A urinary infection is one of the most common reasons for a person to be diagnosed with kidney infection. The most common kind of infection affecting the urinary tract is the bacterial urinary tract infection (UTI). The fluid that is filtered out of the bloodstream by the kidneysinto the bladder is the urine. Salts and waste products are present in urine. A UTI can result when bacteria gets into the bladder or kidney and multiply in the urine.
The three main types of UTI are: urethritis which is caused by bacteria that infect only the urethra, cystitis, a bladder infection caused by bacteria, pyelonephritis which is the infection of the kidney. In the case of pyelonephritis a person has back pain, high fever, and vomiting. The bladder infection causes discomfort and inconvenience. However, it is necessary to treat a bacterial infection in the bladder with appropriate antibiotics before it becomes more serious and may develop into a more severe kidney infection called pyelonephritis. E. coli, the common bacteria that are found in the digestive tract and on the skin around the rectal and vaginal areas are some of the most common bacteria which cause UTIs. The infection is caused when the bacteria enter the urethra.
Because of the differences in the shape and length of the urethra, women are more predisposed to urinary tract infections than are men. In women, the urethra is shorter and the opening lies closer to the rectum and vagina where bacteria are likely to be. Vesicoureteral reflux is the most common functional problem of the urinary tract. In this case the urine flows backward, or refluxes, from the bladder into the ureters and even up to the kidneys.
Bacteria can get into the urethra several ways. During sexual intercourse in the vaginal area the bacteria may be pushed into the urethra and eventually end up in the bladder and the urine provides a good environment for the bacteria to grow. UTIs are present at women who are sexually active. Wiping from back to front after a bowel movement may contaminate the urethral opening and bacteria may be introduced into a woman's bladder. The risk of getting a urinary tract infection is increased by using spermicides (including condoms treated with spermicide) and diaphragms as contraceptives.
UTI symptoms like pain with urination are also caused by sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The inflammation and irritation of the urethra or vagina causes pain that can be associated sometimes with chlamydia and other STDs. Serious long-term problems, including pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility can occur if STDs is untreated. STD's are contagious, unlike UTI's which are not.
The following symptoms are associated with bladder infections: frequent urination, burning or pain during urination, the feeling of having to urinate even though little or no urine actually comes out, pain in the lower abdomen, pain above the pubic bone (in women), a full feeling in the rectum (in men), bloody or foul-smelling urine, mild fever, a general feeling of shakiness and fatigue. More serious symptoms of kidney infection are: high fever, chills, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, cloudy or bloody urine, pain in the back, just above the waist.
If the symptoms of a bladder or kidney infection persist, a physician should be called as soon as possible, so that the infection does not develop into a more serious life-threatening illness.
