Urinary Tract Infection
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A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection that occurs when bacteria infect the urinary system, which includes the urethra, kidneys, bladder, and ureters.
Symptoms
Symptoms of a UTI include pain/burning when urinating (dysuria), frequent urination, feeling the need to urinate despite having an empty bladder, urinary incontinence, bloody urine, cloudy/strong-smelling urine, and pelvic pain.
Cause
Bacteria (from the anus, sexually transmitted infections, etc.) cause UTIs. The most common cause of UTIs is the bacterium E. coli, as it lives in the intestinal tract of the body.
Most UTIs are seen in women because the urethra is close to the anus in females, which allows bacteria to be easily spread.
Treatment
Antibiotics are used to treat UTIs. If you have frequent UTIs, you may need to take small doses of antibiotics every day for a few months or take antibiotics after sexual intercourse.
If left untreated, a UTI can develop into a kidney infection or lead to sepsis.
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