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When To Go To Er For Bladder Infection

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Causes Of Kidney Infection

Understanding urinary tract infections and when to go to a walk-in – Live on 4/11/17

A kidney infection usually happens when bacteria, often a type called E. coli, get into the tube that carries urine out of your body .

The bacteria travel up to your bladder, causing cystitis, and then up into your kidneys.

E. coli bacteria normally live in your bowel, where they cause no harm.

They can be transferred from your bottom to your genitals during sex or if you’re not careful when wiping your bottom after going to the loo.

A kidney infection can sometimes develop without a bladder infection. For example, if you have a problem with your kidney, such as kidney stones, or if you have diabetes or a weakened immune system.

What Are Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are solid formations that develop when chemicals in urine become concentrated and harden. The stones can vary in size from a grain of sand to a golf ball. Kidney stones form in the kidneys, but they can travel down the urinary tract and cause pain or interfere with urination.

There are two main types of kidney stones as follows:

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What Can You Do To Prevent Future Kidney Infections

A kidney infection develops when a UTI affecting the lower urinary tract spreads upward. To prevent kidney infections, you need to prevent UTIs. You can do this by:

  • Drinking fluids to flush out the urinary tract.
  • Not holding urine in and using the bathroom as soon as you need to pee.
  • Avoid using spermicide and diaphragms and use other birth control methods like condoms.
  • Peeing after sex to reduce bacteria in the urethra.
  • Using vaginal estrogen to reduce vaginal dryness in postmenopausal women.
  • Seeking prompt medical care for a UTI or kidney infection symptoms rather than relying on an over-the-counter pain reliever or home remedies like cranberry juice.
  • Take the full course of antibiotics for UTI as prescribed by your doctor.
  • Do a lab test, such as a repeat urine culture test as recommended by your doctor to ensure that the infection is gone.

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Things You Can Try Yourself

If you have mild symptoms of cystitis, it can help to:

  • take paracetamol up to 4 times a day to reduce pain
  • give children liquid paracetamol follow the instructions on the bottle
  • drink plenty of water
  • avoid drinks that may irritate your bladder, like fruit juices, coffee and alcohol

Some people take cystitis sachets or cranberry drinks and products every day to prevent cystitis from happening, which might help. However, theres no evidence they help ease symptoms or treat cystitis if the infection has already started.

What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Utis

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If you have a UTI, you may:

  • pass very small amounts of urine
  • feel the need or urge to pass urine frequently
  • feel that the bladder is still full after passing urine
  • feel unwell with nausea and fever
  • experience confusion
  • have pain stinging or a burning feeling when urinating
  • have smelly, cloudy, dark or blood in the urine
  • pain in the lower back or sides or feel uncomfortable in your lower abdomen

Signs of UTIs in children can also include:

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Remedies For Bladder Infections

If you think you have a bladder infection, you should contact your doctor and schedule an outpatient appointment. Youâll need medication to get rid of the bacterial infection. That said, there are home remedies you can also use to help ease symptoms and help with the healing process. Here are five remedies and treatments for bladder infections that you can use:

1. See your doctor for an antibiotic

If youâre diagnosed with a bladder infection, your doctor will likely prescribe an oral antibiotic. Antibiotics work by getting rid of the bacteria that is causing your bladder infection. Research has shown that antibiotics are effective and perform better than a placebo.

You need to complete the full course of the prescribed antibiotic, even when you start to feel better. If you stop the antibiotic before completing the prescription, you risk getting another infection. In an uncomplicated or simple bladder infection, youâll typically notice an improvement in your symptoms within a day or two of starting the antibiotic. Your doctor may select an antibiotic treatment course that will last three to five days. In complicated bladder infections, the course is longer, typically seven to fourteen days.

2. Drink more water

When caring for a bladder infection, itâs critical to drink lots of fluids to help flush the bacteria out of your bladder. The additional fluids also help dilute your urine, which can make urinating less painful while youâre healing from the infection.

Ask Our Emergency Room Office: Heres What Happens If You Dont Get Uti Treatment

If you have pain when you are urinating, then you may have a UTI, in which case you should visit an emergency room for urgent care. You might be wondering what will happen if you do not seek immediate medical attention for this seemingly minor infection. However, it can have some serious consequences for your long-term health if left untreated. To understand more about UTI treatments, it is important to first understand more about UTI infections.

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When Should I Go To The Doctor

A kidney infection can develop quite quickly over a few hours or days, so dont wait to see the doctor. Any of the above symptoms of a UTI or kidney infection should trigger a visit to your doctor for a proper evaluation and diagnosis.

A doctor will analyze a sample of your urine. If you test positive for a kidney infection, youll be prescribed oral antibiotics and, in some cases, a medication that helps relieve pain with urination. If treated promptly, a kidney infection shouldnt cause serious harm.

