Get Your Fill of Water and Water-Based Foods That's because drinking water can help flush away the bacteria that's causing your infection, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Adequate H2O can help put you on the right track for recovery.
The best way to get the infection out of the system is by drinking liquids until the urine is clear and the stream is forceful. Drinking at least six tall glasses of water every day helps flush out any harmful bacteria that may be present in the bladder.
Water is Your Best Friend
It seems counter-intuitive, but you need to flush out your system. You should drink plenty of water to help your body remove the E. Coli. Don't overdo it, but drink as much water as possible in those crucial first 24 hours.
“It's estimated 50 percent of UTIs can be treated by drinking a significant amount of fluid alone," says Felecia Fick, a Mayo Clinic urogynecology physician assistant who was not involved in the study. "The extra you're drinking is flushing out the bacteria that are present in the urinary tract."
Simple bladder infections may go away on their own in about a week — even without antibiotics.
Over-the-counter UTI medication can help relieve pain and UTI symptoms but won't treat or cure the UTI. A UTI needs to be treated with antibiotics to prevent serious health complications. Antibiotics are the only medication that can cure a UTI.
UTIs are normally treated with a short term course of antibiotics. Most women are given a 3-day course of antibiotic capsules or tablets. Men, pregnant women and people with more serious symptoms may need a slightly longer course. Your symptoms will normally pass within 3 to 5 days of starting treatment.
Harmful bacteria from the environment, an infected person or animal, a bug bite or something contaminated (like food, water or surfaces) can cause infections.
When left untreated, the infection from a UTI can actually move throughout the body—becoming very serious and even life threatening. If you do not treat a bladder infection, it may turn into a kidney infection, which can then result in a more serious infection that's moved into the blood stream.
UTIs usually require antibiotics to be treated, meaning you'll need to visit a healthcare provider. Telehealth services can make it easier to schedule an appointment. Getting started on your antibiotic right away and drinking plenty of water are some of the most important steps in helping to get rid of a UTI fast.
DON'T drink coffee, alcohol or caffeine until the infection is gone. These drinks can irritate your bladder. DO drink a shot of sugar-free cranberry juice, if you like it. Cranberry juice may help fight infection, though the effectiveness is still being studied.
Pain can occur at the start of urination or after urination. Pain at the start of your urination is often a symptom of a urinary tract infection. Pain after your urination can be a sign of a problem with the bladder or prostate. In men, pain can remain in your penis before and after urination too.
Self Care. To help ease symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI): take paracetamol up to 4 times a day to reduce pain and a high temperature – for people with a UTI, paracetamol is usually recommended over NSAIDs such as ibuprofen or aspirin.
It's pretty easy to get a urinary tract infection. Bacteria that live in the vagina, genital, and anal areas may enter the urethra, travel to the bladder, and cause an infection. This can happen during sexual activity when bacteria from your partner's genitals, anus, fingers, or sex toys gets pushed into your urethra.
A person must complete the course of antibiotics to treat the infection fully and prevent the bacteria from becoming resistant to the drug. In addition to cleaning, some wounds may require further treatment. If the cut is large or deep, a doctor or nurse may have to use stitches to close it.