Urinary Tract Infection |
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Urinary
Tract Infection (UTI) is a common
condition that affects the urinary
system. It is a painful condition
but it is not critical because it
can be controlled and successfully
treated with medical intervention.
Urinary tract infection typically
affects the bladder, kidneys, and
urethra. Urinary tract infection
is much more common in adults than
in children, but approximately one
to two percent of children suffer
from urinary tract infections. Urinary
tract infections in children are
more likely to be serious than those
in adults and should be treated
immediately. |
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Causes and Risk Factors
Urinary
tract infections are usually caused
when bacteria enters the urinary
tract through the urethra and proceeds
to rapidly multiply in the bladder.
The urinary system is relatively
resilient and possesses infection-fighting
properties that may inhibit the
growth of bacteria. However, certain
conditions increase the ability
of the bacteria to invade the urinary
tract, occupy a territory, and multiply,
which leads to a full-blown infection.
Common
organisms that cause Urinary Tract
Infection are Escherichia coli
(E. coli) and Staphlococci (staph).
E. coli normally inhabits the
bowel and anus areas. The movement
of these bacteria from the anus
to the opening of the urethra
can lead to urinary tract infection.
Poor hygiene and sexual intercourse
are the common causes of this
condition. Women are more susceptible
to urinary tract infection because
of the proximity of the anus and
the vagina. |
Additionally,
sexually active women and those who
use diaphragms for contraceptive purposes
have a greater risk of contracting this
infection. Medical conditions such as
diabetes, AIDS, kidney stones, bladder
problems such as the incomplete emptying
of the bladder, enlarged prostate, or
prostatitis (in men) can also increase
the risk of contracting a urinary tract
infection.
Frequent
cases of urinary tract infections are
observed in the elderly or hospitalized
individuals who are on bed rest or who
are catheterized for a long period of
time. Immobility and inability to maintain
proper hygiene explain why these factors
contribute to the development of urinary
tract infection.
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