Bladder Or Urinary Tract Infection

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The purpose of the Southern Cross Medical Library is to provide information of a general nature to help you better understand certain medical conditions. Always seek specific medical advice for treatment appropriate to you. This information is not intended to relate specifically to insurance or healthcare services provided by Southern Cross. For more articles go to the Medical Library index page.

Signs And Symptoms Of Urinary Tract Infections

UTI symptoms can vary, and it’s possible for someone who has a urinary tract infection to experience no symptoms. But for many people, UTI symptoms are uncomfortable and painful. Besides a strong, persistent urge to urinate, common symptoms include:

When a urinary tract infection moves to the kidneys, symptoms such as fever, shaking, chills, and pain in the upper back, side, or groin may occur.

Treatment From A Gp For Utis That Keep Coming Back

If your UTI comes back after treatment, you may have a urine test and be prescribed different antibiotics.

Your doctor or nurse will also offer advice on how to prevent UTIs.

If you keep getting UTIs and regularly need treatment, a GP may give you a repeat prescription for antibiotics.

If you have been through the menopause, you may be offered a vaginal cream containing oestrogen.

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Check If It’s A Urinary Tract Infection

Symptoms of a UTI may include:

• pain or a burning sensation when peeing
• needing to pee more often than usual during the night
• pee that looks cloudy
• needing to pee suddenly or more urgently than usual
• needing to pee more often than usual
• lower tummy pain or pain in your back, just under the ribs
• a high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery
• a very low temperature below 36C

Can Azo Urinary Tract Defense Get Rid Of A Uti

No, AZO Urinary Tract Defense does not cure a urinary tract infection. Its purpose is to keep you comfortable and to control the infection until you can see your primary care provider. Your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic medication capable of eliminating the bacteria responsible for the infection.

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Is Yogurt Good For Urine Infection

Probiotics are live bacteria present in yogurt, kimchi, pickles, kefir etc. They have been scientifically proven to help in getting rid of a urinary tract infection. Also, their daily intake reduces your risk of getting the infection. Probiotics have antibacterial effects and they reduce the pH of your urine.

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Symptoms Of A Urinary Tract Infection

Symptoms of a lower UTI include

• Pain or discomfort when urinating
• The feeling of being unable to empty your bladder fully
• Cloudy and/or foul-smelling urine that may contain blood
• Pain in your lower abdomen and pelvis
• Feeling achy, tired and generally under-the-weather

Symptoms of an upper UTI include

• A high temperature of 38°C
• Pain in your sides or back
• Shivering or chills
• Agitation or restlessness

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What Are The Side Effects Of Azo

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives difficult breathing swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using phenazopyridine and call your doctor at once if you have:

• little or no urinating
• confusion, loss of appetite, pain in your side or lower back
• fever, pale or yellowed skin, stomach pain, nausea and vomiting or
• blue or purple appearance of your skin.

Common side effects may include:

• headache
• dizziness or
• upset stomach.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

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What Can I Take To Relieve Pain

Phenazopyridine hydrochloride may relieve your pain, burning, itching, and urgency to urinate within 20 minutes. Avoid taking it if you have kidney disease or are allergic to dyes. Do not worry if your urine turns reddish-orange when you take this medication. This common effect is not harmful, but it can stain clothing.

Methenamine and sodium salicylate work together to slow bacterial growth along the urinary tract and to control the UTI. Do not take this medication if you are allergic to aspirin, are on a low-sodium diet or anticoagulant therapy, or have stomach problems.

You can also take other pain relievers, such as NSAIDs or acetaminophen .

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What Are Urinary Tract Infections In Cats

Urinary tract infections occur when bacteria enter the urethra and bladder and multiply. This presence of bacteria may result in an infection if the body’s defenses don’t clear it quickly. Since the urine and bladder are normally sterile, the presence of bacteria there is abnormal. There are other urinary issues that are much more common in cats that cause similar clinical signs, so it is important to always have your cat checked out by their veterinarian if urinary issues are seen.

Causes Of Utis In Cats

UTIs are caused by bacteria in the bladder. Typically, bacteria enter the bladder through the cat’s urethra, which is the path urine takes from the bladder to exit the body. There is most often something amiss that prohibits the bodys natural defenses from being able to avoid and eliminate the bacteria. This may be stress, another illness, certain medications, abnormalities in their urinary tract anatomy or function, or an immune system disorder.

Once in the bladder, if the bacteria evade the cats natural defenses, they grow and reproduce to create more bacteria. This overgrowth of bacteria and the toxins they release affect the bladder wall, as well as the urethra, and results in pain and inflammation.

