Urinary Tract Infections
General Info
What are urinary tract infections (UTI)?
Urinary tract infections describe a health problem that results from a bacterial infection along the urinary tract. UTI are uncommon in children younger than 3 to 5 years, but unlikely in boys at any age, unless an obstruction is present. They are much more common in girls as a result of a shorter urinary tract. Uncircumcised males are more likely to develop UTI than circumcised males. Children with a complete or partial blockage in the urinary tract are more likely to develop UTI.
What causes a urinary tract infection?
Normal urine is sterile and contains fluids, salts, and waste products. It is free of bacteria, viruses, and fungi. An infection occurs when microorganisms, usually bacteria from the digestive tract, cling to the opening of the urethra, the hollow tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body, and begin to multiply. Most infections arise from Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria, which normally live in the colon.
