Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can result in painful symptoms, but appropriate treatment can give patients relief fast.
What causes a UTI?
A UTI is an abnormal growth of bacteria that can occur anywhere along the urinary tract, including the kidneys, bladder and urethra. This is accompanied by symptoms that can include:
- Urinary frequency & urgency
- Burning with urination
- Pressure or discomfort in the lower abdomen
- Cloudy or smelly urine
- Blood in the urine
Some people are more at risk at developing UTIs, including women and especially postmenopausal women. Additional factors that can contribute to a UTI include sexual activity, dehydration, hygiene, recent surgery or catheterization, pregnancy and diabetes.
“A common misconception is that getting recurrent UTIs, especially as a woman, is a normal thing,” said Bridget Meadow, APRN, GNP-C, an adult-gerontology nurse practitioner at Yale New Haven Hospital. “It’s not supposed to be affecting your quality of life, so talking to a healthcare provider if your UTIs are persistent and recurrent is important because we have a lot of ways that we can prevent them.”
Urgent care for UTI treatment
As soon as someone develops symptoms, they should contact their healthcare provider. Usually, a short course of antibiotics will clear up a UTI in a matter of days. Urgent care is a great place to be seen and treated for a UTI because patients can be seen quickly, properly assessed and prescribed antibiotics.
"Symptoms like painful urination, frequent urination, and urgency that are often suspected of being caused by a UTI, can be caused by various conditions, including STIs, vaginal infections, and prostate infections. It's crucial to get evaluated by a healthcare provider to determine the exact cause and receive appropriate treatment,” said Amelia Nadler, DNP, FNP-C, Medical Director for Yale New Haven Health Urgent Care.
What to do if you feel a UTI coming on?
If you have early UTI symptoms such as cloudy urine, but no burning or increased frequency with urinating, you may be able to avoid a UTI from developing.
“Water is your bladder's best friend, so increasing your water intake and trying to help flush anything that's starting there can prevent a UTI from developing,” said Meadow. “Once you have those irritative symptoms, you'll need antibiotics, most likely.”
Nadler and Meadow warn that once those symptoms develop, patients should not try to fix a UTI on their own, because that can lead to a kidney infection or even sepsis.
Symptoms including fever, chills, nausea or confusion may indicate a worsening infection and should prompt immediate care at the emergency department. Patients currently on antibiotics who experience worsening symptoms should also be seen in an emergency setting.
Can cranberry juice help with a UTI?
Meadow says the evidence supporting cranberry juice or cranberry supplements is mixed. Some cranberry products can be helpful in preventing UTIs because they can help flush out bacteria that can build up. However, once someone has an infection, cranberry products will not help, and patients will need antibiotics to treat the infection.
How to prevent UTIs
Fluid intake is important for preventing UTIs from occurring. Everyone has different fluid needs, but people should be drinking enough water so that their urine is pale yellow.
Other strategies that can be helpful include wiping front to back, avoiding constipation, voiding after intercourse, using lubrication and wearing cotton underwear. But even if someone follows all those measures, they may still be prone to UTIs.
“There’s a little bit of a stigma with it. A lot of patients will come in and say, ‘I take showers every day,’ but most people I see, this is not about hygiene. It’s about other factors working against them,” said Meadow.
Recurrent UTIs is categorized as having two or more in six months or three or more within a year. If that happens, Meadow says it’s worth seeing a specialist like a urogynecologist to discuss additional strategies.
