Urinary Tract Infection
A UTI, or urinary tract infection, occurs when microbes like bacteria overcome the body’s defenses in its urinary tract. The condition affects the kidneys, tubes, and bladder. It’s also a common outpatient infection, with over eight million Americans visiting their doctors every year because of it. UTIs are classified as complicated or simple. The latter tends to affect only the bladder. However, the former describes more potent infections that can also impact the kidneys.
According to research, groups at a greater risk of developing a complicated urinary tract infection are males, pregnant women, immunocompromised, older adults, people using catheters, and those undergoing radiotherapy treatment. In addition, kidney issues, like blockages, can make a person more susceptible to developing a UTI. Other factors that may result in the development of UTIs are being sexually active, difficulty emptying your bladder, blockages in your urinary tract, diabetes, vesicoureteral reflux, and poor hygiene.
If left untreated, UTI can result in complications like pyelonephritis, which includes symptoms like fever, flank pain, vomiting, nausea, burning urination, fatigue, shaking, chills, and mental changes. In addition, to avoid or minimize your risk of a urinary tract infection, you must maintain good hygiene and drink enough water.
