Things To Help Urinary Tract Infections

What Are The Signs & Symptoms Of Utis

UTIs can cause such signs as:

• pain, burning, or a stinging sensation when peeing
• an increased urge or more frequent need to pee
• waking up at night a lot to go to the bathroom
• belly pain in the area of the bladder
• foul-smelling pee that may look cloudy or contain blood

If you have any symptoms of a UTI, you’ll need to go to a doctor right away. The sooner you begin treatment, the less uncomfortable you’ll be. Call your doctor’s office or clinic. If you can’t reach your doctor, you can visit an urgent care center or hospital emergency room. The most important thing is to take action as soon as possible.

What Is The Urinary Tract

The urinary tract makes and stores urine, one of the body’s liquid waste products. The urinary tract includes the following parts:

• Kidneys: These small organs are located on back of your body, just above the hips. They are the filters of your body removing waste and water from your blood. This waste becomes urine.
• Ureters: The ureters are thin tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to your bladder.
• Bladder: A sac-like container, the bladder stores your urine before it leaves the body.
• Urethra: This tube carries the urine from your bladder to the outside of the body.

Things You Can Do Yourself

To help ease symptoms of a urinary tract infection :

• takeparacetamolup to 4 times a day to reduce pain and a high temperature for people with a UTI, paracetamol is usually recommended over NSAIDs such as ibuprofen or aspirin
• you can give childrenliquid paracetamol
• rest and drink enough fluids so you pass pale urine regularly during the day
• avoid having sex

Some people take cystitis sachets or cranberry drinks and products every day to prevent UTIs from happening, which may help. However, there’s no evidence they help ease symptoms or treat a UTI if the infection has already started.

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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:

What Qualifies As A Recurrent Uti And What Causes Them

Patients who have had two urinary tract infections in the past six months or three in the past year have “recurrent” urinary tract infections. Patients who have recurrent urinary tract infections are often referred to a urogynecologist or a urologist for further evaluation, and may require treatment to prevent infections.

Risk factors for recurrent urinary tract infections can be divided into two categories: behavioral and genetic. Behavioral risk factors include sexual activity, a new sexual partner and the use of spermicides. Genetic and health-state risk factors include having a mother with a history of UTIs, having UTIs as a child, diabetes, fecal incontinence, urinary incontinence and being post-menopausal.

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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

What Can Happen If A Uti Is Not Treated

If treated right away, a UTI is not likely to damage your urinary tract. But if your UTI is not treated, the infection can spread to the kidneys and other parts of your body. The most common symptoms of kidney infection are fever and pain in the back where the kidneys are located. Antibiotics can also treat kidney infections.

Sometimes the infection can get in the bloodstream. This is rare but life-threatening.

Also Check: What Is Urinary Incontinence In Women

If Utis Go Untreated What Can Occur

If left untreated, some bladder infections will go away on their own. The main concern with delaying treatment for UTIs is the discomfort that they cause. Generally, UTI symptoms improve within a few days after starting antibiotics. Prolonged bladder infections can lead to a period of bladder pain and urinary frequency after the infection has resolved. In rare cases, untreated bladder infections can lead to bacteria entering the ureters and cause infection within the kidneys.

Symptoms Of Urinary Tract Infection:

UTI is associated with irritation and redness of the urinary tract lining. The following symptoms may be experienced by a person having a UTI:

• Pressure in the lower groin region
• Frequent urge to urinate, an urgency to pass urine or incontinence
• Need to urinate at night
• Pain while urinating
• Abnormal colour of your urine and a strong or foul smell emitting from your urine
• A pain in the side or flank, groin area or abdomen.1

Other symptoms that you might notice if you have a UTI are:

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Benefits Of Antibiotics For Utis

Antibiotics are the standard treatment for UTIs because they kill the bacteria responsible for the infections. Most UTIs develop when bacteria enter the urinary tract from outside the body. The species most likely to cause UTIs include:

• E. coli, which cause of up to

• abnormal liver function, as indicated with testing

More severe risks of using antibiotics include:

Boost Your Immune System

When your body is fighting off an infection, focus on behaviors that strengthen your immune system.

