Urinary Tract Infections
What are UTI's?
Infections can occur anywhere along the urinary tract, from the kidneys to the ureters (the tubes that drain urine out of the kidneys into the bladder), the bladder or the urethra (the tube leading out of the bladder).
Urinary tract infections are almost always caused by bacteria, especially E.coli, which is normally found on the skin around the bottom and comes from the bowels.
A urinary tract infection is normally described as either upper or lower. An upper UTI or pyelonephritis is an infection in the kidneys. A lower UTI or cystitis is an infection in the bladder.
In up to 40 per cent of cases, there is some form of structural abnormality that predisposes the person to infection. One of the most common is a condition called vesicoureteric reflux (VUR), which affects the way the ureters join the bladder, allowing urine to flow back up towards the kidney.
Other predisposing factors include not going to the toilet often enough , hurrying in the toilet and not emptying the bladder fully (all may mean that any bugs in the bladder are not flushed out before they multiply), constipation, inflammation of the vulva (girls) or damage to the bladder nerves.
What causes them?
The most common cause of UTIs are bacteria from the bowel that live on the skin near the rectum or in the vagina, which can spread and enter the urinary tract through the urethra. Once these bacteria enter the urethra, they travel upward, causing infection in the bladder and sometimes other parts of the urinary tract.
Who's at risk?
Certain people are more likely than others to develop UTI's. You're more at risk if:
- you have a condition that obstructs or blocks your urinary tract, such as kidney stones
- you have a condition that prevents you from emptying your bladder fully
- you have a weakened immune system, for example, because you have diabetes, or you are undergoing chemotherapy
- you are female and sexually active (this is because sexual intercourse can irritate the urethra, allowing bacteria to travel more easily through it and into your bladder)
- you are male and have an enlarged prostate gland
- you have a urinary catheter (a tube that is inserted into your bladder to drain away urine)
Can UTI's be prevented?
Women and girls should wipe from front to back (not back to front) after going to the bathroom.
Empty your bladder regularly and completely.
Drink plenty of fluids.
did you know?
| Typical Values | Per Chew | Per 250ml glass of cranberry juice |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 16 | 120 |
| Sugars | 1.9g | 30g |
