Anatomical structures of the Urinary tract
Human being has two kidneys (kidneys) on the right and left side, and these are very important parts of the body. To see a few of the functions they perform, the kidneys' main function is to remove waste products in the form of urine and purify the blood. On the other hand, they are organs that play an important role in producing hormones that help balance blood pressure, bone health, and the production of red blood cells by maintaining the necessary amount of fluids, chemicals, and various minerals in our body.
Urine is produced from our kidneys and flows through the upper pair of tubes/ureters into the urinary bladder. After holding and filling the person's bladder, the message to urinate is sent to the brain, and when the person finds a comfortable position, it is made to flow to the outside through the lower tube/urethra.
If we have this as an introduction for today, then in the following sections, after we have seen about urinary tract infection, we will look at the topic of kidney diseases.
Urinary tract infection usually occurs when colonic bacteria enter the urinary tract through the lower urethra. Another, and in some unusual cases, is if bacteria in the blood spread to the kidney and attack the kidney.
If the infection stays only in the bladder, this bladder infection is called "cystitis" and if the infection travels beyond the bladder to the kidney and hurts the kidney, it is called "pyelonephritis".
Although kidney infection is less likely to attack than bladder infection and is a rare type; All types of infection can present with similar symptoms and cause illness.
What are the causes of urinary tract infections?
Bacteria do not normally live in the urinary tract, but if the bacteria living near the urinary tract accidentally travel in and attack, they can cause urinary tract infections.
Factors that increase the risk of urinary tract infection include the following:-
- Being female by gender
- Pregnant women
- In children (especially for boys under one year of age; and for girls under four years of age, it occurs widely)
-long-term urinary catheter
- When using the toilet, clean from back to front (if the discharge from the anus is to be cleaned to the genitals, it should be cleaned from front to back).
- Having sex often
- Weakened immune system caused by diabetes and other conditions such as HIV infection, current cancer chemotherapy, chronic cancer
- Uncircumcision for men
- Having a condition that restricts or changes the flow of urine in the kidneys (such as kidney stones or ureteral reflex) in men and women
- It also increases the risk of urinary tract infection due to various problems, such as obstruction due to the growth of the prostate gland in men.
- Spinal cord injury and urinary stasis
- Another is the presence of hereditary/genetic predisposing problems in the urinary tract, which will increase the risk.
What are the symptoms of a urinary tract infection?
Urinary tract infections in adults have the following symptoms:
- Burning and pain when urinating
- Urinary urgency and frequency
- Feeling of bladder fullness/discomfort in the lower abdomen
- Urine mixed with blood
Usually, a kidney infection can be found together with a bladder infection and the lower (bladder infection) complications can have the same symptoms, but if they show the symptoms below, they are more associated with the upper part (kidney) infection.
- Fever,
- chills,
- decreased appetite,
- Fatigue, side pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- They show symptoms like headaches.
Is there a test to determine if I have a urinary tract infection?
Yes! Urinary tract infections can be easily diagnosed based on the results of a urine test. Sometimes, if necessary, other tests, such as ultrasound, may be performed.
How is a urinary tract infection treated?
As we said above, uncomplicated bladder infections may be common among adults, especially women, and this can be easily treated in the outpatient department with short-term oral antibiotics.
If bladder infections in men also affect the prostate gland by causing infection (prostatitis), more prolonged treatment may be required.
Kidney infections can also be treated on average with antibiotics prescribed in the outpatient department. It is important to follow the outpatient treatment exactly as prescribed; That is, it reduces drug addiction and future relapse.
When they cause some complications, kidney infection patients should be treated in the hospital's inpatient unit.
If you have any of the predisposing factors listed in Section 2 above, following behavioral changes, drinking plenty of fluids, and not sparing urine when you urinate can help you reduce your risk of infection.
0 Comments