A Burning Question: Urinary Tract Infection

When dealing with the annoyance and discomfort of a urinary tract infection (UTI), it helps to know that you're not alone. UTIs are extremely common — only respiratory infections such as the "common" cold occur more frequently. In fact, urinary tract infections account for approximately 10 million trips to the doctor each year. Though painful for the millions of sufferers, most UTIs do not constitute a serious health concern when properly treated. A UTI is a fairly easy malady to understand. Although normal urine is sterile (free of bacteria, viruses, and fungi), infection can occur when microorganisms cling to the opening of the urethra, multiply, and travel upward to the bladder and occasionally, the kidneys.

Because the size and location of the female urethra facilitates the invasion and spread of bacteria (the female urethra is significantly shorter than the male), women get UTIs far more often than men.

There are three different types of UTI. The most common are urethritis (infection of the urethra) and cystitis (infection of the bladder), which often occur together. Pyelonephritis (infection of the kidneys) is less common and much more serious.

The telltale symptoms of all three types of UTIs include pain or burning sensation during urination, a frequent and urgent need to urinate even when little urine is passed, and greenish yellow or white discharge from, or itching in, your penis or vagina. Pyelonephritis is also accompanied by fever, chills, back pain, pus or blood in the urine, nausea, and vomiting. All these symptoms warrant immediate medical consultation.

Sexual activity is one of the most common causes of UTI in women age 20 to 40, because sexual activity introduces foreign microorganisms to the area near your urethra. The sexually transmitted diseases trichomoniasis and chlamydia can also cause UTIs. Stress, poor diet, low resistance to infection, and damage to the urethra from childbirth, catheterization, or surgery also predispose women to infection. The good news is that once you've identified a UTI, treatment is relatively simple.

Your doctor will most likely diagnose your UTI through urinalysis and treat it by prescribing the appropriate antibiotic. In the meantime, your physician may recommend using a heating pad or overthecounter drugs to help relieve the pain and discomfort of a UTI. Doctors also often suggest patients take the following measures to avoid reinfection:

Drink 810 glasses of water a day to help flush bacteria out of the urinary system. Urinate after sexual relations. Practice safe sex. Drink cranberry juice or take vitamin C. Research suggests these products may inhibit bacterial growth by acidifying the urine. Wear cotton underwear. This fabric allows moisture to escape, while other materials trap moisture, creating a potential breeding ground for bacteria. Avoid consuming products that might irritate the bladder, such as coffee, alcohol, and spicy foods. Avoid using feminine hygiene products that contain deodorants. These products may irritate the urethra. Always practice good personal hygiene and be sure that your sexual partner does as well, washing private areas daily, especially before and after sexual relations.

While annoying and uncomfortable, it's important to remember that urinary tract infections are highly responsive to treatment and relatively benign. Even so, college is stressful enough without them so be sure to consult a physician as soon as symptoms appear. Professional testing, advice, and care is the most direct route to physical relief and peace of mind.