Urinary tract infections, better known simply as UTIs, occur when any part of your urinary tract gets infected. This could include the bladder, kidneys, ureters, or urethra, but most often stems around the bladder and urethra. Many times, if you have a UTI of the kidney, it’s referred to as a kidney infection rather than a UTI.  

UTIs can happen to anyone at any age, but they are far more common in women than in men. While most UTIs will remain in the bladder or urethra until they resolve, there’s a chance that they’ll spread to the kidney, resulting in a kidney infection. These types of infections are more serious than those that simply remain UTIs. 

Signs and Symptoms of a UTI 

The first and most obvious sign that you have a UTI is that it will hurt when you urinate. Typically, this is a burning or stinging sensation that is sometimes accompanied by discolored and foul-smelling urine. You will also feel you need to pee all the time, even after you just went. UTIs can also cause pain in the sides and lower back near the kidneys and bladder.

Sometimes, UTIs don’t cause any signs or symptoms other than frequent or semi-frequent urination. In others, however, they cause all the symptoms above, plus a fever, chills, nausea, and more. If you experience these symptoms plus painful and frequent urination, seek medical attention immediately.

Causes of UTIs

UTIs are bacterial infections that happen when part of the urinary tract is infected with bad bacteria, specifically E. coli. The urinary tract, which is designed to keep bacteria outside of it, sometimes cannot do its job, and bacteria find their way in. Typically, bacteria travel into the urinary system through the urethra, where they make themselves at home and cause an infection.

The main reason that biological women are more likely to get UTIs than men is because they have a shorter urethra, which means it’s easier for bacteria to infiltrate them. Things like menopause, certain types of birth control, and having sex can also increase the likelihood of getting a UTI.

Potential UTI Complications  

Most times, UTIs will cause some pain and discomfort for a week or two before they go away. While some UTIs can go away on their own, antibiotics are often necessary to kill the infection. If you don’t take antibiotics to kill the harmful bacteria in your urinary system, you are putting yourself at risk for potential complications.  

• Untreated infections are more likely to cause repeated infections down the road.  
• UTIs can turn into kidney infections and cause a high fever and kidney damage.  
• Men who have UTIs can develop undersized urethras, putting them at risk for future infections.  
• UTIs, like all infections, can lead to sepsis, which is a life-threatening condition.  

How Are UTIs Diagnosed?  

The good news about UTIs is that they are easily treatable once you receive a diagnosis. Antibiotics like nitrofurantoin, sulfonamides, and doxycycline commonly treat UTIs, eliminating harmful bacteria in the urinary tract. While you can optionally wait and see if your UTI will go away on its own, most of them don’t, and you risk developing complications if you wait too long.

How Can an Urgent Care Facility Help?  

If you suspect that you have a UTI and your primary physician is unavailable, Anderson Walk-In Medical Clinic is here to help. The doctors and nurse practitioners at any of our clinics can determine whether you have a UTI or if something else is wrong. If you have a UTI, we will prescribe the medications to get you on the road to recovery. We can also recommend helpful home remedies, like special teas, pain medications, and cranberry juice, to aid you in your recovery.

References

Urinary tract infection (UTI) – Diagnosis and treatment – Mayo Clinic 

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): Symptoms, Causes, Treatment (webmd.com) 

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): Causes, Symptoms & Treatment (clevelandclinic.org)