Asymptomatic Bacteriuria
Asymptomatic bacteruiria is the presence of bacteria in the urine, without any symptoms.
What is going on in the body?
Urine is usually free of bacteria. But sometimes a person's own bacteria can enter the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. From the urethra, bacteria move into the bladder and infect the urine. A small number of bacteria in the urine often produces no symptoms and is called asymptomatic bacteriuria. A large amount of bacteria in the urine often causes symptoms and is called a urinary tract infection (UTI).
What are the causes and risks of the condition?
Bacteriuria can be caused by many conditions, including:
urine flowing backwards from the bladder to the ureter. The ureter is the tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder. This backflow of urine is called (vesicoureteral reflux).
a blockage somewhere in the urinary tract. The urinary tract consists of the kidney, ureter, bladder, and urethra.
incomplete emptying of the bladder during urination.
diabetes mellitus.
Bacteriuria is more common in women than men, however the frequency increases with age for both sexes.
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