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An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of urinary tract infections.
Cystitis; UTI
In most cases, urinary tract infections are annoyances that cause urinary discomfort. However, if left untreated, UTIs can develop into very serious and potentially life-threatening kidney infections (pyelonephritis) that can permanently scar or damage the kidneys. The infection may also spread into the bloodstream (called sepsis) and then elsewhere in the body.
UTIs in pregnant women pose serious health risks for both mother and child. UTIs that occur during pregnancy pose a higher than average risk of developing into kidney infections. Any pregnant women who suspects she has a urinary tract infection should immediately contact her doctor. Many doctors recommend that women receive periodic urine testing throughout their pregnancies to check for signs of bacterial infection.
In some adults, recurrent UTIs may cause scarring in the kidneys, which over time can lead to renal hypertension and eventual kidney failure. Most of these adults with kidney damage have other predisposing diseases or structural abnormalities. Recurrent urinary tract infections, even in the kidney, almost never lead to progressive kidney damage in otherwise healthy women.
Scarring and future kidney problems are also concerns for children who experience severe or multiple kidney infections.
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