Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary Tract Infections*
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is a common infection that usually occurs when bacteria enter the opening of the urethra and multiply in the urinary tract. The urinary tract includes the kidneys, the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder (ureters), the bladder, and the tube that carries urine from the bladder (urethra). Men, women, and children develop UTIs.
Urinary tract infections usually develop first in the lower urinary tract (urethra, bladder) and if not treated, progress to the upper urinary tract (ureters, kidneys). Bladder infection is by far the most common UTI. A kidney infection requires urgent treatment and can lead to reduced kidney function and possibly even death in untreated, severe cases.
UTIs in Men and Women
Approximately 8 to 10 million people in the United States develop a urinary tract infection each year. Women develop the condition much more often than men. The condition is rare in boys and young men.
*Information provided by the Urology Channel.