A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a very common infection that originates in your urinary system.  Serious complications can occur if the infection spreads to your kidneys.  Your urinary system includes your kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra, all of which play an important role in eliminating wastes from your body. Your kidneys are a pair of bean shaped organs that are located in your upper abdomen and filter the waste from your bloodstream. Tubes known as ureters carry urine from your kidneys to your bladder where it is stored until it exits through the urethra. Any and all of these parts can be involved in a urinary infection.

Women are much more likely  then men to experience a UTI.  Over half of all women will develop a UTI in their lifetime. Some women will experience UTI's multiple times. Thankfully there are easy treatments and medications to cure the infection and regain full functioning of the urilnary system.  Common signs and symptoms  of urinary tract infections include  a strong and persistent urge to urinate, a burning sensation while urinating, passing frequent but small amounts of liquid, as well as blood in the urine or cloudy urine with a strong odor.  Some people have few and sometimes none of the classic symptoms of an UTI.

Each different type of UTI may result in specific signs and symptoms depending on which area of your urinary tract has become infected by bacteria. Acute pyelonephritis a more serious infection of your kidneys and can cause symptoms such as upper back and flank pain, high fever, shaking chills, nausea, or vomiting.

Cystitis is the infection or inflammation of your bladder which may cause pelvic pressure, lower abdominal discomfort, frequent and painful urination, and urine with a strong odor. Urethritis is the infection or inflammation of the urethra and causes a burning sensation when urinating. Men may experience a penile discharge associated with urethritis.

Many UTIS's occur when bacteria has entered the urinary tract and begin to multiply. Your urinary system has natural ways of fighting infection which are designed to help stop the growth of bacteria and keep out other such microscopic invaders. There are certain factors that will increase your odds of getting a UTI.  Cystitis commonly occurs in women after sexual intercourse.  However,  even women who aren't sexually active are still susceptible to lower urinary tract infections simply because the anus is located so close to the urethra. In men, urethritis is commonly a result of bacteria acquired through sexual contact. Such infections include gonorrhea and Chlamydia.

Prompt attention to early signs and symptoms of a urinary tract infection are important in order to completely treat the infection with appropriate antibiotics as clinically indicated and also to prevent the more serious infections of the kidney known as pyelonephritis, which may lead to chronic kidney disease.