Women generally take antibiotics for 3 days whereas men take them for days or more. In some cases, a single dose of antibiotic is sufficient. Should the patient be pregnant, have diabetes, or a mild kidney infection, antibiotics are taken for 7 to 14 days. Lower urinary tract infection symptoms typically begin to clear up within 24 hours of starting antibiotics.
Regardless of the type of infection, it is important that the patient finish the antibiotic for the full course of treatment even if symptoms begin to clear up. Failure to finish the antibiotics could lead to the infection recurring and it becoming resistant to antibiotics. Should a urinary tract infection become severe and spread to the upper urinary tract kidneys , treatment also typically involves antibiotics. Young patients that are otherwise healthy, can be treated as outpatients by receiving IV antibiotics and fluids followed by a 10 to 14 day course of oral antibiotics.
If the patient is very ill, dehydrated, or cannot hold food down, they may be admitted to the hospital for fluids and antibiotics until well enough to switch to oral medications. Acute, complicated UTIs could necessitate treatment for several weeks.
Bacteria from the rectum is more likely to get into the urethra if you wipe from back to front instead of front to back after a bowel movement. Be sure to teach children how to wipe correctly. Having sex may also cause urinary tract infections in women because bacteria can be pushed into the urethra. Using a diaphragm can lead to infections because diaphragms push against the urethra and make it harder to completely empty your bladder.
The urine that stays in the bladder is more likely to grow bacteria and cause infections. Frequent urinary tract infections may be caused by changes in the bacteria in the vagina. Antibacterial vaginal douches, spermicides, and certain oral antibiotics may cause changes in vaginal bacteria. Avoid using these items, if possible. Menopause can also cause changes in vaginal bacteria that increase your risk for urinary tract infection.
Taking estrogen usually corrects this problem but may not be for everyone. A painful burning feeling when you urinate is often a sign of a urinary tract infection sometimes also called a bladder infection.
Certain drugs, like some used in cancer chemotherapy, may inflame the bladder. Something pressing against the bladder like an ovarian cyst or a kidney stone stuck near the entrance to the bladder can also cause painful urination. Painful urination can also be caused by vaginal infection or irritation. You might be sensitive to chemicals in products such as douches, vaginal lubricants, soaps, scented toilet paper, or contraceptive foams or sponges.
Painful urination can be a symptom of a more serious problem. Tell your doctor about any known abnormality in your urinary tract, and if you are or might be pregnant. He or she also need to know if you were recently hospitalized less than 1 month ago or stayed in a nursing home. If your doctor thinks your pain may be from vaginal inflammation, he or she may wipe the lining of your vagina with a swab to collect mucus.
The mucus will be looked at under a microscope to see if it has yeast or other organisms. If your pain is from an infection in your urethra the tube that carries urine from the bladder , your doctor may swab it to test for bacteria. Testing your urine urinalysis can also help your doctor identify what type of infection you have.
There are many lifestyle choices that can help you prevent UTIs. These are some of the things you can do to protect yourself from them:. If you are a healthy adult man or a woman who is not pregnant, a few days of antibiotic pills will usually cure your urinary tract infection. If you are pregnant, your doctor will prescribe a medicine that is safe for you and the baby. Usually, symptoms of the infection go away 1 to 2 days after you start taking the medicine.
Skipping pills could make the treatment less effective. Your doctor may also suggest a medicine to numb your urinary tract and make you feel better while the antibiotic starts to work. Call your doctor if you have a fever higher than You should also call your doctor if, after taking medicine for 3 days, you still have a burning feeling when you urinate. If you are pregnant, you should also call your doctor if you have any contractions. Kidney infections may cause early labor. Fortunately, asymptomatic bacteriuria and bladder infections are usually found and treated before the kidneys become infected.
Yes, sometimes a UTI can damage the kidneys. If you have 3 or more urinary tract infections each year, your doctor may want you to begin a preventive antibiotic program.
A small dose of an antibiotic taken every day helps to reduce the number of infections. If sexual intercourse seems to cause infections for you, your doctor many suggest taking the antibiotic after intercourse. You doctor may want to check to see if an anatomical physical problem is causing the UTIs.
If so, surgery may be needed to fix the problem. UTIs caused by problems like an enlarged prostate gland in men or a kidney stone can lead to kidney damage if the problem is not corrected, and the infection continues. UTIs in young children that are associated with high fevers may sometimes cause kidney damage if not treated promptly. Skip to main content. Urinary Tract Infections.
What is the urinary tract? How is urine made? What is a urinary tract infection? Are certain people more likely to get UTIs? Anyone can get a one, but some people are more likely than others. What are the symptoms of a UTI? However, most people will have one or more of the following: an urgent need to urinate, often with only a few drops of urine to pass a burning feeling during urination an aching feeling, pressure, or pain in the lower abdomen stomach cloudy or blood-tinged urine strong odor to the urine If the infection spreads to the kidneys and becomes more serious, you may also have: pain in the lower back fever and chills nausea and vomiting See your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms.
How are UTIs treated? What if the infection does not 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 IVP , 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.
What can be done for women who get repeated UTIs? One or more of the following may be recommended: Taking low doses of an antibiotic daily for six months or longer Taking a single dose of antibiotic after having sex Taking an antibiotic for one or two days when symptoms occur Are pregnant women more likely to get UTIs? Do children get UTIs? Can anything be done to help prevent UTIs? The following steps may help: Drink plenty of fluids.
Do not postpone going to the bathroom.
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