Urinary tract infections

A urinary tract infection UTI is an infection involving the kidneys, ureters, bladder, or urethra. These are the structures that urine passes through before being eliminated from the body.
The upper urinary tract is composed of the kidneys and ureters. Infection in the upper urinary tract generally affects the kidneys – pyelonephritis causing fever, chills , nausea and vomiting. The lower urinary tract consists of the bladder and the urethra. Infection in the lower urinary tract can affect the urethra (urethritis) or the bladder cystitis.
These infections are much more common in girls and women than in boys and men younger than 50 years of age. The following people may be at increased risk of urinary tract infection:

1. Very young infants: Bacteria gain entry to the urinary tract via the bloodstream from other sites in the body.
2. Young children with poor hygiene -Young children have trouble wiping and washing their hands well after a bowel movement

Causes -

When bacteria enter into the urinary tract, this can result in an infection. Escherichia coli ( E.coli) is the bacteria that causes the vast majority of UTIs.

Symptoms -

1. Fairly high fever (higher than 101 F)
2. Shaking chills
3. Nausea
4. Vomiting
5. Flank pain: pain in the back or side
6. A burning feeling when you urinating
7. A frequent or intense urge to urinate
8. Pain or pressure in your back
9. Cloudy, bloody, or strange-smelling urine
10. Feeling tired
11. Fever or chills