What is a urinary tract infection

Urinary tract infection is a bacterial infection that affects the urinary system, but most of it is caused by fungi. Urinary tract infection is an infection of the primary urinary system, which consists of the urinary tubes, kidneys, and bladder. The infection begins by attacking one of these compounds, but the most susceptible is the urethra and bladder.

Symptoms of urinary tract infection

Urinary tract infection is known as “cystitis” and this is the lower section, while the upper section is known as “pyelonephritis.” Some of the symptoms of urinary tract infection that relate to the lower section include painful urination or frequent urination, or both, while the symptoms related to pyelitis are pain in the bladder, and some symptoms may be ambiguous for the elderly or children, and the main factor in this infection is “Escherichia coli,” and this infection is more common among women than men.

There are not many symptoms that appear in all cases, However, the most common symptoms among patients are the following:

• Feeling a burning sensation in urine.
• The person's desire to urinate.
• Frequent urination in small amounts.
• The color of urine tends to be yellow, red, or the color of cola, and this indicates the presence of blood in the urine.
• Urine has a strong smell.
• In women, pain appears in the pelvis, especially in the middle of the pubic bone.

Causes of urinary tract infection

After we explained the symptoms of a urinary tract infection previously, we will now discuss the causes. This infection occurs when bacteria enter through the urethra and begin to multiply in the bladder. Although the urinary system works to protect against bacterial attacks, it sometimes fails.

Where bacteria settle, grow, and turn into urinary tract infections. There are several types of this infection, and it may affect women more than men. These types are as follows:

Urethritis

This type occurs when bacteria that enter from the anus spread and reach the urethra and inflammation results from this transmitted infection. These infections include mycoplasma and chlamydia. This often occurs in women because the urethra is close to the vagina.

cystitis

This type is caused by a urinary tract infection from Escherichia, a type of bacteria found in the intestinal tract, and often another type of bacteria is the cause.

It is worth noting that sexual intercourse may contribute to the occurrence of cystitis, although it is not the cause in all cases, and many women are exposed to this infection due to their structural composition, as their urethra is located close to the opening of the vagina and bladder, and this facilitates the entry of bacteria and infection.

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Risk factors for urinary tract infection

Urinary tract infection is a disease that is more common among women than men, as they are exposed to this infection more than once during their lives. It also has risk factors that are as follows:

• Some contraceptives may increase the incidence of urinary tract infections and increase the risk of this infection.
• Frequent sexual activity leads to an increase in infection, especially with sexual intercourse, and thus increases the infection.
• Menopause may lead to a decrease in the level of estrogen in a woman's body and the occurrence of some changes in the urinary tract, making her more susceptible to this infection.

In addition to the above factors, there are certain health conditions that increase the likelihood of developing or recurring urinary tract infections, ومن أهمها ما يلي:

• Urinary tract obstruction: Kidney stones and prostate enlargement may lead to urinary retention, and the use of a catheter also increases the risk of infection. There are some who cannot urinate who use catheters on their own, as this increases the risk of infection.
• Performing operations on the urinary tract: Performing operations or undergoing examinations that involve the insertion of medical instruments increases the risk of infection.
• ضعف الجهاز المناعي: Patients with diabetes and other diseases suffer from a weakened immune system, which is the body's only line of defense from microbes and germs, and thus the incidence of urinary tract infections increases.
• Urinary system problems: Some children with urinary system problems have a problem with urination, and this is due to the urethra and may be the cause of the infection.

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Ways to prevent urinary tract infection

Al Mousa Health Group provides the latest health care services to achieve wellness with thoughtful steps from a team that takes care of people, as the treatment protocol includes some important advice for the patient so that this problem does not return to him again. The most important of these methods are the following:

• Drink plenty of fluids, especially waterDrinking water helps dilute urine and thus increases urination, which helps expel bacteria from the urinary tract before infection occurs.
• Personal hygieneWhen urinating, you should clean from front to back and not the other way around, as this helps prevent bacteria from reaching the anus.
• Empty the bladder before and after intercourseBefore marital relations, you can drink a cup of Water To expel bacteria and help with urination after intercourse.
• Avoid feminine products that cause irritationWhen using preparations in the genital area, this helps in irritating the urethra, such as: deodorant sprays, powders, and vaginal douches.
• Changing the method of contraceptionThese methods, as well as spermicidal condoms, contribute to the growth of bacteria.

Frequently asked questions

Among the most common questions that have been asked about the symptoms of a urinary tract infection are the following:

How do I know that the urinary tract is healthy?

By monitoring the color of urine, ensuring that it is light and transparent, and that it does not have an unusual odor.

The difference between urinary tract infection and urinary tract infection?

There is not much difference between them, as they are two terms that refer to the same disease, which is a bacterial infection.

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in conclusion…We hope that God has enabled us to provide information about the problem of urinary tract infection, as it is one of the health problems that should not be underestimated, and we advise you, when any symptom of urinary tract infection appears, to go to Al Mousa Health Hospital To get the correct diagnosis and give appropriate treatment and not to neglect this problem so that it does not affect the kidneys.