Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary Tract Infection

  • Overview
  • Appointments
  • Symptoms
  • Treatments

    • What is a urinary tract infection (UTI)?

    A urinary tract infection is a general term for an infection anywhere between the kidneys and the urethra (where urine comes out). Most urinary tract infections are bladder infections. They often cause pain or burning when you urinate. They're caused by bacteria and can be cured with antibiotics.

    What causes UTI?

    UTIs are caused by germs (bacteria). The germs that most often cause these infections live in your large intestine and are found in your stool. The germs usually get into your urinary tract through your urethra. The urethra carries urine from your bladder to the outside of your body.

    Appointment Information

    If you are a patient looking to receive kind and compassionate care at the leading urologic practice in Michigan, call 734–936–7030 to make an appointment.

    What are the symptoms of UTI?

    Symptoms of a UTI may include pain or burning when you urinate. You may have an urge to urinate often, but you will usually pass only small amounts of urine. Your urine may be cloudy, look pink or red, or smell bad. You may feel pain in your lower belly or have flank pain.

    How is UTI treated?

    Antibiotics can cure most UTIs.

    • Bladder infections.Treatment for bladder infections is usually a mix of antibiotics and home treatment. Home treatment includes drinking lots of water and fluids and urinating often.
    • Kidney infections.Antibiotics usually can treat kidney infections. But you may need a brief hospital stay and a short course of I.V. antibiotics if you're too ill or sick to your stomach to take medicine by mouth.

    Your doctor may advise you to take medicine for symptoms like pain or burning. This medicine is called phenazopyridine. You can buy it without a prescription. But it doesn't treat the infection. You'll still need antibiotics. Don't use this medicine for flank pain or kidney infections.

    If your UTI doesn't improve after you take antibiotics, you'll need more evaluation and more antibiotic treatment.

    If you have a severe kidney infection, or if a bladder or kidney infection causes other problems, you may need hospital care.

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