Rest is one of the best ways to ensure your immune system can actively fight off your infection. If you feel tired, take a nap, and aim to get enough sleep at night that you wake feeling well rested. And while it can be stressful to be sick, try your best to stay relaxed too much stress can impair immune function.

Along with proper hydration, its also important to maintain a nutritious diet. Focus on nourishing your body with healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables and whole grains and avoiding sugar and alcohol, which can compromise your immune system.

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Urinary Tract Infection In Children

Overview of urinary tract infection in children

A urinary tract infection in children is a fairly common condition. Bacteria that enter the urethra are usually flushed out through urination. However, when bacteria arent expelled out of the urethra, they may grow within the urinary tract. This causes an infection.

The urinary tract consists of the parts of the body that are involved in urine production. They are:

• two kidneys that filter your blood and extra water to produce urine
• two ureters, or tubes, that take urine to your bladder from your kidneys
• a bladder that stores your urine until its removed from your body
• a urethra, or tube, that empties urine from your bladder to outside your body

Your child can develop a UTI when bacteria enter the urinary tract and travel up the urethra and into the body. The two types of UTIs most likely to affect children are bladder infections and kidney infections.

When a UTI affects the bladder, its called cystitis. When the infection travels from the bladder to the kidneys, its called pyelonephritis. Both can be successfully treated with antibiotics, but a kidney infection can lead to more serious health complications if left untreated.

Urinate Before And After Sex

Sexual activity increases the chances of getting a UTI, especially if youre a woman. Thats because bacteria can easily get into the urethra during sex.

To reduce your risk, pee immediately before and after sex. The idea is to flush out bacteria that may cause UTIs.

Its also a good idea to gently wash your genital area before sex. This can help keep the area clean and reduce the chance of bacteria spreading to your urethra.

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When To See A Doctor For Your Uti

If your symptoms persist beyond a few days with no sign of improvement, or if your infection keeps recurring, its best to see a doctor. While many home remedies may ease symptoms if they persist your doctor will be able to determine the cause and prescribe a course of antibiotics that should help take care of your UTI right away and prevent it from leading to a worsening condition or infection.

Have you tried any of the above natural remedies for UTIs, or other home treatments to treat your urinary tract infection? Tell us about them in the comments below!

Are Bananas Good For Utis

The American Urological Association calls bananas a bladder-friendly food. Thats because bananas arent likely to irritate the bladder in most people. Other bladder-friendly fruits and veggies include: pears, green beans, winter squash, and potatoes. While eating bananas may help to lessen bladder irritation, eating bananas alone wont make a UTI go away.

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Can I Become Immune To The Antibiotics Used To Treat A Uti

Your body can actually get used to the antibiotics typically used to treat a urinary tract infection . This happens in people who have very frequent infections. With each UTI and use of antibiotics to treat it, the infection adapts and becomes harder to fight. This is called an antibiotic-resistant infection. Because of this, your healthcare provider may suggest alternative treatments if you have frequent UTIs. These could include:

• Waiting: Your provider may suggest that you watch your symptoms and wait. During this time, you may be encouraged to drink plenty of fluids in an effort to flush out your system.
• Intravenous treatment: In some very complicated cases, where the UTI is resistant to antibiotics or the infection has moved to your kidneys, you may need to be treated in the hospital. The medicine will be given to you directly in your vein . Once youre home, you will be prescribed antibiotics for a period of time to fully get rid of the infection.

So Much Of What I Read Led Me To Believe Two Things About Utis In Men:

#1: Men dont suffer from UTIs as much as women, based on their anatomy.

Longer urethas mean its easier to flush out bacteria when urinating.

#2: When men do contract a UTI, they tend to be whats called a complicated infection.

There is a need to be observant and prudent in treatment.

Id be interested to know if any guys reading this have tried any of these home remedies and what they discovered.

