Urinary tract infection: Why it's so common in women? Symptoms, prevention

New Delhi: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common bacterial infections involving the kidneys, ureters, the bladder and the urethra.

It is more common in adults than in children. And if you're a woman, your chance of getting a urinary tract infection is high. This is because the urethra is shorter in women than in men, and it is closer to the anus, making it more likely that bacteria are transferred to the bladder.

Health experts say indiscriminate use of antibiotics in India is making common infections, including, UTI, more dangerous.

Four to five patients suffer kidney failure due to UTI infection each year, and with five out of every 10 UTI patients now requiring injectable drugs and, in some cases, even that fails to help, says a TOI report quoting urologists.

Symptoms

Urinary tract infections don't always cause signs, but when they do, patients may develop the following symptoms:

• A strong, frequent urge to urinate
• Pain or burning sensation when urinating
• Passing frequent, small amounts of urine
• Cloudy, dark, bloody, or strong-smelling urine
• Women may experience pain around the pubic bone, men may feel pain in the rectum
• Pain or pressure in your back
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fever, chills, and fatigue

Causes

The most common cause of urinaru tract infections is Escherichia coli (E coli), a type of bacteria commonly found in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Other risk factors include female anatomy, sexual intercourse, diabetes, obesity, and family history.

Treatment and prevention

Common treatment for UTI is antibiotics. Besides, there are may things you can do to prevent or reduce your risk of getting a urinary tract infection. These may include:

• Drinking lots of water to help flush the bacteria from your system
• Avoiding drinks that may irritate your bladder, such as, alcohol, coffee, soft drinks
• Urinating immediately after sex
• Maintaining a good hygiene and keeping the genital area clean
• Not using any perfumed products in the genital area
• Wearing cotton underwear and loose-fitting clothing to keep the area around the urethra dry

While you can take steps to ease your disconfort until antibiotics treat the infection, individuals should consult a doctor if they suspect they may have a urinary tract infection.