Urinary tract infections are common conditions of urinary tract, which can occur at any age and are most common women. They can range from light shapes, located at the level bladderuntil severe infections reaching kidneysputting at risk kidney function if not treated in time.

What are urinary tract infections?
Urinary tract infections are mostly caused by bacteria (most common Escherichia coli) that enter the urinary tract. Depending on their location, they can be:

• Cystitis - bladder infection;
• Urethritis - infection of the urethra;
• Pyelonephritis - kidney infection, a more serious form that needs urgent treatment.

Causes and contributing factors
Several factors can increase the risk of urinary tract infections, including:

• Poor local hygiene;
• Urine retention or incomplete bladder emptying;
• Sexual contact;
• Anatomical abnormalities of the urinary tract;
• Diabetes mellitus;
• Pregnancy;
• Use of urinary catheters;
• Immunodepression.

The menurinary tract infections are rarer, but often associated with structural problems or with benign prostatic hypertrophy.

Common symptoms
Classic signs of a urinary tract infection include:

• Burning sensation when urinating;
• Frequent urinationin small quantities;
• Urinary emergency;
• Pelvic or lower back pain (in high infections);
• Cloudy urinewith unpleasant odor or with blood;
• Fever and chills (in pyelonephritis).

The elderly or in patients with chronic conditionssymptoms can be atypical - confusion, severe fatigue, lack of appetite.

Possible complications
Untreated or incorrectly treated, urinary tract infections can lead to:

• Recurrent kidney infections (pyelonephritis);
• Permanent impairment of kidney tissue;
• Sepsis - a serious complication in severe cases;
• Increased risk of premature birth pregnant women.

In patients with chronic kidney disease, a urinary tract infection can speed up impaired kidney function.

Diagnosis and treatment
Diagnosis is based on:

• Urinalysis - detects leukocytes, nitrites, hematuria;
• Uroculture - identify the causative germ and antibiotic susceptibility;
• Renal and urinary tract ultrasoundif the infections are recurrent or severe.

Treatment is done with antibioticschosen according to the germ identified. It is essential adherence to treatment duration prescribed to prevent relapses and bacterial resistance. In the forms complicated or in pyelonephritismay be necessary hospitalization and intravenous treatment.

Prevention
To prevent urinary tract infections:

• Proper hydration daily;
• Proper intimate hygiene;
• Avoid prolonged retention of urine;
• Bladder emptying after sex;
• Avoiding irritants (soaps, intimate deodorants);
• Chronic disease control associated, such as diabetes.

Urinary tract infections are common, but treatable, provided a correct diagnosis and rapid medical intervention. Not all infections require powerful antibiotics, and Self-medication may worsen the course of the disease. Repeated episodes may require case assessment through investigations urological or nephrological.

To specialist consultations, personalized diagnosis and treatment, go to nephrology and urology services or the guide for preventing urinary tract infections.