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When Should I Contact My Childs Healthcare Provider

Urinary tract infections need to be taken care of right away. Call a healthcare provider if your child:

• Shows a decrease in feeding or drinking.
• Isnt tolerating home medications.
• Experiences an increase in fever or pain.
• Becomes more irritable or inactive.
• Has any signs or symptoms that worry you.

Quickly getting treatment for your childs UTI decreases the risk of kidney problems and the risk that the infection could spread.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Although a urinary tract infection isnt a life-threatening condition, it may result in a hospital stay or lead to complications that can affect your childs quality of life. Be sure to have them checked out by their healthcare provider as soon as they show symptoms. Always make sure that your child takes all of their prescribed medication. Even if they seem better, you should still have them take the medication until the treatment is complete.

Key Points About Utis

See other pages for UTIs in pregnancy, UTIs in men and UTIs in children.

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How Can You Tell If Your Uti Is A Kidney Infection Or A Bladder Infection

UTIs can cause the following symptoms:

• Pain or burning when you pee

• Pain, cramping, or discomfort in your lower pelvic area

• Needing to pee more often than usual

• Feeling like you need to go suddenly

• Cloudy or foul-smelling urine

Sometimes the infection can travel to your kidneys, which causes additional symptoms. The following signs and symptoms may mean you have a kidney infection:

• Fever

• Vomiting

• Pain in your back or side

Urine testing can help confirm the diagnosis. If you have any of the symptoms of UTI or kidney infection listed above, contact your healthcare provider as soon as you can. They can help you determine whats going on and what treatment is best for you.

Research And Statistics: Who Gets Urinary Tract Infections

In the United States, UTIs result in about 10 million doctor’s office visits annually. People of any age can get a UTI, though most commonly it affects women. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 40 to 60 percent of women develop a UTI during their lives.

Twelve percent of men will have symptoms of at least one UTI during their lives, per the American Urological Association. While UTIs are uncommon in young men, the risk of infection increases with age, especially in men over 50.

Women are at greater risk of urinary tract infections for anatomical reasons: Women have a shorter urethra than men and their urethra is closer to the anus, which means the bacteria that live there dont have to travel far to infect the bladder.

In children, UTIs are common and also occur more frequently in girls than boys. About 3 percent of girls and 1 percent of boys will have a UTI by the time they’re 11 years old.

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Symptoms Of A Dog Uti

• Urine smells bad.

• Urine is cloudy or bloody.

• Urination is painful for the dog to pass, or the dog seems to be straining a lot when urinating.

• The dog has been licking at its genitals in an attempt to relieve the pain caused by UTI symptoms .

• The dog has been licking at its rear end, which is also an indication of pain, particularly if he/she hasn’t had any UTI symptoms before this point and typically doesn’t do so often.

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How Azo Is Used

Azo Standard is available as 95-milligram pills, and the proper dose is usually two pills up to three times a day, per the U.S. National Library of Medicine. A maximum-strength version is also available, which offers 97.5-milligram pills.

Doctors often recommend taking Azo for the first two days of antibiotic treatment to ease the pain and burning of urination while the antibiotic takes effect. However, you should read the package instructions carefully, and keep in mind that most doctors caution against taking Azo for more than two days, as it can mask the presence of a more serious problem.

• Azo Standard is available as 95-milligram pills, and the proper dose is usually two pills up to three times a day, per the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
• However, you should read the package instructions carefully, and keep in mind that most doctors caution against taking Azo for more than two days, as it can mask the presence of a more serious problem.

Key Points About Urinary Tract Infections

• Urinary tract infections are a common health problem that affects millions of people each year. These infections can affect any part of the urinary tract.
• Most UTIs are caused by E. coli bacteria, which normally live in the colon.
• The most common symptoms of UTIs include changes in urination such as frequency, pain, or burning urine looks dark, cloudy, or red and smells bad back or side pain nausea/vomiting and fever.
• Antibiotics are used to treat UTIs. Other treatments may include pain relievers, and drinking plenty of water to help wash bacteria out of the urinary tract.
• Other things that can be done may help reduce the likelihood of developing UTIs.

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Causes Of A Dog Urinary Tract Infection

The most common cause of a dog urinary tract infection is bacterial infection. The bacteria can be transmitted from a human or another dog to your dog, so it’s important for you to be cautious about not spreading the bacteria.

Another possibility is that your dog may have been in contact with an infected cat and picked up the bacteria that led to his UTI.

