A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection in any part of the urinary system. The urinary system includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. Most infections involve the lower urinary tract — the bladder and the urethra. Women are at greater risk of developing a UTI than are men.
UTIs are common infections that happen when bacteria, often from the skin or rectum, enter the urethra, and infect the urinary tract. The infections can affect several parts of the urinary tract, but the most common type is a bladder infection (cystitis).
Symptoms of UTIs
Pain or burning while peeing. Frequent or intense need to urinate although little comes out when you do. Foul-smelling, cloudy, or bloody urine. Pain or pressure in your lower abdomen, just above where your bladder is located.
The symptoms of acute cystitis can come on suddenly and can be very uncomfortable. The most common symptoms include: a frequent and strong urge to urinate even after you empty your bladder, which is called frequency and urgency.
A UTI develops when microbes enter the urinary tract and cause infection. Bacteria are the most common cause of UTIs, although fungi rarely can also infect the urinary tract. E. coli bacteria, which live in the bowel, cause most UTIs.
Bladder infections are a type of UTI, but not all urinary tract infections are bladder infections. A UTI is defined as an infection in one or more places in the urinary tract—the ureters, kidneys, urethra, and/or bladder. A bladder infection is a UTI that's only located in the bladder.
Urologist Mark Perlmutter, M.D., says a UTI can go away on its own, but not every type of UTI and not every time. “Yes, a UTI could go away on its own, but some infections are different than others,” he says. “And if left untreated, it may linger longer.”
If your UTI goes untreated, it may progress into a more serious infection. “An untreated bladder infection can become a kidney or prostate infection. These infections are more serious, because they can travel through the blood stream causing sepsis. Sepsis makes people very ill and can even be critical,” Dr.
The best way to stop a UTI before it starts is to follow some basic practices: Stay hydrated because drinking more water will make you want to pee more. When you do have the urge to go, go - try not to hold in urine. In the bathroom, always wipe from front to back after urination and bowel movement.
It's a good idea to see your GP if you think you might have a UTI, particularly if: you have symptoms of an upper UTI (see above) the symptoms are severe or getting worse. the symptoms haven't started to improve after a few days.
The peak rate of uncomplicated UTIs occurs during the years of maximum sexual activity, usually between the ages of 18 and 39. Uncomplicated recurrent UTIs are also frequent in young women.
The incubation period (time of exposure to time symptoms begin) varies with the microbe. In general, common urinary tract infections with colonizing bacteria, like E. coli, varies from about three to eight days.
Most UTIs are caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli), bacteria that normally live in the bowel. Many UTIs appear within 24 hours after sex simply because the bacteria are better able to cover the distance from the anus to the urethra during intercourse.
How long will a UTI last without antibiotics? Many times a UTI will go away on its own. In fact, in several studies of women with UTI symptoms, 25% to 50% got better within a week — without antibiotics.
You shouldn't leave a UTI untreated for an entire week. It's recommended for healthy adult women to receive treatment after at least two days.
UTI s don't always cause symptoms. When they do, they may include: A strong urge to urinate that doesn't go away. A burning feeling when urinating.
You can buy a home urinary tract infection (UTI) test kit. They are available without a prescription at a drugstore or online. The home test kit contains specially treated test strips. You hold them in your urine stream or dip them in a sample of your urine.
Painful Bladder Syndrome (PBS)
PBS is not caused by an infection, but it can feel like a urinary tract infection or UTI. Painful bladder syndrome is also referred to as bladder pain syndrome and interstitial cystitis.
Beyond just the smell of your urine, a urinary tract infection can also affect its appearance. Most commonly, you will see cloudy or bloody urine with a UTI. Your urine may have a red or pink tint, indicating blood in the urine. This is one symptom you should definitely not ignore.
“Dehydration is a leading risk factor for UTIs.” It's a common misconception that painful urination automatically signals a UTI, she added. Many other conditions can mimic the symptoms of these infections. Definitively diagnosing a UTI requires a urine culture; a urinalysis, or dipstick test, is not enough.
Even if you're not having intercourse, fingering and oral sex can lead to infection. Ask your boyfriend to wash his hands before touching your genitals.
Stress by itself doesn't cause UTIs, but it can make you more susceptible to infections and other illnesses by harming your immune system. Stress can also trigger or worsen urinary tract symptoms — even if you don't have a UTI.