Urinary Tract Infection

A most common type of infection

- Dr B Ramesh

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection in kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra, which are the parts of urinary system. It effects especially bladder and the urethra (lower urinary tract). Infection is just painful and annoying until it is limited to bladder, but if it spreads to kidney then it may be chronic.

Normally, urine is free of germs or bacteria. After filtering, kidney removes waste products and excess water from the blood in the form of urine, which passes through urinary system. UTI and inflammations occurs if bacteria enter urinary system from outside the body. UTIs are the 2nd most common type of infection. Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacterium causes most UTIS.

UTI may have some symptoms like strong urge to urinate, painful urination, frequent need to urinate, urine leakage, abnormal urine colour (urine looks cloudy), pressure in the lower pelvis (pelvic pain), foul-smell while urinating, pain in the side (flank) and/or fever (above 100 degrees F).