A urinary track infection (UTI) is an infection that occurs anywhere
in your urinary system.  Your urinary system includes:

Your kidneys whose function is to manufacturer urine from the excess
liquids and wastes in your bloodstream.

Your ureters which is the "plumbing" that carries the urine to your
bladder.

Your bladder which stores the accumulated urine until it becomes full
and directs the urine out of your urethra.

Your urethra which is the final bit of plumbing that carries the urine
outside of your body.

A urinary track infection is usually caused by bacteria that normally
reside in your digestive tract, or in your vagina, or around the
urethra, invading your urinary track. Your body usually has the
resources to repel these invaders and a urinary track infection is
avoided. Occasionally, however, the invaders triumph and a urinary track infection is the result.  Infections may become more frequent in older woman whose immune system is not functioning at peak efficiency, but is absolutely not limited to any age group whatsoever.

Symptoms of a urinary track infection can include a burning feeling
inside of your body when urinating (a burning on the outside of your
vagina is usually the result of a different type of infection), frequent
and/or intense urination urges with little or no urine being passed, pain in your back or lower abdomen (when accompanied by one or more of the other symptoms), and cloudy, dark, bloody, or unusual smelling urine.  Any of these urinary track infection symptoms may also be accompanied by fever or chills.

You should get an immediate doctor's examination if you have any of
these urinary track infection symptoms.  Depending upon the severity of the symptoms, your doctor may order urine tests where your urine will be examined under a microscope for the presence of bacteria and
infection-fighting white blood cells.

You may also be examined via x rays, ultrasound, or a CT scan that
enables the doctor to see your bladder and kidneys. Your doctor might
also perform an examination using a Cystoscope which uses a tube
inserted into your urinary tract, through your urethra, to examine the
urinary track from the inside.

If it is determined that you do have a urinary track infection,
you are usually prescribed an antibiotic that kills the bacteria which
is causing the infection. The treatment period can run from between 3 to 7 days or longer. It is absolutely essential that you follow the entire
prescribed treatment and do not stop early just because you "feel
better".  If you do not take every dose as prescribed you can end up
creating an immune strain of bacteria in your body which may become
difficult or impossible to kill.

Usually, once a urinary track infection is treated it does not reoccur
although approximately one out of every five women who get a urinary
track infection will get another one.

You can help avoid urinary track infections by following these tips:

Drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water every day to help flush out your
urinary track.  Add some cranberry juice to your daily intake or take
some vitamin C. Both of these substances help to increase the acid level of your urine which creates an unfriendly environment for bacteria.

Try to urinate when you first have the urge rather than "hold it in".
Bacteria love the wet and warm environment in your bladder and can
multiply rapidly.

Try to urinate after sexual intercourse. This helps to flush out any
bacteria that may have entered through your urethra during sex.

Always wipe your excess urine away from front to back after urinating.
This keeps bacteria from your anal area from invading your vagina.

Urinary track infections are not overly dangerous if treated early and,
while not 100% preventable, their frequency can be reduced if you follow the tips in this article.