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UTI Symptoms

Urinary tract infections are one of the most common infections in the human body and account for 8.3 million doctor visits each year, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). "One woman in five develops a (urinary tract infection) during her lifetime," according to the NIH. "(Urinary tract infections) in men are not as common as in women but can be very serious when they do occur." Following is information on the common causes, symptoms and treatments of urinary tract infections.

  1. The Urinary Tract

    • An infection can occur anywhere in your urinary tract, which includes your kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. These are the components of the system that collects, stores, and expels urine from your body. The process starts with your kidneys, that filter waste products and extra liquid from your blood. These waste products become urine, which is carried from your kidneys to you bladder by your ureters. Your urethra then carries the urine from your bladder out of your body when you urinate.

    Causes

    • The most common cause of urinary tract infections is bacteria from your own body. "They are caused by bacteria that are normally present in your digestive system and on the skin around the rectum and vagina," according to the Penn State College of Medicine. "This bacteria can pass through the urethra and up into the bladder."

    Symptoms

    • According to the NIH and the Mayo Clinic, the symptoms of a urinary tract infection include frequent urination, the intense need to urinate even when you have little urine in your system, pain and tenderness. You also may have cloudy, dark, bloody or unusual-smelling urine. As the infection progresses, you may develop fever and chills.

    Diagnosis

    • The first step in diagnosing a urinary tract infection is often a simple dipstick test of your urine in your doctor's office. If the dipstick indicates an infection may be present, your urine will be sent to a lab and checked for bacteria and white blood cells. Your doctor may also order a urine culture. "In this test, bacteria from the urine are allowed to grow in a lab dish so the exact type of bacteria can be seen and the precise type of medicine you need can be chosen," according to the NIH.

    Treatment

    • Once you have been diagnosed with a urinary tract infection, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection. The type of antibiotics you receive will be based on the type of bacteria that caused the infection, which is determined by the results of your urine culture. Your treatment will consist of three to seven days of antibiotics, depending on the type and severity of your infection.

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