How To Keep Urinary Tract Infections Away

What Causes Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary Tract Infection | How To Prevent UTI (2018)

Normal urine is sterile and contains fluids, salts, and waste products. It does not contain bacteria, viruses, or fungi. A UTI occurs when germs, most often bacteria from the digestive tract, get into the opening of the urethra and start to multiply.

Most UTIs are caused by E. coli bacteria, which normally live in the colon.

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Control Of Urinary Tract Infections

For seniors that are immobile and can no longer take the best care of themselves, assisted living facilities may be a better option in ensuring that they are always dry and clean, and that proper preventive measures are followed. Senior caregivers at assisted living facilities are well trained about how to help elderly adults prevent and manage urinary tract infections. The senior caregivers will also accompany the elderly adults to visit their healthcare professionals.

The seniors may need to visit their healthcare provider to discuss the best care plan options. As urinary tract infection symptoms can present differently in each senior, the healthcare provider will be able to assess whether the older adult shows such a symptom.

Other Ways To Prevent Some Utis Coming Back

If you keep getting a bladder infection , there is some evidence it may be helpful to take:

D-mannose a sugar you can buy as a powder or tablets to take every day
cranberry products available as juice, tablets or capsules to take every day

Speak to your doctor before taking any of these during pregnancy.

Be aware that D-mannose and cranberry products can contain a lot of sugar.

If you’re taking warfarin, you should avoid cranberry products.

Page last reviewed: 22 March 2022 Next review due: 22 March 2025

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What Are The Symptoms Of A Urinary Tract Infection

These are the most common symptoms of a UTI:

Frequent urination
Pain or burning when passing urine
Urine looks dark, cloudy, or reddish in color
Urine smells bad
Feeling pain even when not urinating
Pain in the back or side, below the ribs
Nausea and/or vomiting
Despite an strong urge to urinate, only a small amount of urine is passed
Women may feel an uncomfortable pressure above the pubic bone

The symptoms of UTI may look like other conditions or medical problems. Always see a health care provider for a diagnosis.

The Importance Of Seeing Your Doctor

How to Treat and Prevent Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) in Children

While there are preventative measures you can take to reduce your chances of developing a urinary tract infection, many in-home remedies wont banish the bacteria. To make sure that youre staying healthy, its imperative that you see a doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. When left untreated, a UTI can travel up from your urethra into the bladder, kidneys, and even your blood. This can lead to serious complications that may be life-threatening. If you notice any signs or symptoms of a UTI, schedule an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible. UTIs are easy and straightforward to treat and its much better to eliminate the infection before it gets worse.

Urinary tract infections are painful, burdensome, and downright annoying. Unfortunately, especially for women, theyre fairly common. By taking the preventative measures listed above, you can greatly reduce your chances of developing a UTI now and in the future. Living a healthy lifestyle is always a good idea and is beneficial to your body in more ways than one. If you suffer from recurrent UTIs and preventative measures arent working, talk to your doctor about alternative options. If you need any educational support on urologic health, Byram Healthcare is here to assist.

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Key Points About Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infections are a common health problem that affects millions of people each year. These infections can affect any part of the urinary tract.
Most UTIs are caused by E. coli bacteria, which normally live in the colon.
The most common symptoms of UTIs include changes in urination such as frequency, pain, or burning urine looks dark, cloudy, or red and smells bad back or side pain nausea/vomiting and fever.
Antibiotics are used to treat UTIs. Other treatments may include pain relievers, and drinking plenty of water to help wash bacteria out of the urinary tract.
Other things that can be done may help reduce the likelihood of developing UTIs.

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. Itâs important to make sure of this because an incompletely treated UTI can come back or spread.

If a child has severe pain when peeing, the doctor may also prescribe medicine that numbs the lining of the urinary tract.

Give prescribed antibiotics on schedule for as many days as your doctor directs. Keep track of your childâs trips to the bathroom, and ask your child about symptoms like pain or burning during peeing. These symptoms should improve within 2 to 3 days after antibiotics are started.

Encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids, but skip drinks that containe caffeine , such as soda and iced tea.

Most UTIs are cured within a week with treatment.

How Is A Uti Diagnosed

To find out whether you have a UTI, your doctor or nurse will test a clean sample of your urine. This means you will first wipe your genital area with a special wipe. Then you will collect your urine in midstream in a cup. Your doctor or nurse may then test your urine for bacteria to see whether you have a UTI, which can take a few days.

If you have had a UTI before, your doctor may order more tests to rule out other problems. These tests may include:

A cystogram. This is a special type of x-ray of your urinary tract. These x-rays can show any problems, including swelling or kidney stones.
A cystoscopic exam. The cystoscope is a small tube the doctor puts into the urethra to see inside of the urethra and bladder for any problems.

