上面的(upper)和下尿路感染(lower urinary tract infection)的區別

Let us first look at a brief overview of the urinary tract, before discussing the difference between upper and lower urinary tract infection.The urinary tract is the tubular system which transfers urine from the site of its production, kidneys. The urinary tract c***ists of bilateral ureters opening into the urinary bladder and the urethra which passes urine from the urinary bladder to the exterior. This tubular system makes a continuous passage for the urine flow. This system is lined by a special type of epithelium called urothelium. The renal pelvis which receives urine from the renal tissue and to the ureters is known as the Upper urinary tract. The urethra and the bladder storage is referred to as The Lower urinary tract. Infecti*** of the urethra (urethritis) and the bladder (cystitis) are referred to as lower urinary tract infecti***. Involvement of the ureters and the kidneys (pyelonephritis) is referred to as upper urinary tract infecti***. Therefore, the key difference between lower and upper urinary tract infecti*** is determined by the anatomical involvements. However, there could be situati*** where the whole tract is infected causing pan urinary tract infecti***. Lower urinary tract infection can easily spread to involve upper tracts causing both upper and lower urinary tract infecti*** together. 上面的(upper)和下尿路感染(lower urinary tract infection)的區別

什麼是上尿路感染(upper urinary tract infection)？

上尿路感染或腎盂腎炎是一種嚴重的感染，有時會導致死亡。這些感染通常由來自腸道的革蘭氏陰性桿菌引起。泌尿系統解剖異常的患者以及免疫抑制的患者易患腎盂腎炎。臨床特徵以高熱和腰部壓痛為特徵。病人可能會因為敗血症或血液中的細菌而病情嚴重。這些病人需要入院治療，在取尿和血進行培養後，應立即開始靜脈注射革蘭氏陰性桿菌抗生素。如果病人有尿排洩系統阻塞，可能需要置入支架。抗生素持續足夠的時間是非常重要的，因為不完整的療程會導致再次感染和併發症。一旦急性期結束，調查潛在原因並進行適當治療（如腎結石切除）是非常重要的。上尿路感染的併發症有腎膿腫、急性腎功能衰竭、慢性腎盂腎炎等。

什麼是下尿路感染(lower urinary tract infection)？

下尿路感染或尿道炎是一種非常常見的感染形式，尤其是在性活躍的**中。**更容易感染下尿路感染，因為她們的尿道較短，與**較長的尿道相比，**的尿道較短，使得皮膚有機體易於遷移。因此，**下尿路感染以及兒童和老年人的下尿路感染被認為是重要的。一些*****如梅毒也會導致尿道炎。通常表現為嚴重的下腹部疼痛。下尿路感染應使用適當口服抗生素的短原因治療，並可作為門診治療。簡單的下尿路感染不需要特殊檢查。然而，那些對抗生素沒有反應的病人，以及那些反覆感染的人，需要進一步調查。