Significance

• A urinary tract infection is an infection that plagues the urinary system, which includes the bladder, kidneys, urethra and ureters.
  
  

Identification

• Although not everyone experiences urinary tract infection symptoms, the typical signs of an infection include having a strong urge to urinate, burning upon urination, urinating frequently and having blood in the urine.
  
  

Types

• The most common types include cystitis, which is an infection of the bladder, and urethritis, an infection of the urethra.
  
  

Causes

• Gastrointestinal bacteria and Escherichia coli (E. coli) are the two bacteria that cause cystitis and urethritis--the two most common types of urinary tract infections.
  
  

Effects

• According to the Mayo Clinic, "Untreated urinary tract infections can lead to acute or chronic kidney infections (pyelonephritis), which could permanently damage your kidneys."
  
  

Prevention/Solution

• Doctors prescribe medications such as Amoxil and Bactrim to treat urinary tract infections. In addition, drinking plenty of water, which helps to dilute the bacteria in the urine, and using heating pads on the abdomen to lessen bladder pressure might also be helpful.