kidney and urinary tract disorders
Overview of Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
Causes of UTIs
The organisms that cause infection usually enter the urinary tract by one of two routes. The most common route by far is through the lower end of the urinary tract—the opening of a man's urethra at the tip of the penis or the opening of a woman's urethra at the vulva. The infection ascends the urethra to the bladder, and sometimes to the kidneys, or both. The other possible route is through the bloodstream, usually to the kidneys. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are almost always caused by bacteria, although some viruses, fungi, and parasites can infect the urinary tract as well. More than 85% of UTIs are caused by bacteria from the intestine or vagina. Ordinarily, however, bacteria that enter the urinary tract are washed out by the flushing action of the bladder as it empties. is the most common bacteria to cause a UTI. Among people between the ages of 20 and 50, bacterial UTIs are about 50 times more common among women than men. In men, the urethra is longer, so it is more difficult for bacteria to ascend far enough to cause an infection. In men between the ages of about 20 to 50, most UTIs are Stones in the Urinary Tract or Infections beginning in the urinary tract Blockage anywhere in the urinary tract (for example, by stones or, in men, by Prostate Cancer or Abnormal bladder function that prevents proper emptying, such as occurs in neurologic diseases (for example, ) Structural abnormalities such as urethral diverticulum Leaking of the valve-like mechanism between the ureter and the bladder, allowing urine and bacteria to flow backward from the bladder up the ureters, possibly reaching the kidneys (more common among children who have a UTI) Insertion of a urinary catheter or any instrument by a doctor Sexual intercourse Use of a diaphragm with spermicide Presence of an abnormal connection (fistula) between the vagina and the bladder or the intestine and the bladder Among men, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) or Infections spread to the urinary tract from the blood (uncommon) Infection in the bloodstream ( Sepsis and Septic Shock ) Infection of the heart valves ( Infective Endocarditis , an uncommon cause) UTI=urinary tract infection. The Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Infections may infect the urethra, making urination painful and emptying of the bladder difficult. Other viral UTIs, such as bladder and kidney infections, do not usually develop unless a person's immune system is impaired (for example, by cancer, HIV/AIDS, or use of a medication that suppresses the immune system). Certain Overview of Fungal Infections , or yeasts, can infect the urinary tract. This type of infection is often called a yeast infection (yeasts can also cause inflammation of the vagina [ A number of Overview of Parasitic Infections , including certain types of worms, can infect the urinary tract. Trichomoniasis caused by a type of microscopic parasite, is a sexually transmitted infection that can cause a copious greenish yellow, frothy discharge from the vagina in women. Occasionally, the bladder or urethra becomes infected. Trichomoniasis can infect the urethra in men. It usually causes no symptoms in men. Schistosomiasis an infection caused by a type of worm called a fluke, can affect the kidneys, ureters, and bladder. This infection is a common cause of severe kidney failure among people who live in Africa, South America, and Asia. Persistent bladder schistosomiasis often causes blood in the urine or blockage of the ureters and may eventually result in bladder cancer. Lymphatic Filariasis a threadworm infection, obstructs 