Urinary Tract Infection
Urinary tract infection, often abbreviated as UTI, is an infection and inflammation of your urinary system organs (urethra, bladders, and kidneys). The urethra is the fibromuscular tube transporting urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. When it gets infected, you have urethritis. Similarly, when bladders and kidneys are infected, cystitis and pyelonephritis (respectively) happen. Typically, your urine should be bacteria-free with only excess wastes and water. However, bacteria sometimes could reach the urethra through sexual contact and bad personal hygiene. Pregnancy, kidney stones, and enlarged prostate glands could also increase the chance of introducing bacteria into the urethra. Generally speaking, women have a four times higher risk of developing urinary tract infections than men due to their shorter urethra. [4]
Symptoms of urinary tract infection may include:
- Having a pain or burning sensation during urination
- Waking up frequently to urinate during the night (nocturia)
- Urgent urination
- Cloudy urine or bloody urine
- Fever, tiredness, or shakiness
- Back or side pain below the ribs
If you notice these symptoms, please seek medical advice and take treatments immediately.
