In infectious diseases, respiratory tract infections have the highest incidence rate, followed by urinary tract infections.
Moreover, comparatively, urinary tract infections are more common in women. It’s also common to hear female friends say they’ve been experiencing urgency and frequency of urination recently, only to find out it’s a urinary tract infection after a check-up.
However, after men reach the age of 50, the probability of urinary tract infections gradually increases due to prostate issues.
In fact, bacteria usually thrive in the urethral opening for both men and women, but these bacteria are usually flushed out during normal urination and do not cause infection.
When the body’s resistance weakens or when not drinking enough water leading to holding urine, bacteria will proliferate rapidly, thus triggering urinary tract infections.
Urinary tract infections are more common in women.
In adult women, the incidence of urinary tract infections is significantly higher than in men, with a ratio of around 1:8 between men and women.
In a woman’s lifetime, about 60% of individuals may experience a urinary tract infection at least once, and over 1/4 of women may even have a recurrent episode within six months after the first occurrence.
The reason why women have much higher incidence rates than men is mainly due to the special physiological structure of women, making them more prone to bacterial infections at the urethral opening. Additionally, the occurrence of gynecological diseases in women also increases the incidence of urinary tract infections.
Although urinary tract infections are less common in men under 50, after men reach the age of 50, due to prostate enlargement, the occurrence of urinary tract infections increases. Hence, men also need to pay attention to the occurrence and prevention of urinary tract infections.
Urinary tract infections are common in women and should not be overlooked by men. Pay attention to burning sensation during urination.
When men have urinary tract infections, they may observe a swollen urethral opening or white discharge visible to the naked eye. Bacterial infection causes swelling at the urethral opening and may result in the turning outward of the urethral opening.
Furthermore, the presence of inflammation can lead to the appearance of white discharge. If sticky white discharge is noticed at the urethral opening, especially in considerable amounts, it might indicate a urinary tract infection.
Another evident symptom is increased frequency of urination. Both men and women experiencing urinary tract infections may have increased urination frequency, as inflammation prevents the bladder from completely emptying at once.
When the infecting bacteria move to the ureters, inflammation in the ureters can cause swelling, leading to difficulties in urination, frequent urination, and a burning sensation during urination. When these symptoms occur, prompt treatment is needed; otherwise, the sensation of pain during urination may worsen with the progression of the condition.
If urinary tract infections are not promptly treated, bacteria will continue to ascend and affect other tissues and organs. When the kidneys and gastrointestinal tract are affected, the patient may experience lower back pain, nausea, vomiting, and even dehydration. If left untreated, the condition may worsen, leading to systemic symptoms such as fever, headache, dehydration, and possible ulceration at the urethra.
Urinary tract infections in men are easily confused with other urinary system diseases, so early detection of urinary tract infections, prompt medical treatment, and maintaining hygiene and cleanliness are essential for both men and women to prevent urinary tract infections.
References:
[1] Fang J, Wang H, Yao Y, Clinical Analysis of Urinary Tract Infections in Elderly Men, Chinese Journal of Geriatric Healthcare
[2] Fu Y, Li S, Etiological Analysis of Frequent Urinary Tract Infections in Elderly Men, Chinese Journal of Virology
[3] Li L, Cai Q, Wang D, Clinical Characteristics and Combined Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections in Men, Inner Mongolia Traditional Medicine Journal
