Urinary tract infection (UTI) - Symptoms and causes - Mayo ...

Urinary symptoms — such as blood in the urine and burning with urination — could result from a UTI. Learn about UTI causes, treatments and ... COVID-19:Advice,updatesandvaccineoptions Weareopenforsafein-personcare. Learnmore: MayoClinicfactsaboutcoronavirusdisease2019(COVID-19) OurCOVID-19patientandvisitorguidelines,plustrustedhealthinformation Lateston COVID-19vaccination bysite: Arizonapatientvaccinationupdates Arizona, Floridapatientvaccinationupdates Florida, Rochesterpatientvaccinationupdates Rochesterand MayoClinicHealthSystempatientvaccinationupdates MCHS Skiptositenavigation SkiptoContent ThiscontentdoesnothaveanEnglishversion.ThiscontentdoesnothaveanArabicversion. SectionsforUrinarytractinfection(UTI)Symptoms&causesDiagnosis&treatmentDoctors&departmentsCareatMayoClinic Print Overview Femaleurinarysystem Openpop-updialogbox Close Femaleurinarysystem Femaleurinarysystem Yoururinarysystem—whichincludesyourkidneys,ureters,bladderandurethra—removeswastefromyourbodythroughurine.Yourkidneys,locatedintherearportionofyourupperabdomen,produceurinebyfilteringwasteandfluidfromyourblood. Maleurinarysystem Openpop-updialogbox Close Maleurinarysystem Maleurinarysystem Yoururinarysystem—whichincludesyourkidneys,ureters,bladderandurethra—removeswastefromyourbodythroughurine.Yourkidneys,locatedintherearportionofyourupperabdomen,produceurinebyfilteringwasteandfluidfromyourblood. Aurinarytractinfection(UTI)isaninfectioninanypartofyoururinarysystem—yourkidneys,ureters,bladderandurethra.Mostinfectionsinvolvethelowerurinarytract—thebladderandtheurethra. WomenareatgreaterriskofdevelopingaUTIthanaremen.Infectionlimitedtoyourbladdercanbepainfulandannoying.However,seriousconsequencescanoccurifaUTIspreadstoyourkidneys. Doctorstypicallytreaturinarytractinfectionswithantibiotics.ButyoucantakestepstoreduceyourchancesofgettingaUTIinthefirstplace.Products&ServicesBook:MayoClinicBookofHomeRemediesBook:MayoClinicFamilyHealthBook,5thEditionNewsletter:MayoClinicHealthLetter—DigitalEditionShowmoreproductsfromMayoClinic SymptomsUrinarytractinfectionsdon'talwayscausesignsandsymptoms,butwhentheydotheymayinclude: Astrong,persistenturgetourinate Aburningsensationwhenurinating Passingfrequent,smallamountsofurine Urinethatappearscloudy Urinethatappearsred,brightpinkorcola-colored—asignofbloodintheurine Strong-smellingurine Pelvicpain,inwomen—especiallyinthecenterofthepelvisandaroundtheareaofthepubicbone UTIsmaybeoverlookedormistakenforotherconditionsinolderadults. TypesofurinarytractinfectionEachtypeofUTImayresultinmore-specificsignsandsymptoms,dependingonwhichpartofyoururinarytractisinfected. Partofurinarytractaffected Signsandsymptoms Kidneys(acutepyelonephritis) Backpainorside(flank)pain Highfever Shakingandchills Nausea Vomiting Bladder(cystitis) Pelvicpressure Lowerabdomendiscomfort Frequent,painfulurination Bloodinurine Urethra(urethritis) Burningwithurination Discharge WhentoseeadoctorContactyourdoctorifyouhavesignsandsymptomsofaUTI. RequestanAppointmentatMayoClinic CausesUrinarytractinfectionstypicallyoccurwhenbacteriaentertheurinarytractthroughtheurethraandbegintomultiplyinthebladder.Althoughtheurinarysystemisdesignedtokeepoutsuchmicroscopicinvaders,thesedefensessometimesfail.Whenthathappens,bacteriamaytakeholdandgrowintoafull-blowninfectionintheurinarytract. ThemostcommonUTIsoccurmainlyinwomenandaffectthebladderandurethra. Infectionofthebladder(cystitis).ThistypeofUTIisusuallycausedbyEscherichiacoli(E.coli),atypeofbacteriacommonlyfoundinthegastrointestinal(GI)tract.However,sometimesotherbacteriaareresponsible. Sexualintercoursemayleadtocystitis,butyoudon'thavetobesexuallyactivetodevelopit.Allwomenareatriskofcystitisbecauseoftheiranatomy—specifically,theshortdistancefromtheurethratotheanusandtheurethralopeningtothebladder. Infectionoftheurethra(urethritis).ThistypeofUTIcanoccurwhenGIbacteriaspreadfromtheanustotheurethra.Also,becausethefemaleurethraisclosetothevagina,sexuallytransmittedinfections,suchasherpes,gonorrhea,chlamydiaandmycoplasma,cancauseurethritis. RiskfactorsUrinarytractinfectionsarecommoninwomen,andmanywomenexperiencemorethanoneinfectionduringtheirlifetimes.RiskfactorsspecifictowomenforUTIsinclude: Femaleanatomy.Awomanhasashorterurethrathanamandoes,whichshortensthedistancethatbacteriamusttraveltoreachthebladder. Sexualactivity.SexuallyactivewomentendtohavemoreUTIsthandowomenwhoaren'tsexuallyactive.Havinganewsexualpartneralsoincreasesyourrisk. Certaintypesofbirthcontrol.Womenwhousediaphragmsforbirthcontrolmaybeathigherrisk,aswellaswomenwhousespermicidalagents. Menopause.Aftermenopause,adeclineincirculatingestrogencauseschangesintheurinarytractthatmakeyoumorevulnerabletoinfection. OtherriskfactorsforUTIsinclude: Urinarytractabnormalities.Babiesbornwithurinarytractabnormalitiesthatdon'tallowurinetoleavethebodynormallyorcauseurinetobackupintheurethrahaveanincreasedriskofUTIs. Blockagesintheurinarytract.KidneystonesoranenlargedprostatecantrapurineinthebladderandincreasetheriskofUTIs. Asuppressedimmunesystem.Diabetesandotherdiseasesthatimpairtheimmunesystem—thebody'sdefenseagainstgerms—canincreasetheriskofUTIs. Catheteruse.Peoplewhocan'turinateontheirownanduseatube(catheter)tourinatehaveanincreasedriskofUTIs.Thismayincludepeoplewhoarehospitalized,peoplewithneurologicalproblemsthatmakeitdifficulttocontroltheirabilitytourinateandpeoplewhoareparalyzed. Arecenturinaryprocedure.Urinarysurgeryoranexamofyoururinarytractthatinvolvesmedicalinstrumentscanbothincreaseyourriskofdevelopingaurinarytractinfection. ComplicationsWhentreatedpromptlyandproperly,lowerurinarytractinfectionsrarelyleadtocomplications.Butleftuntreated,aurinarytractinfectioncanhaveseriousconsequences. ComplicationsofaUTImayinclude: Recurrentinfections,especiallyinwomenwhoexperiencetwoormoreUTIsinasix-monthperiodorfourormorewithinayear. Permanentkidneydamagefromanacuteorchronickidneyinfection(pyelonephritis)duetoanuntreatedUTI. Increasedriskinpregnantwomenofdeliveringlowbirthweightorprematureinfants. Urethralnarrowing(stricture)inmenfromrecurrenturethritis,previouslyseenwithgonococcalurethritis. Sepsis,apotentiallylife-threateningcomplicationofaninfection,especiallyiftheinfectionworksitswayupyoururinarytracttoyourkidneys. PreventionYoucantakethesestepstoreduceyourriskofurinarytractinfections: Drinkplentyofliquids,especiallywater.Drinkingwaterhelpsdiluteyoururineandensuresthatyou'llurinatemorefrequently—allowingbacteriatobeflushedfromyoururinarytractbeforeaninfectioncanbegin. Drinkcranberryjuice.AlthoughstudiesarenotconclusivethatcranberryjuicepreventsUTIs,itislikelynotharmful. Wipefromfronttoback.Doingsoafterurinatingandafterabowelmovementhelpspreventbacteriaintheanalregionfromspreadingtothevaginaandurethra. Emptyyourbladdersoonafterintercourse.Also,drinkafullglassofwatertohelpflushbacteria. Avoidpotentiallyirritatingfeminineproducts.Usingdeodorantspraysorotherfeminineproducts,suchasdouchesandpowders,inthegenitalareacanirritatetheurethra. Changeyourbirthcontrolmethod.Diaphragms,orunlubricatedorspermicide-treatedcondoms,canallcontributetobacterialgrowth. ByMayoClinicStaff Urinarytractinfection(UTI)careatMayoClinic RequestanAppointmentatMayoClinic Diagnosis&treatment April23,2021 Print Shareon:FacebookTwitter Showreferences WeinAJ,etal.,eds.Infectionsoftheurinarytract.In:Campbell-WalshUrology.11thed.Philadelphia,Pa.:Elsevier;2016.https://www.clinicalkey.com.AccessedJune30,2017. FerriFF.Urinarytractinfection.In:Ferri'sClinicalAdvisor2017.Philadelphia,Pa.:Elsevier;2017.https://www.clinicalkey.com.AccessedJune30,2017. Bladderinfection(urinarytractinfection—UTI)inadults.NationalInstituteofDiabetesandDigestiveandKidneyDiseases.https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/bladder-infection-uti-in-adults.AccessedJune30,2017. Urinarytractinfections(UTIs).TheAmericanCollegeofObstetriciansandGynecologists.https://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Urinary-Tract-Infections-UTIs.AccessedJune30,2017. 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FDAdrugsafetycommunication:FDAupdateswarningsfororalandinjectablefluoroquinoleantibioticsduetodisablingsideeffects.U.S.Food&DrugAdministration.https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm511530.htm.AccessedAug.7,2017. Cranberry.NaturalMedicines.https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com.AccessedOct.6,2020. AskMayoExpert.Urinarytractinfection(adult).MayoClinic;2018. Related Products&Services Book:MayoClinicBookofHomeRemedies Book:MayoClinicFamilyHealthBook,5thEdition Newsletter:MayoClinicHealthLetter—DigitalEdition ShowmoreproductsandservicesfromMayoClinic Urinarytractinfection(UTI)Symptoms&causesDiagnosis&treatmentDoctors&departmentsCareatMayoClinic Advertisement MayoClinicdoesnotendorsecompaniesorproducts.Advertisingrevenuesupportsournot-for-profitmission. Advertising&Sponsorship Policy Opportunities AdChoices MayoClinicPress Checkoutthesebest-sellersandspecialoffersonbooksandnewslettersfromMayoClinic. TryMayoClinicHealthLetter-getFREEbookNEW-BackandNeckHealthMayoCliniconDigestiveHealthNEW-LiveYoungerLongerSimple,effectiveHomeRemedies CON-20314573 PatientCare&HealthInformation Diseases&Conditions Urinarytractinfection(UTI)