When To Get Medical Advice

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
• the symptoms are severe or getting worse
• the symptoms haven’t started to improve after a few days
• you get UTIs frequently

Your GP can rule out other possible causes of your symptoms by testing a sample of your urine and can prescribe antibiotics if you do have an infection.

Antibiotics are usually recommended because untreated UTIs can potentially cause serious problems if they’re allowed to spread.

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First Line Of Defense

If youre just feeling the first hint of a UTI, you can get ahead of the infection with AZO Urinary Tract Defense®. It includes a pain reliever to help soothe and a powerful antibacterial agent to help control your infection. If youre beyond that stage, relieve painful UTI symptoms FAST with an over-the-counter urinary pain reliever like AZO Urinary Pain Relief® or for a higher dose of the active ingredient, AZO Urinary Pain Relief® Maximum Strength.

Remember: Theres no over-the-counter cure for a UTI. Only your doctor can prescribe a UTI antibiotic to rid the bacteria causing the infection.

• Why you should choose Forward for UTI treatment

When the burning, pressure, and strong urge to use the bathroom associated with a UTI strikes, your first thought is likely how to put a stop to those uncomfortable symptoms. Over-the-counter UTI relief products can alleviate your symptoms, and there are several to choose from, including Azo Urinary Tract Defense.

Dog Urinary Tract Infections: Uti Symptoms & Home Treatment

Urinary tract infections in dogs are not only uncomfortable for your dog, they can be dangerous if left untreated. If your dog has a UTI, you need to learn everything you can about the symptoms and causes of dog urinary tract infections so that you can treat it quickly and effectively. Here’s what you need to know.

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A Pharmacist Can Help With Utis

You can ask a pharmacist about treatments for a UTI. A pharmacist can:

• offer advice on things that can help you get better
• suggest the best painkiller to take
• tell you if you need to see a GP about your symptoms

Some pharmacies offer a UTI management service and can prescribe antibiotics if they’re needed.

Favorite Sites To Find Docs

SWIU is all about supporting women urologists and the urologic issues that impact women. One of our favorite SWIU perks is their searchable database for prospective patients to find a local female urologist.

An excellent source for overall urinary health info, UCF also offers a tool to help would-be patients find a urologist near them. You can search by zip code, distance, and through eight urinary specialties, including pediatric urology.

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For Those Who Experience Frequent Utis Managing Risk Factors May Help With Prevention

In some people, urinary tract infections come back again and again. Women, especially, are likely to have recurrent UTIs. While recurrences usually develop within three months of the original infection, having more than two within six months is technically considered a recurrence.

Besides precautions and at-home strategies to help prevent UTIs, sometimes antibiotics are used as a preventive measure for those with frequent UTI recurrences.

Managing risk factors by maintaining good hygiene, such as wiping from front to back for women and avoiding spermicides can lower your likelihood of repeat UTIs.

How Are Urinary Tract Infections Treated

You will need to treat a urinary tract infection. Antibiotics are medicines that kill bacteria and fight an infection. Antibiotics are typically used to treat urinary tract infections. Your healthcare provider will pick a drug that best treats the particular bacteria thats causing your infection. Some commonly used antibiotics can include:

• Nitrofurantoin.
• Doxycycline.
• Quinolones .

Its very important that you follow your healthcare providers directions for taking the medicine. Dont stop taking the antibiotic because your symptoms go away and you start feeling better. If the infection is not treated completely with the full course of antibiotics, it can return.

If you have a history of frequent urinary tract infections, you may be given a prescription for antibiotics that you would take at the first onset of symptoms. Other patients may be given antibiotics to take every day, every other day, or after sexual intercourse to prevent the infection. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best treatment option for you if you have a history of frequent UTIs.

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Who Gets Urinary Tract Infections

Anyone can get a urinary tract infection, but they are more common in women. This is because the urethra in females is shorter and closer to the anus, where E. coli bacteria are common. Older adults also are at higher risk for developing cystitis. This increased risk may be due to incomplete emptying of the bladder. There are several medical conditions that can be related to this, including an enlarged prostate or a bladder prolapse .

If you get frequent urinary tract infections, your healthcare provider may do tests to check for other health problems such as diabetes or an abnormal urinary systemthat may be contributing to your infections. People with frequent UTIs are occasionally given low-dose antibiotics for a period of time to prevent the infection from coming back. This cautious approach to treating frequent UTIs is because your body can develop a resistance to the antibiotic and you can get other types of infections, such as C. diff colitis. This practice is used very infrequently.