If you experience a fever over 101°F, pain, are unable to drink or take oral medication along with some of the other symptoms, get to the nearest urgent care or ER. For more serious infections, your doctor may keep you in the hospital for observation with IV antibiotics followed by outpatient oral antibiotics.

After completing the full course of prescribed antibiotics, you should feel better. If you dont, talk to your doctor, as you may need another course of antibiotics.

What Are The Best Treatments For Kidney Infection Pain

Urinary Infection The Urgency Room an educational care video

A kidney infection is considered serious and usually needs to be treated by a medical professional to prevent it from spreading into the bloodstream. Most doctors start the treatment with antibiotics to get rid of the infection, but there are also kidney infection pain remedies that can be used at home to get rid of symptoms like nausea, pain during urination, and lower back tenderness until the antibiotics take effect. Drinking both cranberry juice and lots of water can help reduce pain, as can taking supplements like vitamin C. Of course, rest and hot compresses also often work, and can be done from home after getting medical treatment.

One of the main ways to start reducing pain from a kidney infection is to get antibiotics from the doctor. Most people are offered oral antibiotics to treat the issue, but some severe cases call for intravenous intake at a hospital or doctors office. Some people prefer to use garlic or Echinacea to help get rid of the bacteria, as these are both considered natures antibiotics, but a doctor should be consulted before anyone uses these in place of prescription antibiotics.

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Treatment From A Gp For Utis That Keep Coming Back

If your UTI comes back after treatment, or you have 2 UTIs in 6 months, a GP may:

  • prescribe a different antibiotic or prescribe a low-dose antibiotic to take for up to 6 months
  • prescribe a vaginal cream containing oestrogen, if you have gone through the menopause
  • refer you to a specialist for further tests and treatments

In some people, antibiotics do not work or urine tests do not pick up an infection, even though you have UTI symptoms.

This may mean you have a long-term UTI that is not picked up by current urine tests. Ask the GP for a referral to a specialist for further tests and treatments.

Long-term UTIs are linked to an increased risk of bladder cancer in people aged 60 and over.

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Antibiotics For Kidney Infections

Antibiotics are the first line of treatment for kidney infections. Which drugs you use and for how long depend on your health and the bacteria found in your urine tests.

Usually, the signs and symptoms of a kidney infection begin to clear up within a few days of treatment. But you might need to continue antibiotics for a week or longer. Take the entire course of antibiotics recommended by your doctor even after you feel better.

Your doctor might recommend a repeat urine culture to ensure the infection has cleared. If the infection is still present, youll need to take another course of antibiotics.

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Treatment For More Severe Utis

Kids with a more severe infection may need treatment in a hospital so they can get antibiotics by injection or IV .

This might happen if:

  • the child has high fever or looks very ill, or a kidney infection is likely
  • the child is younger than 6 months old
  • bacteria from the infected urinary tract may have spread to the blood
  • the child is dehydrated or is vomiting and cannot take any fluids or medicine by mouth

Kids with VUR will be watched closely by the doctor. VUR might be treated with medicines or, less commonly, surgery. Most kids outgrow mild forms of VUR, but some can develop kidney damage or kidney failure later in life.

Trying A Wait And See Approach

Urgent Care

Urinary tract infections that occur in the urethra or bladder are not medical emergencies. However, a lower urinary tract infection can spread into the kidneys and cause a more serious infection. Kidney infections can result in permanent damage to the organs or pass bacteria into your bloodstream and spur a potentially life-threatening, widespread infection.

The longer a lower UTI persists, the greater the risk of developing a more serious kidney infection. As a result, you should not ignore UTI symptoms that persist for more than a couple of days after you try the self-help tips aboveeven if the symptoms are relatively mild. If your symptoms worsen, schedule an appointment with your primary care physician.

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What Is A Kidney Infection

Kidney infections are a type of UTI. The medical term for a kidney infection is pyelonephritis. Certain bacteria and viruses can cause these infections.

Experts believe that many kidney infections start as an infection of the lower parts of the urinary tract, such as the bladder or urethra. Many times, these infections happen when bacteria from your bowel enter your urinary tract through your urethra.

Its possible for a UTI to continue to move up your urinary tract, progressing from your bladder into your kidneys.

When To See A Gp About Cystitis

In the following circumstances, you should definitely see a doctor if you believe you may have cystitis:

  • Minor cystitis symptoms do not clear up in 2 days
  • Cystitis symptoms become more severe
  • You get cystitis frequently
  • Antibiotics to treat cystitis dont appear to be working
  • Symptoms reappear shortly after finishing a course of antibiotic

It is important to see a doctor in such cases so that they can run further tests or prescribe antibiotics to treat cystitis. If you suffer from recurrent bacterial cystitis, a doctor will need to examine you to rule out other serious health complications including diabetes, kidney stones, and abnormalities in the urinary tract.

