Urinary Tract Infection

The urinary tract is an essential part of the body that needs to work properly in order for your body to dispel urine. Whenever you urinate, every system must work together so that you can go to the bathroom without issue.

Unfortunately, the bacteria can enter the tract through your urethra and into the bladder or from your digestive system and into your kidneys. While this infection can go away on its own, remedies are oftentimes needed to fully remove the infection from the urinary tract.

What Causes These Infections to Develop?

Women have a higher likelihood of suffering from a urinary tract infection because their urethras are relatively short in size, which means that bacteria don’t need to travel too lengthy of a distance before arriving at the bladder. It’s possible for sexual intercourse to increase your chances of being affected by this infection.

If you’re pregnant, it’s essential that you remain on the lookout for this infection. While pregnancy increases the risk of a urinary tract infection, the symptoms can also differ slightly from the usual infections, which makes it more difficult to identify. If left untreated, the infection could eventually reach the kidneys, which poses greater danger to your health.

Primary Symptoms

There are a myriad of symptoms that you might suffer from because of a urinary tract infection, the primary of which include painful urination, a burning sensation when urinating, and urine in the blood. Additional symptoms that you’ll want to look out for include:

• Pain in the lower back and lower abdomen
• Urine with an odor
• Urine that appears cloudy
• Chills
• Fever
• Nausea

Recurring Infections

In most cases, urinary tract infections are effectively treated. While you might eventually suffer from another infection years down the road, there may be an underlying problem to consider if another infection occurs within six months following treatment of the first one. These are referred to as recurring infections and can be caused by structural issues within your urethra or the presence of fecal bacteria.

Potential Treatment Options

A standard urinary tract infection can be treated with a combination of antibiotics and consuming large amounts of liquid. Symptoms should dissipate within a couple of days. If you are suffering from recurring urinary tract infections, the treatment recommended to you depends on the cause. If the cause is fecal bacteria, a small change in your personal hygiene may be all that’s required. Structural issues in the urethra may need to be surgically repaired.