If you’ve ever had a urinary tract infection, commonly referred to by its initials UTI, you know the discomfort they cause. You go to the bathroom and empty your bladder, but seconds later it feels like you need to go again. Plus, it burns so bad as you go.
UTIs are no fun and then can lead to serious kidney infections. When you’re dealing with urinary tract infections, it’s important to learn what causes them, how they’re treated, and what happens if they keep coming back. Premium Urgent Care is here to help you understand your options and get you back to feeling well.
Understanding Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract infections are infections in the urinary system, which include your urethra, ureters, bladder, and kidneys. Bacteria enter through the urethra and head towards the bladder, causing discomfort, painful urination, and even blood in the urine. If it continues to the ureters, it can reach the kidneys and cause a kidney infection.
Areas like the anus and vagina harbor bacteria. If harmful bacteria reach the urethra, often through wiping discharge or feces over the opening to the urethra or through sexual intercourse, an infection occurs.
Common UTI Symptoms
Not every person experiences UTI symptoms, which makes it difficult to catch them in the early stages. The most common signs of a UTI are:
- Burning pain when urinating
- Cloudy, pink, red, or brownish urine
- Discomfort in the belly area
- Frequent urination where only small amounts come out
- Pelvic pain
- Pressing need to urinate that doesn’t go away
- A pus-like discharge in the urine
- Urine with a very strong odor
In older adults, unusual symptoms also appear. Disorientation, sudden anger or frustration, and confusion are some of the signs. It’s especially important to watch for sudden mood swings in people with dementia as they may be unable to tell you that there’s a problem.
If a UTI reaches the kidneys, these signs alert you to it. Don’t wait. See an urgent care doctor immediately. Watch for:
- Back pain
- Chills and shaking
- High fever
- Nausea
- Side pain
- Vomiting
Ideally, you want to start treatment for a UTI when it’s still in the urethra. The most common sign of infection in the urethra is the burning sensation when you urinate and a pus-like discharge in your urine.
The Frequency of UTIs
UTIs result in over 8 million doctor visits each year. One out of every 2.5 women and about 1 in 8 men experience UTI symptoms at least once in their lifetime. Why are they so prevalent in women? A woman’s shorter urethra and proximity to both the anus and vagina are to blame. Bacteria have a much shorter path to get into the urethra and bladder in women.
Understanding the Risk Factors
Women have a higher risk of developing a UTI than men do. Thank the female anatomy for that. However, there are other risk factors.
- Catheter Use: If you’ve had a catheter while in the hospital or must use one regularly due to mobility issues, the risk of a UTI is higher.
- Birth Control: With the use of a diaphragm or spermicide, the risk of a UTI is higher.
- Chronic Health Conditions with a Weaker Immune System: Any health issue that weakens the immune system, such as cancer or diabetes, increases the risk of a UTI.
- Menopause: After menopause, estrogen levels decrease. That’s enough to heighten the risk of UTIs.
- Poor Hygiene: Wiping back to front is one of the easiest ways for bacteria to transfer from the anus to the urethra in women. Wearing the same pad or liner for hours or wearing the same pair of underwear without washing it are other risk factors.
- Sexual Intercourse: Sexual intercourse is another way bacteria can be transferred from the skin or the vagina to the urethra.
- Urinary Tract Abnormalities and Defects: If the structure of the urinary tract is abnormal, such as narrower tubes or an enlarged prostate, a UTI is a higher risk.
Testing and the Different UTI Treatment Options
Tests that check for a UTI start with a urine sample. The urine is examined to look for white cells, red cells, and bacteria. You’ll be handed a sample cup and antiseptic wipes to thoroughly clean your genital area before collecting urine. After you start urinating, you place the cup to catch as much of the midstream urine as you can.
If bacteria are present, it may be processed in the lab to determine what type of bacteria is present. Growing the bacteria gives a better idea of the best treatment path to follow.
Is this another UTI in a long line of infections? If you have frequent UTIs, a CT scan, MRI, or ultrasound of the urinary tract can help determine if there is a structural issue. Another way to check for structural issues is a cystoscopy, which is a thin tube containing a lens that allows the specialist to look at the urethra and bladder.
Once the UTI is officially diagnosed and the possible bacteria is determined. Treatment begins. It’s usually one of these antibiotics.
- Ceftriaxone
- Cephalexin
- Fosfomycin
- Nitrofurantoin
- Sulfamethoxazole or Trimethoprim
If you have frequent UTIs, a low-dose antibiotic may be prescribed for you to use if your UTIs are related to sex or you need a long treatment course. If you’re past menopause and UTIs are an issue, estrogen therapy can help.
For infections that have spread to the kidney or that are not resolving with the more common antibiotics, fluoroquinolones may be recommended. They’re only used if other options have been exhausted.
Lifestyle and Dietary Changes That Lower the Risk of Developing a UTI
You can also make lifestyle changes that help lower the risk of getting a UTI. Drink plenty of water so that you’re constantly flushing out your kidneys. Don’t wait until your bladder is bursting. Make sure you urinate before the need is urgent.
Urinate before and after sex. Make sure you’re keeping that area clean before and after, too.
Eat foods that are not high in sugar and processed ingredients. Foods, such as citrus fruits, berries, and tomatoes, that are high in antioxidants help the immune system fight infections.
Researchers are still on the fence, but there is some evidence that cranberry juice can help with urinary tract health. Per the National Institute of Health, cranberries do contain a substance that makes it harder for bacteria to stick to the bladder’s walls. It doesn’t hurt to drink cranberry juice, especially if you have the unsweetened form.
Do not delay seeking medical care if you believe you have a UTI. If an infection in the urinary tract isn’t treated and reaches the kidneys, it can be serious. The sooner it’s diagnosed through a urine culture, the quicker you receive relief and avoid severe infection.
Premium Urgent Care offers walk-in testing and treatment options for UTIs. Check-in before you arrive and reduce the length of time it takes to see a doctor. You can also save time by printing out and completing the registration forms before you arrive.