdomen that stores urine, and urethra, a tube through which urine passes to leave the body. (See diagram). What are urinary tract infections (UTIs)? A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection in any part of them. Normal urine is sterile. It contains fluids, salts and waste, but is free of bacteria, viruses, and fungi. When microorganisms, usually bacteria from the digestive tract, cling to the urethra, which is the opening to the urinary tract and start reproducing, infection occurs. What causes UTIs? Most infections are caused by a class of bacteria, Escherichia coli (E. coli) that normally inhabit the colon. In most cases, the bacteria grow in the urethra and often are moved to the bladder, causing a bladder infection or cystitis. If the infection is not treated promptly, bacteria may ascend through the ureters and infect the kidneys. This serious condition is called pyelonephritis. Some microorganisms called Chlamydia and Mycoplasma may also cause UTIs in both women and men. These infections usually occur in the urethra and reproductive system (uterus, or womb, and ovaries and fallopian tubes). Unlike E. coli, chlamydia and mycoplasma may be sexually transmitted, and both partners should be treated for the infection. Some women have a long term condition called interstitial cystitis, also known as painful bladder syndrome or frequency-urgency syndrome, dysuria. In this condition, the bladder wall becomes inflamed or irritated, which affects the amount of urine that the bladder can hold. Interstitial cystitis can cause scarring, stiffness, and bleeding in the bladder. This complex condition is different from a SUT, and scientists do not know what causes it. Which are the symptoms of UTIs? Not everyone who suffers from an IVU has symptoms, but most people show at least some signs. They can range from mildly annoying to very painful. Some symptoms are feeling an urgent need to urinate but only expel a small amount of urine and a burning sensation, pressure or pain in the area of the bladder or urinating. The urine may look milky or cloudy, even if you have blood red. It is not uncommon to feel tired, shaky or out of power. Often, women feel an uncomfortable pressure above the pubic bone, and some men have a sense of fullness in the rectum. A fever may indicate that the infection has reached the kidneys. Other symptoms of kidney infection can be pain in his back, or into his side below the ribs, nausea or vomiting, and chills. It is very important to see your health care provider at the first sign of pain, irritation, or blood with urination, or if you have a sick feeling in your abdomen or the closeness of it, back or sides. An IVU untreated can lead to kidney infection. An untreated kidney infection or recurrent can lead to scarring of the kidneys and permanent damage to them. Who is at risk for UTIs? Some people are more likely to suffer a SUT than others, but about one in five women will have a UTI sometime during their life. Women experience more UTIs than men. It may be because a woman's urethra is relatively short, which allows bacteria quick access to the bladder. It may also be because the opening of the urethra in women is near sources of bacteria such as the anus and vagina. For many women, intercourse seems to cause an infection. According to many studies, women who use a diaphragm are more likely to get a SUT than those using other contraceptive methods. Recently, researchers have discovered that women whose partners use condoms with spermicidal foam tend to have a growth of bacteria E. coli in the vagina. Non-lubricated condoms with spermicidal foam and those increase irritation and help bacteria cause symptoms of UTI. Other options are to use condoms lubricated with spermicide or a non-spermicidal lubricant. Women have a higher risk of UTIs after menopause. The walls of the urinary tract become thinner after the menopause, which weakens its mucosal lining. Then, the mucosal lining are less able to resist bacteria. The bladder muscles also become less elastic (or can not spread like they did before) and the bladder may not empty completely. This may contribute to a SUT. Any abnormality of the urinary tract that obstructs the flow of urine (a kidney stone, for example) makes it more likely the infection. Catheters, tubes that are placed into the bladder to urinate help those who are unconscious or seriously ill, are a common cause of infection. Bacteria on the catheter can infect the bladder, and that's why the hospital staff is particularly concerned to keep the catheter sterile and remove it as soon as possible. Diabetics are at increased risk for IVU due to changes in the immune system. Any disease that inhibits the immune system, such as diabetes, increases the risk of a SUT. Do you suffer more urinary tract infections during pregnancy? Pregnant women seem to have no more likely to have UTIs than other women. However, once IVU occurs in a pregnant woman is more likely that the shift to the kidneys. Scientists think that hormonal changes and position changes of the urinary tract during pregnancy make it easier for bacteria to ascend through the ureters into the kidneys. For this reason, many health care providers analyzed the urine of pregnant women during their visits. If you have symptoms of a SUT while pregnant, go immediately to your healthcare provider, because the infection can cause premature birth, and have other risks such as hypertension. How IVU diagnosed? To determine if you have an IVU, your health care provider will test a sample of urine for pus and bacteria. You will be asked to provide a "clean" urine washing the genital area and taking a urine sample "medium flow" in a sterile container. This method of taking the urine helps prevent bacteria from entering the genital area sample and confusing the test results. The urine sample is then sent to a laboratory to be examined for the red and white blood cells, and bacteria. Next, it allows bacteria to reproduce in culture. After the bacteria grow, they are evaluated against different antibiotics to see which drug best destroys them. The latter step is called a test of sensitivity. Although your health care provider can begin treatment before the bacterial cultures reached the laboratory, they will confirm the diagnosis and may produce a change in the antibiotic that your healthcare provider choose for you. If the SUT can not be cured with treatment, or if you have several bladder infections, you may need a test called cystoscopy. A flexible tube with a light and camera is inserted into the bladder for urine samples and tissue. Your healthcare provider may order other tests that produce images of the urinary tract, such as intravenous pyelogram (IVP). This test provides x-ray images of the bladder, kidneys, and ureters. Another test of images you may need an ultrasound exam, which provides images of the echo patterns of sound waves that bounce off internal organs. There is a test that allows women with frequent infections themselves analyze their first morning urine. Now there dipsticks (a type of test paper which resembles a stick, and you can dip in a sample of your urine) available without prescription in pharmacies, which change color if an infection. What is the treatment for an IVU? The UTIs are treated with antibiotics (medicine that kills bacteria), usually for seven to ten days. For some infections, however, may only need a single dose of antibiotics. The choice of antibiotic and length of treatment depend on your medical history and type of bacteria causing the infection. The antibiotic drugs most commonly used to treat UTIs include:

• Trimethoprim (Trimpex);

• Trimethoprim / sulfamethoxazole or TMP / SMX (Bactrim, Septra, Cotrim);

• Amoxicillin (Amoxil, Trimox, Wymox);

• Nitrofurantoin (Macrodantin, Furadantin),

• and ampicillin.

Sometimes also used other antibiotics, including ofloxacin (Floxin), norfloxacin (Noroxin), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), and trovofloxacina (Trovan). Some antibiotics are safe to eat during pregnancy. Talk to your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of taking the different medicines.
Get appropriate treatment will prevent the urinary tract problems worsen and affect other parts of your body. You can prevent kidney infections seeing your health care provider only has symptoms of an IVU. If you feel pain, ask your health care provider to prescribe a painkiller, as there are several medications available. A heating pad may also be useful.

What if I still contracting UTIs?

Most healthy women do not suffer repeated infections. However, it is likely that women who have suffered three UTIs continue contracting it. Four out of five such women get another IVU within 18 months after their last IVU. Many women suffer even more frequently. If you suffer from frequent infections (three or more per year), ask your health care provider about any of the following treatment options:

• Take small doses of an antibiotic such as TMP / SMZ or nitrofurantoin daily for six months or more. Research has shown that this therapy is effective without causing serious side effects.

• Take a single dose of an antibiotic after intercourse.

• Take a short series (of one or two days) of antibiotics when symptoms appear.