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How Can I Prevent Utis

If you have repeated UTIs, try these self-help measures to prevent recurring infections:

  • Drink more fluids to help flush out bacteria.
  • Urinate as soon as you feel the need.
  • Urinate immediately after intercourse.
  • Wear cotton underwear and loose-fitting pants.
  • Find an alternative method of birth control if you use spermicides.
  • Dont use perfumed soaps, talcum powder or deodorant around the genital area.
  • Avoid constipation.
  • Use lubricant gel with intercourse if the vaginal area is dry.

There is conflicting evidence for drinking cranberry juice to prevent UTIs. If you want to try cranberry products, ask your doctor for advice.

If infections are an ongoing problem, you may need to be referred to an urologist for further treatment.

Should I Go To Urgent Care For A Uti

Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary tract infections are one of the most common types of infection. Symptoms include a burning sensation when peeing, urinary frequency, and urinary urgency. Treatment requires prescription antibiotics, so you should speak with a medical provider if you think you have a UTI. Urgent care centers are an excellent option for UTI treatment if youre unable to speak with a primary care provider. Urgent care centers often treat this type of infection.

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Is It Possible To Prevent Urinary Tract Infections With Diet And Supplements

It is possible to reduce the chance that a UTI will develop with dietary methods and some supplements but prevention of all UTIs is unlikely with these methods.

  • Supplements such as eating cranberries, taking vitamin C tablets, and eating yogurt and other substances also may reduce the chance that a UTI will develop .
  • However, as stated in the prevention section, changes in a persons lifestyle may reduce the chance of getting a UTI as good as, if not better than, any diet or supplement.

When You Should Go To Er:

If you have UTI symptoms and Fever, you should go to the ER

If you have a history of kidney stones, fever, and abdominal or back pain, you may have an obstructing stone. You should go to the ER.

If you have symptoms of UTI and feel weak, you should go to the ER as you might have sepsis .

If you have symptoms of bladder infection or kidney infection and history of poorly controlled diabetes, take immunosuppressive medications such as corticosteroids , have HIV or AIDS or pregnant it should go to the emergency room.

We provide urgent and emergency care for men and women with kidney infections, bladder infections, kidney stones and blood in urine from all parts of New York City and surrounding areas in our office as well as at affiliated hospitals .

UTI in the presence of fever and obstructing stones, urethral strictures, ureteral strictures or UPJ obstruction can be serious and require emergent evaluation. Do not delay care go to the ER immediately.

For directions to Maimonides Medical Center, click here.

For directions to New York Methodist Hospital, click here.

If you have any questions, to schedule a consultation or if you need a second opinion, pleasecontact us or call:

Dr. Alex Shteynshlyugeris a board-certified urologist in NYC who specializes in treating men and women with frequent urinary tract infections .

We offer affordable, highest-quality urology care. We offer weekday, weekend, and evening office hours. Find out our .

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Complications Of A Uti

Complications of UTIs arent common, but they can be serious and require immediate treatment by a doctor. They usually affect people diagnosed with diabetes, a weakened immune system, men with recurrent UTIs, or women who are pregnant.

If a UTI is left untreated, bacteria may travel to the kidneys causing kidney infection, damage and even kidney failure. Blood poisoning can happen and occurs when the infection spreads from the kidneys to the blood-stream.

If the infection moves to the kidneys, there may be high fever, back pain, diarrhoea and vomiting. If you have these symptoms, it is important to see your doctor.

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When To See A Doctor For Urinary Tract Infection

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Sometimes a mild UTI will go away without medical treatment. The use of antibiotics, though, can decrease the length and severity of infection, and help prevent the development of complications. Most healthcare providers recommend contacting your doctor as soon as you notice bladder infection symptoms or urinary tract infection symptoms.

You should also see your healthcare provider if you get frequent UTIs. If you have three or more urinary tract infections in 12 months, call your doctor.

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Lactose Intolerance: Only Those With Lactose Intolerance Need To Restrict Dairy Products

There has been NO research suggesting people with interstitial cystitis have a higher risk for lactose intolerance.

Lactose is a type of sugar found in milk and dairy products. Some people have trouble digesting lactose. When they drink milk or eat a milk product, they feel bloated and may experience diarrhea and gas. Many people with lactose intolerance can enjoy small amounts of milk and dairy products without any difficulty. However, level of lactose tolerance varies greatly from person to person, so if consuming dairy seems to make your IC symptoms worse, you may want to consider getting your calcium and vitamin D from other IC-friendly sources:

  • Lactose-free, almond or rice milk with as few ingredients as possible

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When To See A Doctor For Bladder Infection

See your doctor promptly if you have any symptoms of a bladder infection including:

  • Cloudy, bloody, or strong-smelling urine

  • Frequent or urgent need to urinate

  • Pain or burning with urination

  • Pelvic discomfort or pressure

  • Urinating small amounts frequently

Left untreated, bladder infections can lead to a kidney infection, permanent kidney damage, and even . Seek immediate medical care for symptoms of a kidney infection including:

  • Confusion or mental status changes

  • Fever of 101 degrees Fahrenheit or higher

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