Bladder
A urinary tract infection (UTI) affects your urinary tract, which comprises the bladder, the organ that holds urine; the kidneys, the organ that filters the urine; ureters, the tubes that transport urine from the kidneys to the bladder; and the urethra, the tube that expels urine from the body.
UTIs can be of different types, depending on the location of infection along the urinary tract. If the bladder is infected, it is known as cystitis. This is normally a bacterial infection. Bacteria enter the body through the urethra and lead to infection as well as inflammation of the urinary tract. When the kidneys and the area around them are infected, it's known as pyelonephritis.
Women are more vulnerable to UTIs, as their urethra is smaller and located in close proximity to the anus. Besides, people with certain conditions, diabetics, and older senior citizens are susceptible to urinary tract infections. This is because the urine is not emptied completely on account of certain problems in the bladder and prostate. Kids are at risk, too.
Conditions that make you more prone to developing UTIs include: kidney stones, menopause, pregnancy, sexual activity, bowel incontinence, narrow urethra, use of diaphragm for birth control, inserting a catheter (tube) in the urinary tract, remaining immobile for a long duration (for instance, recovering on the hospital bed from some disease or surgery), inflammation of the prostate and insufficient consumption of fluids.
How do you know you have a bladder infection? Well, its symptoms include cloudy urine, painful sexual intercourse, a burning sensation or pain while urinating, the urge to urinate at night, frequent urination, foul-smelling urine and feeling pressure in the lower pelvis. Some people may also get a low fever.
If you experience fatigue, chills and shivering or high fever (above 102 degrees Fahrenheit) for more than a couple of days, pain in the sides, warm or sore skin, nausea, vomiting or a general feeling of illness, your bladder infection may have spread to the kidneys. In older people, usually mental confusion or changes in behavior are the prominent signs of a UTI. Some people may also get acute pain in the abdomen.
There is something called neurogenic bladder. It refers to a urinary bladder that's not functioning properly on account of neurologic dysfunction, damage due to external or internal trauma, injury or some disease. Its symptoms are detrusor hyper- or hypo-activity, which depends on the location of neurologic damage. This condition may also affect the urinary sphincter and may lead to its hyper- or hypo-activity and loss of coordination with the activity of the bladder. This condition requires a series of clinical tests that include selective radiographic imaging as well as urodynamics.
UTI is a scary condition. It attacks your bladder and hampers your normal process of urination. It may lead to much discomfort in your daily activities as well as sleep. If not treated on time, it may spread upwards, reaching your kidney and other organs and creating a scarier condition. So, if you have been noticing any of the above mentioned symptoms, do not overlook them or suffer in silence. Call your doctor now.