Causes Of Urinary Tract Infections

Why You Keep Getting Sinus Infections, Colds, Urinary Tract Infections, & Other Recurrent Infections

Urinary tract infections are usually caused by bacteria from poo entering the urinary tract.

The bacteria enter through the tube that carries pee out of the body .

Women have a shorter urethra than men. This means bacteria are more likely to reach the bladder or kidneys and cause an infection.

Things that increase the risk of bacteria getting into the bladder include:

do not use scented soap
do not hold your pee in if you feel the urge to go
do not rush when going for a pee try to fully empty your bladder
do not wear tight, synthetic underwear, such as nylon
do not drink lots of alcoholic drinks, as they may irritate your bladder
do not have lots of sugary food or drinks, as they may encourage bacteria to grow
do not use condoms or a diaphragm or cap with spermicidal lube on them try non-spermicidal lube or a different type of contraception

How To Get Rid Of A Urinary Tract Infection

Can a UTI go away on its own? Unfortunately, no. Ignoring the problem wont make it go away.

At the very least, you need to flush your system with fluids and control the pain. But that is not a guarantee that it will vanish.

The best way to get rid it is to talk to a doctor. Treating yourself for an infection can lead to unfortunate complications.

Are you concerned about a possible UTI?Visit Oxford Urgent Care. Our staff will help treat it.

Take A Cranberry Supplement

A mistake many women make is beginning a cranberry supplement or drinking cranberry juice after theyve developed symptoms of a UTI. Cranberry products have no confirmed effect on treating UTIs once they develop, but there is some evidence that they can help prevent UTIs if theyre taken on a regular basis because cranberries contain proanthocyanidins , which prevent bacteria from adhering to the bladder wall.

Note: Its important to take a cranberry supplement rather than drinking cranberry juice because cranberry juice doesnt contain a high enough concentration of PACs to be beneficial.

At GoHealth Urgent Care, we offer an on-site urinalysis test, which can give you results in less than five minutes! If you have symptoms of a UTI, or if theres anything else we can do to help you feel better today, click here to save your spot:

How To Prevent Utis When Youre Sexually Active

You don’t have to stop having sex to prevent UTIs. Here are some steps you can take to minimize bacteria buildup and reduce your risk of getting UTIs from sex.

Urinate before sex and promptly after. This will flush your system and keep bacteria that has entered your urinary tract from gaining a foothold.
Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water, then have an extra glass after intercourse. This will help rid your urinary tract of unwanted bacteria.
Use a vaginal lubricant. Friction during sex can irritate the urethra.
Consider a new form of birth control. If youre prone to UTIs, you may want to avoid using a diaphragm or spermicide as your form of pregnancy prevention. These can introduce bacteria into the area and can kill off healthy bacteria that keep the problem germs in check.

When To See A Doctor For A Uti

Kidney Infection Treatment Without Antibiotics

Always go to your primary care physician immediately if there is blood in the urine, if you have a fever, and/or low back pain with your UTI symptoms, says Dr. Sajdak. UTIs can move fast so its better to go to your PCP sooner than later.

Although natural remedies can be beneficial for alleviating UTI symptoms and preventing recurrent UTIs, they are unlikely to beeffective in treating the infection.

If symptoms still persist after three days then it is time to move on to antibiotics, says Ivy Branin, ND, a naturopathic doctor in New York City who specializes in womens health. I often recommend a patient to see their doctor for a UA and a prescription for antibiotics just in case and to fill it if they have no improvement after three days.

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Preventing Future Urinary Tract Infections

BATHING AND HYGIENE

To prevent future urinary tract infections, you should:

Choose sanitary pads instead of tampons, which some doctors believe make infections more likely. Change your pad each time you use the bathroom.
Take showers instead of baths. Avoid bath oils.
Urinate before and after sexual activity. Drinking 2 glasses of water after sexual activity may help promote urination.
Wipe from front to back after using the bathroom.
Avoid tight-fitting pants. Wear cotton-cloth underwear and pantyhose, and change both at least once a day.

DIET

The following improvements to your diet may prevent future urinary tract infections:

Drink plenty of fluids, 2 to 4 quarts each day.
Do not drink fluids that irritate the bladder, such as alcohol and caffeine.

RECURRING INFECTIONS

Some women have repeated bladder infections. Your provider may suggest that you:

Use vaginal estrogen cream if you have dryness caused by menopause.
Take a single dose of an antibiotic after sexual contact.
Take a cranberry supplement pill after sexual contact.
Have a 3-day course of antibiotics at home to use if you develop an infection.
Take a single, daily dose of an antibiotic to prevent infections.

Home Remedies For Yeast Infections

For those who want to try a more natural approach to treatment, things like tea tree oil, coconut oil, garlic, oil of oregano, or even yogurt have shown some signs of effectiveness. However, these treatments are spotty and you should still talk to your doctor about using a home remedy, as some herbs and natural supplements can interact with other medications you may be taking. In addition, its always helpful to receive a complete diagnosis from your doctor in case your condition isnt a yeast infection or is being caused by another underlying condition.

