Urinary tract infection (UTI)

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection that involved the kidneys, ureters, bladder, or urethra. These are all body parts in which urine passes through before exiting the body. Any or all of these parts can become infected, and the rule is that the farther up the urinary tract the infection is, the worse it is considered. In your body the upper urinary tract is made up of the kidneys and the ureters. Infections of the upper urinary tract usually affect the kidneys and are referred to as pyelonephritis. Lower urinary tract is composed up of the bladder and urethra. Infection of the lower urinary tract that affects the urethra is known as urethritis and the bladder infection is referred to as cystitis. Simple infections that occur in a healthy urinary tract do not usually spread to other areas of the body and can be treated easily.Those who have complications that are connected to a UTI can experience infection caused

by anatomic abnormalities, spread to other areas of the body, or are resistant to the antibiotics available are more challenging to treat.

UTIS are quite common in America, accounting for more than seven million medical office and hospital visits each year. UTI is more common for adults but can affect about two percent of children. If your child does get a UTI they are treated as more serious than an adult's so seek medical attention as soon as possible if you think your child may have one.

It is good to know that children who have bedwetting problems are most likely to develop a UTI. When it comes to men and women under the age of fifty women are much more likely to develop a UTI. If your son develops a UTI it is likely going to be more serious than a girl's. It has been estimated that bout forty percent of women and twelve percent of men have experienced a UTI at some point in their life.

Causes

The urinary tract is the body's filtering system for removal of liquid wastes. Women are especially susceptible to bacteria which may invade the urinary tract and multiply resulting in infection.

Although most urinary tract infections or UTIs are not serious, they are painful. Approximately fifty percent of all women will have at least one UTI in her lifetime with many women having several infections throughout their lifetime. A urinary tract infection is usually caused when bacteria enter the urethra and bladder and cause inflammation and infection. In normal conditions, the urethra and bladder have no bacteria. When bacteria enters the bladder, it is usually removed during urination.