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ERROR: type should be string, got "https://www.healthcentral.com/encyclopedia/urinary-tract-infection\nEncyclopedia /U /Urinary Tract Infection (UTI, Cystitis)\nUrinary Tract Infection (UTI, Cystitis)\nWhat Is A Urinary Tract Infection?\nA urinary tract infection (UTI), also referred to as a bladder infection or cystitis, occurs when bacteria enter the urinary tract and travel into the urethra to the bladder. A UTI is a common infection seen 10 times more often in women than in men. A kidney infection, also called pyelonephritis, occurs when the infection travels up into the kidneys. Pyelonephritis is less common than bladder infections but tends to be more serious.\nWho Gets Urinary Tract Infection?\nApproximately 50% of women will have one UTI or more in a lifetime. There is also a high recurrence rate, approaching 30-40% within six months to a year. UTIs are one of the most common causes of physician visits. The fact that women have a shorter urethra compared with men may play a role on why the condition is seen more frequently in women.\nBurning sensation during urination.\nPain during urination.\nFrequent urination.\nUrination in small amounts.\nUrgent need to urinate or lack of urinary control.\nBlood in the urine.\nLower abdominal pressure or pain.\nPainful sexual intercourse.\nChills, fever, back pain (pylonephritis)\nCauses/Risk Factors\nAbout 75 % to 95% of UTIs are caused by the bacteria E. coli, which normally inhabits the colon and the anal area with no ill effect; however, if bacteria enter the urinary tract, infection may ensue.\nFactors that increase the risk of UTIs include:\nHaving diabetes.\nUse of a spemicidal agent for birth control.\nPrevious bladder or kidney infection.\nUse of a urinary catheter may introduce bacteria to the bladder.\nSexual activity.\nSexual activity with a new partner.\nObstruction of urine flow by a bladder tumor or, in men, an enlarged prostate may lead to bladder infection.\nPregnancy also increases the risk of UTIs as the growing fetus compresses the bladder so that it doesn’t empty completely, allowing bacteria to be static and to reproduce.\nSome cases of recurring UTIs are due to structural abnormalities that impede the flow of urine.\nSome women with recurrent disease may be genetically predisposed.\nWhat If You Do Nothing?\nMild cases of cystitis and urethritis may often clear up without treatment. But if symptoms last longer than two days or worsen, you should consult a doctor, since some untreated UTIs may turn into kidney infections, which can be longer and harder to cure.\nPatient history/symptoms and physical examination.\nUrinalysis and, occasionally, culture of a urine sample for bacteria in a doctor’s office. (Most urine cultures take 48 hours for results.)\nYour doctor may prescribe an oral antibiotic to fight the infection. The infection may improve within days, but you should take the antibiotic for the full term prescribed. (Antibiotics are typically given for three to seven days.)\nYou may also be given antispasmodics and analgesics to relieve the pain. A heating pad can help relieve discomfort.\nDrink plenty of liquids.\nDrink cranberry juice to increase the acidity of the urine, as some medicines are more effective with acidic urine.\nKidney infection may require a long-term course of antibiotics (up to six weeks) and, in severe cases, hospitalization with intravenous medication.\nThe use of spermicides and diaphragms may predispose women to urinary tract infections by altering vaginal bacteria, which may spread to the urethra.\nUrinate when you feel the urge (retaining a full bladder promotes infection).\nWomen with serious or recurrent UTIs associated with intercourse should ask their doctor about taking preventive antibacterial medications on a daily basis.\nUrinate after sexual activity.\nMenopausal women may be helped by using estrogen vaginal cream.\nResearch has not shown that douching or the direction of wiping after toilet use prevents UTIs.\nWhen To Call Your Doctor\nCall your doctor if you experience symptoms of a UTI, especially if they are accompanied by a high fever or if symptoms recur or persist despite treatment.\nCall your doctor if you develop pain in the lower back, which may indicate a kidney infection. Bacteria from the UTI may have migrated to the kidney.\nReviewed by Thomas Moran, M.D., obstetrician-gynecologist in private practice, Springfield, MA."