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Foods That Are Great For Bladder Health

Your bladder is an important part of the urinary tract system. Its an essential pear-shaped organ made out of expandable components that holds on to urine until its expelled from your body. The bladder itself is quite impressive and is able to stretch from about two inches to over six inches long, depending on the amount of liquid its holding.1 In a typical person, your bladder will reach capacity when it fills up with about 16-24 ounces of urine, but most people start to feel the urge to urinate when it is only 25% full.1 At this point, your body starts to send nerve signals to the brain indicating that its time to find a restroom. When you proceed to use the bathroom, there is a mixture of voluntary and involuntary muscles working to lead urine from the bladder, through the urethra, and out of the body.

Your bladder works hand-in-hand with your kidneys to filter fluid and wastes from the bloodstream. They are the primary parts of the urinary tract system. The . When your bladder isnt functioning properly, it can lead to a number of problems.

Will Otc Products Like Azo Get Rid Of My Uti

OTC products, such as AZO, will not get rid of a UTI. The only way to get rid of a true UTI is a course of antibiotics. AZO, whose main ingredient is phenazopyridine, will provide fast symptom relief, including burning upon urination and urinary frequency. This is a common medication that can be used in conjunction with an antibiotic prescribed by a healthcare professional

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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.

Is It Safe To Treat Utis Without Antibiotics

Antibiotics are effective treatments for UTIs. Sometimes, the body can resolve minor, uncomplicated UTIs on its own, without antibiotics.

Complicated UTIs require medical treatment. These are some factors that can make the infection complicated:

• changes in the urinary tract or organs, such as a swollen prostate or reduced flow of urine

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Add Vitamin C To Your Diet

Not only does vitamin C help strengthen your immune system, but it may also acidify your urine, which limits the growth of some bacteria and may prevent urinary tract infections from occurring. Just be careful of eating too many acidic foods when you have a UTI, as they can potentially irritate your bladder, which may only make your UTI symptoms worse.

Home Remedies For Utis

Looking for home remedies to treat your UTI? Youve come to the right place! Read below to learn about urinary tract infection home remedies and get rid of that burning urine feeling for good!

NAFC recently conducted a survey that asked people how they were dealing with urological conditions during the pandemic. A surprising finding was that many of you reported an increase in urinary tract infections. While we dont know why more frequent UTIs are happening stress, a decrease in personal grooming, or poor diet choices may all be culprits we do realize that urinary tract infections can be annoying, painful, and can cause an increase in incontinence or bladder leaks.

While antibiotics are the fastest and most recommended way to treat urinary tract infections, they sometimes dont work. You may also be wary of taking an antibiotic due to certain risks that accompany that treatment. Luckily, there are some great home remedies for urine infections you can try to treat the condition.

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Tips To Prevent A Urinary Tract Infection

A urinary tract infection, also called a UTI, is an infection that occurs in the urinary system. This could include the urethra, bladder, ureters and kidneys. Most infections involve the bladder and urethra, known as the lower urinary tract.

The most common symptoms include painful urination, tenderness above the bladder area, urgency and frequency of urination. Cloudy and a strong odor are not signs of infection.

Women are at greater risk for a UTI because the urethra is shorter than in men, so it’s easier for bacteria to travel to the bladder. UTIs also are more common in postmenopausal women because low estrogen levels change vaginal and urethral tissue to increase the risk of infection.

It’s always better to prevent an infection rather than simply treat it. UTIs are no different.

Treatment Of Uti In Children

Your childs UTI will require prompt antibiotic treatment to prevent kidney damage. The type of bacteria causing your childs UTI and the severity of your childs infection will determine the type of antibiotic used and the length of treatment.

The most common antibiotics used for treatment of UTIs in children are:

• sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim

If your child has a UTI thats diagnosed as a simple bladder infection, its likely that treatment will consist of oral antibiotics at home. However, more severe infections may require hospitalization and IV fluids or antibiotics.

Hospitalization may be necessary in cases where your child:

• is younger than 6 months old
• has a high fever that isnt improving
• likely has a kidney infection, especially if the child is very ill or young
• has a blood infection from the bacteria, as in sepsis
• is dehydrated, vomiting, or unable to take oral medications for any other reason

Pain medication to alleviate severe discomfort during urination also may be prescribed.

If your child is receiving antibiotic treatment at home, you can help ensure a positive outcome by taking certain steps.

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