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Everything You Need To Know About Urinary Tract Infections

The best way to fully grasp how to prevent urinary tract infections is to understand what they are and where they originate. As you know, the urinary tracts primary purpose is to make and store urine. The entire urinary tract consists of several parts, including the kidneys, bladder, and urethra.

Urine is made in the kidneys, fist-sized organs in the back that filter liquid waste from the blood and release it from the body in the form of urine.

Normal urine has no bacteria in it because the one-way flow prevents infections. Bacteria, however, can still get into the urine by entering through the urethra and traveling up into the bladder.

As a urinary tract infection worsens, it could also enter the kidneys, causing a more severe medical condition. The most common type of urinary tract infection is a bladder infection.

Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment of UTIs
The most common symptoms of a urinary tract infection include:
An intense urge to pee
A burning feeling when you pee
The need to frequently urinate, even when little to no urine comes out

Complications Of Uti In The Elderly: What You Need To Know

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Signs & Symptoms (& Why They Occur)

Urinary Tract Infection is one of the most common infections affecting older adults. When promptly and properly treated, UTI is easily managed and rarely develops complications. But, when left untreated, UTI can lead to serious health consequences which can include permanent kidney damage. In rare instances, an infection can enter the bloodstream through the kidneys and lead to a life-threatening condition called . Therefore, early recognition of symptoms, testing, diagnosis, and treatment of UTI is important.

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Questions To Ask Your Doctor

Do I need any tests, such as urinalysis?
What is the likely cause of my urinary tract infection ?
Do I need medicine? How should I take it?
What are the possible side effects of the medicine?
When should I expect relief from my symptoms?
What symptoms would indicate that my infection is getting worse? What should I do if I experience these symptoms?
I get UTIs a lot. What can I do to prevent them?
Do I need preventive antibiotics? If so, should I be concerned about antibiotic resistance?
My child gets UTIs a lot. Could an anatomical problem be causing his or her UTIs?

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Water Is Your Best Friend

When you first notice burning when you use the restroom, its tempting to reduce your water intake. After all, that will prevent the pain, right?

Wrong.

It seems counter-intuitive, but you need to flush out your system. You should drink plenty of water to help your body remove the E. Coli. Dont overdo it, but drink as much water as possible in those crucial first 24 hours.

Causes Of Bladder Infections

Bladder infections could be provoked by a number of conditions or factors, but bladder infections are caused by bacteria that enters the bladder. E. coli is usually the kind of bacteria that causes UTIs and are normally not a problem. The infection and problem begins when the bacteria get into the urethra and travel to the bladder.

Also Check: How To Get A Healthy Bladder

Practice Good Sexual Hygiene

Some sexual intercourse bacteria and other microbes into the urinary tract. Practicing good sexual hygiene can help to reduce this risk.

Examples of good sexual hygiene include:

urinating before and immediately after sex
using barrier contraception, such as a condom
washing the genitals, especially the foreskin, before and after engaging in sexual acts or intercourse
ensuring that all sexual partners are aware of any current or past UTIs

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When Urinary Tract Infections Keep Coming Back

If you are prone to recurrent UTIs, you can head them off before they take hold.

Unless you’re in the fortunate minority of women who have never had a urinary tract infection , you know the symptoms well. You might feel a frequent urgency to urinate yet pass little urine when you go. Your urine might be cloudy, blood-tinged, and strong-smelling. For 25% to 30% of women who’ve had a urinary tract infection, the infection returns within six months.

If you have repeated UTIs, you’ve experienced the toll they take on your life. However, you may take some comfort in knowing that they aren’t likely to be the result of anything you’ve done. “Recurrent UTIs aren’t due to poor hygiene or something else that women have brought on themselves. Some women are just prone to UTIs,” says infectious diseases specialist Dr. Kalpana Gupta, a lecturer in medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Why Antibiotics Might Not Work

Sometimes antibiotic treatment doesnt do the trick. This may occur when the bacteria causing the UTI become antibiotic resistant, meaning they outsmart and outlive the antibiotic.

See, bacteria have this amazing ability to mutate to evade being killed. And after being attacked multiple times by the same antibiotics we use on lots of people, the bacteria can learn to resist them. Some research estimates that as many as one in three uncomplicated UTIs are resistant to at least one common antibiotic. And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2.8 million people in the U.S. get an antibiotic-resistant infection every year.

This sounds bad, and thats fair: Its not great news. But this doesnt spell doomsday either.

If your UTI isnt responding to treatment with one antibiotic, your doctor may prescribe another type of antibiotic. Most bacteria arent resistant to all the antibiotics out there, so chances are your urologist or primary care doctor has encountered this situation before and knows how to help.