What are urinary tract infections?
A urinary tract infection, or UTI, is an infection that occurs anywhere in your urinary system which includes your kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. Most take place in the lower part of the urinary tract.
What causes UTIs?
UTIs are caused when bacteria enter your urinary tract through the urethra and multiply in your bladder. Your urinary system is designed to keep harmful bacteria out, but when new bacteria is introduced at high levels, your body can’t keep up, and an infection develops.
Factors that increase your chance of getting a UTI include:
- A recent urinary procedure
- Being female
- Catheter use
- Certain kinds of birth control, such as a diaphragm
- Menopause, due to lower estrogen levels
- Sexual activity, especially with a new partner
- Urinary tract blockages
What are the most common UTI symptoms?
UTIs can cause a variety of symptoms that may start gradually and worsen with time if the infection goes untreated. The most common symptoms include:
- A burning sensation when you urinate
- A strong, frequent urge to urinate
- Urine that looks cloudy, red, or cola-colored
- Urine with a pungent smell
- Pain in the center of your pelvis and around the pelvic bone
Are there different kinds of UTIs?
Yes, UTIs come in three main types, including:
- Acute pyelonephritis, which affects the kidneys and may cause a high fever, chills, shaking, nausea, vomiting, and upper back and side pain
- Cystitis, which affects the bladder and causes the common symptoms listed in the previous question
- Urethritis, which occurs in the urethra, can cause vaginal discharge as well as burning urination
When should I see a doctor for a UTI?
If you think you may have a UTI, seek medical guidance promptly. The sooner you’re diagnosed and treated, the better you’re able to fight off the infection before it worsens.
Upon diagnosis, your doctor at Physicians Medical Urgent Care prescribes antibiotics, which work quickly to alleviate the infection. If your infection has progressed, the doctors may turn to IV antibiotics.
When you get home, be sure to drink plenty of liquids to help flush out the infection and to get your urinary tract functioning properly again.
If you suspect you have a UTI, visit Physicians Medical Urgent Care to stop the infection in its tracks.
