Accounting for about 8.3 million doctor visits each year, urinary tract infections (UTI) are the second most common type of infection in the body. Urinary tract infections occur in the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and/or urethra. They are usually caused by bacteria around the urethra (the entrance to the urinary tract) or in the vagina or digestive tract. A few of the risk factors for urinary tract infections include having diabetes; waiting too long to pass urine; and wiping from back to front after a bowel movement (BM), which allows germs to get into the urethra. Symptoms of a urinary tract infection can include painful urination, pain in the lower belly or back, and frequent and intense urges to urinate. Treatment for a urinary tract infection typically involves an antibiotic, which can kill bacteria.
(Click Urinary Tract Infection for the full eMedTV article on this topic. This article provides detailed information about the causes and symptoms of a urinary tract infection, as well as how the condition is diagnosed and treated.)
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