What are the causes of urinary tract infections?

Dec 31, 2024 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Cao Zhiqiang

Introduction

Under normal circumstances, urinary tract infections may be caused by poor personal hygiene, long-term urine retention, bladder stones, urethral stricture, chronic nephritis, or other similar reasons. If you experience any discomfort, please seek medical attention as soon as possible and undergo symptomatic treatment under the guidance of a qualified physician. It is also important to maintain healthy daily habits, including regular urination, a balanced diet, and adequate water intake.

Generally, urinary tract infections may be caused by poor personal hygiene, long-term urine retention, bladder stones, urethral stricture, chronic nephritis, or other factors. If you experience any discomfort, seek medical attention promptly and undergo symptomatic treatment under the guidance of a qualified physician. A detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Poor Personal Hygiene

Failure to change underwear regularly or clean the external genital area may easily lead to bacterial growth around the urethral opening, allowing bacteria to enter the bladder through the urethra and cause a urinary tract infection. It is important to develop good hygiene habits and maintain cleanliness of the external genital area.

2. Long-Term Urine Retention

Long-term urine retention causes urine to remain in the bladder for extended periods, providing conditions for bacterial growth. Prolonged exposure to urine weakens the bladder wall's ability to resist infection, making urinary tract infections more likely. Developing a habit of urinating at regular intervals in daily life is important.

3. Bladder Stones

Bladder stones may form due to concentrated urine, urinary tract obstruction, infection, or other factors. As the stones move, they can cause mechanical irritation and damage to the bladder wall. This damage may reduce the bladder's defense mechanisms, making it easier for bacteria to invade and cause infection. Symptoms may include painful urination and hematuria (blood in urine). Patients should follow medical advice to take medications such as lithotripsy granules, potassium sodium citrate granules, or tamsulosin hydrochloride sustained-release capsules for treatment.

4. Urethral Stricture

Urethral stricture may be caused by congenital factors, trauma, or inflammation, leading to difficulty in urine excretion and urine retention in the urethra or bladder, which can easily lead to infection and cause the aforementioned symptoms. Symptoms may include difficulty urinating and a weakened urine stream. Urethral dilation surgery should be performed under a doctor's guidance. This involves using metal dilators of varying diameters to forcibly rupture the fibrous ring of the narrowed urethra, thereby expanding the urethral lumen and restoring normal urine flow.

5. Chronic Nephritis

Chronic nephritis often develops from acute nephritis or is caused by long-standing immune abnormalities, hypertension, or other factors. Chronic nephritis can impair kidney function, leading to poor urine excretion and increasing the risk of urinary tract infections. Symptoms may include edema (swelling) and hematuria. Patients should follow medical advice to take medications such as amlodipine besylate tablets, compound cyclophosphamide tablets, or azathioprine tablets for treatment.

Maintaining good lifestyle habits is important in daily life, including timely urination, balanced diet, adequate fluid intake, and monitoring bodily changes to promptly implement preventive measures that support urinary system health.

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