Diagnosis of Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary infections (also called UTIs) are inflammations of the urinary system. They are common conditions that affect most people at least once in their lifetimes, especially the elderly, infants and pregnant women. Urinary tract infection treatment is relatively easy, but many people don't get treatment because they are never diagnosed. There are several ways to diagnose a urinary tract infection.

UTI Causes

• The term urinary tract infection refers to any inflammation of the organs in the urinary system, including the urethra, the bladder or the kidneys. Almost all urinary tract infections begin in the urethra, when bacteria like E. coli or staph are introduced. Many infections stop there but sometimes the bacteria makes its way up the urinary tract, infecting bladder and kidneys too. In some extremely rare cases, a urinary tract infection can begin when the kidneys are infected by bacteria that are in the blood.

Symptom Analysis

• Urinary tract infections can show up as pain or a burning sensation when you urinate. You may also notice that your urine is cloudy, dark or tinged with blood. Many urinary tract infections are treated by home remedies or over the counter medications. This is especially true is you are prone to recurring urinary tract infections. In these cases, you begin to recognize the symptoms of the infection and diagnose yourself without any medical tests. While this way of diagnosis can be effective, when it isn't, you run the risk of misdiagnosis. It is often safer to see your health care provider and have your condition diagnosed properly. This is especially true if you have never had a urinary tract infection before.

Urine Analysis

• If you go to your health care provider and you suspect you have a urinary tract infection, he will probably give you a urine analysis. He will ask you to provide a urine sample so that he can have it analyzed for the presence of bacteria. When you give the sample, you should wash your hands and genitals before starting. This will prevent any bacteria that are present on your hands or genitals from being mixed in with the urine and giving it a false result. Also, you should begin urinating in the toilet and collect the urine in midstream. If the urine test must be done on an elderly person or an infant, a catheter may be used to draw urine from the bladder instead of asking for a sample.

Urine Culture

• A simple urine analysis can diagnose a urinary tract infection, but if you have recurring infections or are not responding to antibiotics, your health care provider may have a urine culture performed. A urine culture is where the bacteria in your urine are incubated and grown. This will help identify the specific bacteria causing your infection and allow your health care provider to come up with a more specific treatment.

X-rays and Ultrasounds

• Recurring urinary tract infections can be caused by underlying conditions, such as kidney and bladder stones. If you seem to keep contraction urinary tract infections, your health care provider may use an ultrasound or x-ray to examine your urinary system for blockages or structural abnormalities. Both procedures are non-invasive, but ultrasounds are more likely to be used to examine the lower urinary tract, while x-rays are more appropriate for kidney exams. In some cases, the diagnosis may involve ingesting dyes that can show the progression of waste through the urinary system and diagnosis blockages.