What is a urinary tract infection (UTI)?
A UTI can develop anywhere inside your urinary tract, including your:
- Kidneys, which filter your blood and create urine
- Bladder, which stores urine
- Ureters, which moves urine from your kidneys to your bladder
- Urethra, which drains urine from your body
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.
Why do UTIs occur?
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.
How do I check for a UTI?
A UTI often causes discomfort or pain, including issues such as:
- Frequent strong urinary urges
- Burning sensation during urination
- Difficulty urinating more than a small amount
- Cloudy or milky urine
- Dark yellow, orange, or reddish urine
- Blood in your urine
- Smelly urine
- Pelvic pain, similar to period cramps
- Pain in the upper back
- Chills
- Fever
- Nausea and vomiting
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.
How can I get rid of a UTI?
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.
