Urinary tract infections

Transcription

1 Uriary tract ifectios

2 T H E K I D N E Y F O U N D A T I O N O F C A N A D A 1 Uriary tract ifectios How does the uriary system work? The uriary tract is made up of the kideys, the ureters, the bladder ad the urethra. Each plays a importat role i helpig your body to elimiate waste products i the form of urie. The mai job of the kideys is to remove wastes from the blood ad retur the cleaed blood back to the body. The ureters are tubes that carry the waste products, as urie, from the kideys to the bladder. The bladder stores urie util it passes out of the body, whe you uriate, through a tube called the urethra. What is a uriary tract ifectio? A uriary tract ifectio (UTI) is a iflammatio usually caused by bacteria (or germs) attackig the kideys, ureters, bladder or urethra. Uder ormal circumstaces the uriary tract is sterile, or free of bacteria.

3 2 What causes a UTI? A UTI most ofte occurs whe bacteria eter your urethra from the ski ad travel to the bladder, causig a bladder ifectio. A kidey ifectio results if bacteria climb further from the bladder to the kideys. The bacteria that most ofte cause UTIs sit o the ski i the geital area ad are called Escherichia coli (E. coli). Although this is by far the most commo cause, there are other ways you ca get a UTI. Some people get a ifectio because the ormal flow of urie is blocked, or is backed up from the bladder ito the kideys. Sometimes kidey or bladder stoes ca cause repeated ifectios. I rare cases, bacteria ca reach the kideys from a ifectio elsewhere i the body through the bloodstream. Who ca get a UTI? You are more iclied to get a UTI if you have a abormal uriary tract. You are also more susceptible to develop a UTI durig pregacy, if you have diabetes or if you have a idwellig uriary catheter (a tube placed i the bladder to help drai urie). Wome have a much greater tedecy tha me to get a UTI. I fact, Caadia wome make about 500,000 visits to doctors per year due to UTIs.

4 3 What makes wome more proe to UTIs? Wome are more proe tha me to develop UTIs because a woma's urethra is much shorter tha a ma's, ad bacteria have a shorter distace to travel from the outside ski ito the bladder. If a woma is proe to developig bladder ifectios she should avoid wipig her geitals from back to frot as this might trasport bacteria from the aus to the vagia or urethra, causig ifectio. She should also avoid takig baths particularly bubble baths or usig bath oils; showerig is preferred. Pregat wome are at icreased risk of havig a bladder ifectio progress to a kidey ifectio. The draiage system from the kidey to the bladder dilates durig pregacy ad does ot empty as rapidly. This reduced flow of urie makes it easier for bacteria to climb from the bladder to the kidey ad for ifectio to set i. UTIs durig pregacy may result i a smaller, premature baby ad should therefore be treated as early as possible. After meopause, UTIs might icrease due to a lack of certai hormoes.

5 4 A icrease i sexual activity might trigger symptoms of a uriary tract ifectio i some wome. Bladder ad kidey ifectios are geerally ot trasmitted by sexual itercourse; however, a woma proe to UTIs should empty her bladder after itercourse. What are the symptoms of UTI? Bladder ifectio (cystitis) is the most commo UTI. These are the symptoms: Feelig a urget eed to pass urie ofte, although the amout of urie may be small Burig durig uriatio Cloudy or foul-smellig urie Pai i the lower abdome If, i additio, you suffer from ay of the followig, you might have a ifectio of your kideys or prostate glad ad should see your doctor without delay: Blood or pus i the urie Fever, chills or vomitig Diabetes or chroic illess A history of kidey ifectio or disease Pai o uriatio durig pregacy Bad back pai

6 5 I some cases you might have mild symptoms (e.g. urge to uriate frequetly) without havig a UTI. Smokig, axiety, drikig a lot of coffee, food allergies or premestrual sydrome may cause symptoms similar to a UTI. How will you kow if you have a UTI? If mild symptoms have ot disappeared withi a day or two, the you will eed to have a urie test. Your doctor will ask you to wash your geitals, uriate a little, the collect the rest of your urie i a sterile jar. Your urie is the tested for bacteria to see if a ifectio is preset. How are UTIs treated? If you have a ifectio, your doctor will probably prescribe a atibiotic. He or she will likely recommed that you follow the self-help suggestios below.

7 6 What ca you do to help yourself? Drik plety of water (about six glasses per day) so that you uriate ofte. Do't try to hold your urie oce your bladder feels full, ad empty your bladder completely each time you pass urie. Wome proe to UTIs should uriate after havig sex. Wipe yourself from frot to back so that you do't trasport bacteria from your aus to your urethra. Cut dow o your caffeie ad alcohol itake. If you are proe to UTIs, avoid bubble baths, bath oils, perfumed soaps ad vagial douches. Who should see their physicia? Wome with more tha three UTIs i oe year Wome with symptoms of a UTI associated with a fever or blood i the urie Ayoe with UTI symptoms who also suffers from diabetes mellitus, kidey disease, or is pregat Ay male or child with UTI symptoms or blood i their urie Ayoe with symptoms that do ot resolve o there ow withi 48 hours

8 T h e K i d ey Fo u d a t i o OUR VISION Kidey health, ad improved lives for all people affected by kidey disease. OUR MISSION The Kidey Foudatio of Caada is the atioal voluteer orgaizatio committed to reducig the burde of kidey disease through: fudig ad stimulatig iovative research; providig educatio ad support; promotig access to high quality healthcare; ad icreasig public awareess ad commitmet to advacig kidey health ad orga doatio. For further iformatio, or if you wish to help us i our efforts, please cotact The Kidey Foudatio of Caada office i your area. You ca also visit our Web site at With ackowledgemet to Gerry Todd MD, FRCS(C), Associate Professor, Uiversity of Alberta, Departmet of Surgery, for his assistace i compilig this iformatio This material is available i accessible formats upo request by cotactig ifo@kidey.ca or callig R E F. N O. : E D