what-is-urinary-tract-infec : Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Prevention

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection of any part of the urinary system. Most infections involve the lower urinary tract. Urinary tract infections are the second most common type of infection in the body and account for around 8.1 million visits to health care providers each year.

What are the symptoms of Urinary Tract Infection?

The symptoms of a urinary tract infection can depend on age, gender, the presence of a catheter and what part of the urinary tract has been infected.

Common symptoms of urinary tract infection include:

• Strong and frequent urge to urinate
• Cloudy, bloody or strong smelling urine
• Pain or burning sensation when urinating
• Nausea and vomiting
• Muscle aches and abdominal pains.

People with catheters may only experience Fever as a symptom, making diagnosis problematic. 

How is Urinary Tract Infection diagnosed?

Tests and procedures used to diagnose urinary tract infections include:

• Analyzing a urine sample. Your doctor may ask for a urine sample for lab analysis to look for white blood cells, red blood cells or bacteria. To avoid potential contamination of the sample, you may be instructed to first wipe your genital area with an antiseptic pad and to collect the urine midstream.
• Growing urinary tract bacteria in a lab. Lab analysis of the urine is sometimes followed by a urine culture. This test tells your doctor what bacteria are causing your infection and which medications will be most effective.
• Creating images of your urinary tract. If you are having frequent infections that your doctor thinks may be caused by an abnormality in your urinary tract, you may have an ultrasound, a computerized tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Your doctor may also use a contrast dye to highlight structures in your urinary tract.
• Using a scope to see inside your bladder. If you have recurrent UTIs, your doctor may perform a cystoscopy, using a long, thin tube with a lens (cystoscope) to see inside your urethra and bladder. The cystoscope is inserted in your urethra and passed through to your bladder.

How is Urinary Tract Infection treated?

Antibiotics usually are the first line treatment for urinary tract infections. Which drugs are prescribed and for how long depend on your health condition and the type of bacteria found in your urine.

Simple infection

Drugs commonly recommended for simple UTIs include:

• Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra, others)
• Fosfomycin (Monurol)
• Nitrofurantoin (Macrodantin, Macrobid)
• Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
• Levofloxacin (Levaquin)
• Cephalexin (Keflex)
• Ceftriaxone (Rocephin)
• Azithromycin (Zithromax, Zmax)
• Doxycycline (Monodox, Vibramycin, others)

Frequent infections

If you have frequent UTIs, your doctor may make certain treatment recommendations, such as:

• Low dose antibiotics, initially for six months but sometimes longer
• Self-diagnosis and treatment, if you stay in touch with your doctor
• A single dose of antibiotic after sexual intercourse if your infections are related to sexual activity
• Vaginal estrogen therapy if you're postmenopausal

Severe infection

For a severe UTI, you may need treatment with intravenous antibiotics in a hospital.