Urinary Tract Infections - Overview

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) affect married women more commonly. They often have to deal with abdominal discomfort, pain and burning sensations while passing urine.

Even menopausal women may suffer from UTIs, largely owing to the lack of oestrogen, which protects the vagina from bad bacteria and prevents infections.

Men and children have also shown susceptibility to UTIs, though in smaller numbers. Elderly men with enlarged prostates seem to develop frequent UTIs owing to the retained urine in their bladder. Poor hygiene, ill health, malnourishment, and kidney and bladder stones are linked to frequent UTIs among children.

In case of diabetics or obese people, matters can become more complicated, as they may end up with a kidney infection.

In recent years, drug resistance has increased with an alarming rate; the probable reason might be an abuse of antibiotics, thanks to easily available over-the-counter drugs. Ignoring such conditions can result in kidney damage and increased drug dependency.