How Serious Is A Urinary Tract Infection

When To See Your Doctor

See your doctor right away if you have signs of a urinary tract infection. A bladder infection is generally not a medical emergency — but some people have a higher risk for complications. This includes pregnant women, the elderly, and men, as well as people with diabetes, kidney problems, or a weakened immune system.

What If The Infection Does Not Clear Up With Treatment

Most infections clear up with treatment. However, if an infection does not clear up, or if you have repeated infections, you may be given some special tests such as:

• a type of x-ray called an intravenous pyleogram , which involves injecting a dye into a vein and taking pictures of your kidney and bladder

• an ultrasound exam, which gives a picture of your kidneys and bladder using sound waves

• a cytoscopic exam, which uses a hollow tube with special lenses to look inside the bladder.

Does Cranberry Juice Prevent A Urinary Tract Infection

Many people say that cranberry juice can help treat, or even prevent, a UTI. Researchers are currently looking into the topic, but havent found a definitive answer yet. Healthcare providers recommend drinking lots of fluids if you have, or have a history of getting, a UTI. Adding a glass of unsweetened cranberry juice to your diet isnt a proven way to prevent a UTI, but it typically wont hurt you either.

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Are Cramps A Common Symptom Of A Uti

Cramping pain is a common symptom of a UTI. It may be also felt as a feeling of pressure or soreness. Youll typically feel UTI cramps in your pelvic area or lower back.

Where does this pain come from? The bacteria that cause a UTI can invade the lining of your urinary tract. This, in turn, can lead to inflammation and irritation. Additionally, urine provides a good medium in which these bacteria can continue to multiply.

In addition to cramps, some other symptoms of a UTI include:

• a painful or burning sensation when you urinate

UTIs are treated with antibiotics. While youll often find that your symptoms begin to get better shortly after starting antibiotics, its important to finish the entire antibiotic course. This helps ensure your infection is completely cleared.

As you recover, you can try the following home remedies to help relieve UTI cramps:

• Use a heating pad: Applying a heating pad to your abdomen or lower back may help to ease cramping.
• Drink water:Drinking water not only keeps you hydrated, but can also help dilute your urine and flush bacteria from your urinary tract.
• Take over-the-counter medications: OTC pain medications like ibuprofen , naproxen , and acetaminophen can help to soothe pain from a UTI.

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Other Risk Factors For Urinary Tract Infection Problems And Symptoms

Especially as women get older, they experience some thinning of the tissues in the vagina and bladder, and when you lose estrogen with menopause, the nerves dont function as well and the muscles dont contract as well, Dr. Rabin explains. All these changes can cause urinary leakage or difficulty emptying the bladder fully. Whats more, the easiest way to get a urinary tract infection is to allow the bladder to have high residual urine, she adds. Its better to empty the bladder completely to let it fill completely.

Being sedentary can magnify these risks because when you sit still, blood doesnt circulate as efficiently to the tissues, which may affect nerve and muscle function around the bladder. Plus, prolonged sitting is associated with reduced core strength and likely less work for the pelvic floor muscles that are used more when someone is standing, Dr. Brubaker notes.

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If you have lower urinary tract symptoms, your best bet is to see a doctor to find out why. Various medications or health conditions including pelvic organ prolapse, and neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinsons disease could be to blame, in which case youd want to treat the cause directly.

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How Are Utis In The Elderly Treated

Here comes some good news: after submitting to blood and urine tests and being diagnosed with a UTI, the treatment can be relatively easy. The majority of UTIs are cured by antibiotics and hydration to flush the bacteria out. This is much easier than in the past. UTIs were first documented in 1550 BC and up until the 1930s, they were treated by herbs and bloodletting!

If your healthcare professional prescribes you antibiotics:

• Take antibiotics exactly as your healthcare professional tells you.
• Do not share your antibiotics with others.
• Do not save antibiotics for later. Talk to your healthcare professional about safely discarding leftover antibiotics.

Drink plenty of water or other fluids. Your healthcare professional might also recommend medicine to help lessen the pain or discomfort. Talk with your healthcare professional if you have any questions about your antibiotics.

About Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infections are common infections that can affect the bladder, the kidneys and the tubes connected to them.

Anyone can get them, but they’re particularly common in women. Some women experience them regularly .

UTIs can be painful and uncomfortable, but usually pass within a few days and can be easily treated with antibiotics.

This page is about UTIs in adults. There is a separate article about UTIs in children.

