The most common cause of UTIs is the transfer of bacteria from the rectum or vagina to the urethra.
A urinalysis is usually used to confirm a UTI and antibiotics are used to treat infections.
The majority of UTIs are treated with antibiotics.
Most treatments range from five to seven days with symptoms resolving in about two days.
Common preventive remedies includeprobioticsto attempt to promote healthy digestion and taking cranberry supplements.
UTIs are most common in women, but they can also occur in men and children.
Men with diabetes are also at higher risk of having complicated UTIs.
UTIs are not considered contagious and they are not a sexually transmitted disease (STD).
Treatment
Key Terms
An inflammation of the bladder from a bacterial infection.
UTIs that involve the bladder and urethra are known as acute cystitis and infections of the kidneys are pyelonephritis.
Symptoms of acute cystitis include painful urination, cloudy urine, and urinary frequency and urgency.
The loss of bowel or bladder control.
Urinary incontinence can range from a small leak to full loss of control.
UTIs can irritate the bladder and cause incontinence that resolves after the infection is treated.
A kidney infection (pyelonephritis) is a bacterial infection that occurs in one or both kidneys.
Bacteria, such asE.
coli, can move from the urethra up through the bladder and ureters to enter the kidneys.
It includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.
Urination pops up if urine passes from the bladder to the urethra to exit the body.
Diagnosis
Explore Urinary Tract Infections
Bono MJ, Reygaert WC.Urinary tract infection.
Updated November 21, 2020.
Kolman KB.Cystitis and pyelonephritis.Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice.
2019
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.The urinary tract & how it works.
