UTI Warning Signs

Urinary tract infections or UTIs are fairly common ailments. Almost 50 percent of women throughout the world have suffered from a urinary tract infection at some point in their lives. Several early UTI warning signs are quite easy to recognize. The most common UTI ailment is a feeling of a burning sensation when you start to urinate. Another common UTI symptom is having the urge to urinate more frequently, but only passing a small amount of urine at a time.

Pain or pressure in the lower area of the abdomen or even pain in the back can also be a sign that you have a urinary tract infection. Some of the other symptoms of a UTI include bad-smelling urine, cloudy urine, and even urine that contains blood. When you have a UTI you might have a fever or chills and feel more tired than usual.

Early Warning Signs of a UTI

What is a Urinary Tract Infection?

A UTI is a type of infection that involves any area of the urinary system. This could be the ureters, urethra, bladder, or kidneys. While men can get a UTI, it is much more common for women to get these types of infections.

Some of the causes of a UTI include wiping from the back to the front after using the toilet. This can cause bacteria to be introduced into the urethra.

Another reason a person might get a UTI is if they are sexually active. Sexually transmitted diseases and UTIs have many of the same symptoms. Urinary tract infections can be spread from one person to the other.

Common causes of a UTI include:

Some forms of birth control
Improper hygiene
Dehydration or not drinking enough water
Diabetes
Pregnancy
Kidney stones

When Should I Be Worried About A UTI?

At times, it is possible to treat a urinary tract infection on your own. If you start to notice some of the more mild symptoms, there are pain medications that you can take to help alleviate the pain associated with a urinary tract infection. Cranberry pills or pure cranberry juice can also help to fight off a UTI as well. Make sure that you note your symptoms and how long they are lasting. If you continue to experience painful urination, you will need to see your doctor for antibiotics.

Risks of Ignoring Early UTI Symptoms

Urinary tract infections that are left untreated have higher risk factors of turning into a kidney infection. Kidney infections can quickly become very serious if you ignore the signs of a UTI. In addition, an unchecked urinary tract infection can also turn into a blood infection, which can result in many health issues that can become life-threatening quite quickly.

Urinary tract infections can start anywhere along parts of your urinary tract, but some areas can cause more issues than others. For example, an infection in the urethra is much easier to deal with than one that starts in your kidneys.

How Long Can a UTI Go Untreated?

The best time to start worrying about a UTI is at the first sign of any of the symptoms that are mentioned above. If you start treatment as soon as possible, a UTI will typically not be much of a problem and will simply be more of an annoyance as it might cause you to have a burning feeling or itchiness. If you do not treat UTIs it can create some serious health issues.

What to Do If you Suspect you Have a UTI

As mentioned, if you suspect you might be starting to get an infection, you can take some over-the-counter medication and make sure that you are hydrating properly. However, if the UTI symptoms are noticeable early, the best thing that you can do is to seek medical attention right away.

UTI Tests and Diagnosis

If you suspect you have a urinary tract infection, schedule an appointment with your doctor or visit a local urgent care clinic. A doctor will give you a urine sample test to examine your urine for UTI-causing bacteria.

If your doctor believes there is a problem, or if you are frequently visiting the doctor to test for a UTI, they may choose to take a closer look with an ultrasound, MRI scan, or CAT scan. If you do have a UTI, follow your physician’s recommendations about treatment.

Treatment for UTIs

Antibiotics

Typically, your doctor is going to provide you with a prescription for antibiotics to help fight off the infection. In fact, antibiotics are the most common treatment for urinary tract infections. Pain medication might also be prescribed. Taking medication as directed should help you feel better in just a few days. However, as with any antibiotic, even if you start to feel better, you must take all of the medication for it to work as intended. Antibiotics your doctor may prescribe include:

amoxicillin
ceftriaxone
ciprofloxacin cipo
nitrofurantoin
any number of other antibiotics, depending on your symptoms and medical history

Drink Cranberry Juice & Water

Drinking plenty of water can help flush the unwanted bacteria from your body. You might have seen or heard cranberry juice can treat or prevent UTIs, but does it work? Yes, cranberries contain tannin, which can help prevent E. coli bacteria from sticking to the walls of your bladder. E. coli bacteria is the most common cause of urinary tract infections.

Probiotics

Probiotics are helpful bacteria that may help to prevent and treat UTIs; specifically lactobacilli. The benefits of probiotics include stopping dangerous bacteria from attaching to the cells of the urinary tract, reducing pH levels in urine, as well as encouraging the production of hydrogen peroxide within the urine.

For more information on UTI warning signs and treatment options contact one of our offices today.

Additional Reading:

UTI or STD: How to Tell the Difference

Spotting UTIs

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