This page covers:

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How Serious Is A Urinary Tract Infection

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What Makes Yale Medicine Unique In Its Treatment Of Urinary Tract Infections

UTI management usually starts with the primary care provider, but patients with recurrent or resurgent infections should be referred to a urologist to determine the underlying source, says Dr. Brito. Though most UTI symptoms will respond to a course of antibiotics, similar symptoms may signal something more serious. Dont ignore what your body is trying to tell you.

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How Can I Take Care Of Myself

• Follow your healthcare provider’s treatment. Take all of the antibiotic that your healthcare provider prescribes, even when you feel better. Do not take medicine left over from previous prescriptions.
• Drink more fluids, especially water, to help flush bacteria from your system.
• If you have a fever:
• Take aspirin or acetaminophen to control the fever. Check with your healthcare provider before you give any medicine that contains aspirin or salicylates to a child or teen. This includes medicines like baby aspirin, some cold medicines, and Pepto Bismol. Children and teens who take aspirin are at risk for a serious illness called Reye’s syndrome.
• Keep a daily record of your temperature.

How Utis In Men Are Diagnosed

A urinary tract infection occurs when bacteria enters the urinary tract. In fact, according to the National Kidney Foundation, one particular bacteria, E. coli, causes 80 to 90 percent of all UTI cases.

Diagnosing a urinary tract infection in men is initially the same as it is for women, consisting of a urine culture. But because a UTI in a man is often considered complicated, according to Dr. Trost, additional testing is usually necessary to determine why he got a UTI.

This typically includes not only a urinary culture to confirm an infection, but also a special study to evaluate how much urine he leaves behind after urinating, and an imaging study, such as a CT scan, to evaluate for kidney stones or other anatomic abnormalities that may be causing this, he explains.

If a man has recurrent infections or infections with the same organism, or UTI-like symptoms without a positive urine culture, then further testing may be necessary.

Any man who suspects he may have a UTI should see his doctor right away so that he can begin treatment as soon as possible.

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How Common Are Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infections are very common, occurring in 1 out of 5 women sometime in their lifetime. Though UTIs are common in women, they can also happen to men, older adults and children. One to 2% of children develop urinary tract infections. Each year, 8 million to 10 million visits to doctors are for urinary tract infections.

Can I Prevent A Urinary Tract Infection

You can usually prevent a urinary tract infection with lifestyle changes. These tips can include:

In some post-menopausal women, a healthcare provider may suggest an estrogen-containing vaginal cream. This may reduce the risk of developing a UTI by changing the pH of the vagina. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have recurrent UTIs and have already gone through menopause.

Over-the-counter supplements are also available for UTIs. These are sometimes recommended for people who have frequent UTIs as another way to prevent them. Talk to your healthcare provider before starting any supplements and ask if these could be a good choice for you.

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What Does Greater Than 100 000 Cfu Ml Of Escherichia Coli Mean

Asymptomatic bacteriuria is defined as the presence of more than 100,000 CFU per mL of voided urine in persons with no symptoms of urinary tract infection. The largest patient population at risk for asymptomatic bacteriuria is the elderly. Up to 40 percent of elderly men and women may have bacteriuria without symptoms.

How Are Utis Treated

UTIs are treated with antibiotics. After several days of antibiotics, your doctor may repeat the urine tests to be sure that the infection is gone. It’s important to make sure of this because an incompletely treated UTI can come back or spread.

If someone has a lot of pain from a UTI, the doctor may recommend a medicine to help relieve the spasm and pain in the bladder. This will turn pee a bright orange color, but it’s harmless and will usually make a person much more comfortable within hours. In the case of a kidney infection, a doctor may prescribe pain medicine.

If you’ve finished all the medicine or if your symptoms aren’t much better after 2 to 3 days of treatment, contact your doctor.

Drink lots of water during and after treatment because each time you pee, the bladder cleanses itself a little bit more. Cranberry juice may also be helpful. Skip drinks that containe caffeine , such as soda and iced tea.

People who get a doctor’s help for a UTI right away should be clear of symptoms within a week. Someone with a more severe infection may need treatment in a hospital so they can get antibiotics by injection or IV .

A doctor may tell people with UTIs to avoid sex for a week or so, which lets the inflammation clear up completely.

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Symptoms Of Uti Vs Std In Males

Having sex vaginal, oral, or anal increases your risk of a sexually transmitted disease or infection, notes the Mayo Clinic. While many sexually transmitted infections have no signs or symptoms, others can mimic signs and symptoms of a UTI.

Chlamydia and gonorrhea, for instance, are caused by bacteria that can infect the genital tract. Like UTIs, these STDs can cause pain or a burning sensation during urination.

