If you have pain when you urinate, cloudy or dark urine, or an increased urge to urinate frequently, chances are it’s a urinary tract infection (UTI). A UTI is very treatable if you see board-certified internist Farah Khan, MD, FACP, at Millennium Park Medical Associates when you first start having symptoms. Untreated, a UTI can cause serious and possibly permanent damage so don’t delay. Call the office in Greenwood Village, Colorado, or book an appointment online today.
A UTI can develop anywhere inside your urinary tract, including your:
Usually, a UTI affects your bladder or urethra, the bottom components of your urinary tract. But, untreated UTIs can eventually affect your whole urinary tract, including your kidneys. Untreated UTIs could potentially lead to severe long-term damage, such as kidney failure.
Generally, a UTI starts with bacteria entering via your urethra. When the bacteria reaches your bladder, it has room to grow very quickly and that’s when you generally start noticing symptoms.
Most UTIs are caused by a bacterium called Escherichia coli (E. coli), which is usually present in your digestive system.
Women are far more likely to suffer UTIs because there’s only a short span between the female urethra and bladder, making bacteria transfer quite common.
A UTI often causes discomfort or pain, including issues such as:
Some of the more severe symptoms, like upper back pain, fever, and chills, might not appear in a low-grade UTI but are quite common in the most serious UTIs like kidney infections.
If you notice any of these symptoms, get tested right away. Millennium Park Medical Associates offers easy on-site urine testing with immediate results.
Drinking plenty of water is a good start, but you need antibiotics to actually eradicate the infection.
Dr. Khan can prescribe powerful antibiotics that destroy the harmful bacteria to relieve your UTI symptoms in only a few days in most cases. Take every antibiotic pill, even after you’re feeling better, to eliminate all traces of infection and prevent a recurrence.
If you have recurring UTIs, Dr. Khan may prescribe low-dose antibiotics long term, along with changes like drinking more water and very strict hygiene habits.
Don’t wait for your UTI symptoms to get even worse. Call Millennium Park Medical Associates or book with online scheduling now.
The goal of board-certified internal medicine physician Farah Khan, MD, FACP.