Though theres little data in men, STDs are commonly misdiagnosed as UTIs in women, according to a study published in 2015 in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology. Talk to your doctor if you think theres a possibility you could have an STD. Bacterial STDs, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, can be treated with antibiotics.

Additional reporting by Barbara Kean, Diana Rodriguez.

Uti Or Something Else

Although burning during urination is a telltale sign of a UTI, it can also be a symptom of a number of other problems such as a vaginal yeast infection or certain sexually transmitted diseases . These include chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis. Simple lab tests are available to distinguish a UTI from an STD. Interstitial cystitis also has many of the same symptoms as a urinary tract infection. It can happen in both men and women and can start after a UTI. A cystoscopy, a thin tube and camera that is inserted into the bladder, can not diagnosis interstitial cystitis, but it can help identify abnormalities in the badder that cause cystitis.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Urinary Tract Infection

Classic symptoms of UTI include:

The symptoms of UTI in older adults related to changes in mood, cognition, and behavior are well-documented, but they often mimic symptoms of other conditions like dementia or stroke. This coupled with the fact that the elderly may not be able to tell you when they are experiencing classic symptoms of UTI make it important for their loved ones and caregivers to take prompt action when an abrupt change in mood or behavior is observed. Medical professionals can test for UTI and can determine whether or not a bacterial or fungal infection is present in the urinary tract, or if the changes are the result of some other condition. Tests for UTI are usually performed through urinalysis.

The good news is that if UTI is diagnosed early enough, treatments are usually easy and effective. Depending on the source of infection, antibiotics or antifungal medications are used with great success against UTI. Drinking plenty of fluids while taking the medication will also help flush the infection out of the urinary tract. It is important to take the antibiotic or antifungal medication exactly as it is prescribed, even after UTI symptoms go away. Taking all of the medication will help kill all of the infections. Centric Healthcare’s trained and caring professionals can help ensure that their clients take all medications as prescribed and drink appropriate amounts of fluids.

Urgent Advice: Ask For An Urgent Gp Appointment Or Get Help From Nhs 111 If:

You think you, your child or someone you care for may have a urinary tract infection and:

• a very high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery
• a very low temperature below 36C
• are confused, drowsy or have difficulty speaking
• have not been for a pee all day
• have pain in the lower tummy or in the back, just under the ribs
• can see blood in their pee

These symptoms could mean you have a kidney infection, which can be serious if it’s not treated as it could cause .

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.

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How Are Utis Treated And Prevented

A UTI is often a once-off illness that resolves quickly and responds to treatment with antibiotics if needed. However, for some people, UTIs are a recurring problem.

If you have repeated UTIs there are some self-help measures that may help prevent further infections:

• drink more fluids to help flush out bacteria
• urinate immediately after intercourse
• gently wipe from front to back after urinating
• wear cotton underwear and loose-fitting pants
• eat natural yoghurt to restore normal vaginal environment
• find an alternative method of birth control if you use spermicides

There is conflicting evidence for drinking cranberry juice to prevent UTIs. If you want to try cranberry products, ask your doctor for advice.

What Is Urinary Tract Infection

UTI is a fungal or bacterial infection in any of the 4 parts of the urinary tract. The urinary tract includes the urethra, the bladder, the ureters, and the kidneys. The urethra and bladder are called the lower urinary tract, and the ureters and kidneys comprise the upper urinary tract. An infection will most commonly begin in the urethra and move up through the rest of the urinary tract. The majority of UTI cases are diagnosed and treated while still in the lower tract. When fungi or bacteria enter the urethra, the bodys own immune system will fight against them, and will usually kill them before an infection takes hold. If, for some reason, the body is not able to fight them off on its own, a UTI results.

Generally, a person who gets UTI will have one or more of the following risk factors:

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How Are Urinary Tract Infections Diagnosed

Your doctor will use the following tests to diagnose a urinary tract infection:

• Urinalysis: This test will examine the urine for red blood cells, white blood cells and bacteria. The number of white and red blood cells found in your urine can actually indicate an infection.
• Urine culture: A urine culture is used to determine the type of bacteria in your urine. This is an important test because it helps determine the appropriate treatment.

If your infection does not respond to treatment or if you keep getting infections over and over again, your doctor may use the following tests to examine your urinary tract for disease or injury:

• Ultrasound: In this test, sound waves create an image of the internal organs. This test is done on top of your skin, is painless and doesnt typically need any preparation.
• Cystoscopy: This test uses a special instrument fitted with a lens and a light source to see inside the bladder from the urethra.
• CT scan: Another imaging test, a CT scan is a type of X-ray that takes cross sections of the body . This test is much more precise than typical X-rays.