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Urinary Tract Infections
A urinary tract infection (UTI) happens when any part of the urinary system becomes infected. This includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra.
Urinary tract infections usually occur when bacteria enter the urine or urinary tract through the urethra and begin to multiply inside the bladder. Although the urinary system is designed to keep bacteria out, these defenses can fail, resulting in infectious disease. When that happens, bacteria can take over and turn into infection inside of the urinary tract. A majority of these infections involve the lower urinary tract, the bladder and the urethra. Women are at a higher risk than men for developing a UTI with more risk factors. Infection limited to your bladder can be painful and annoying.
UTI Causes and Symptoms
Simple UTIs (also known as acute cystitis or bladder infection) occur more commonly in women than men. This type of UTI is usually caused by E. coli, a type of bacteria commonly found in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Sexual intercourse may lead to cystitis, but you don’t have to be sexually active to develop it.
You’re also at higher risk to get a UTI if you have diabetes, need a tube to drain your bladder or have a spinal cord injury. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, most infections in men are the result of problems that restrict normal urine flow, such as an enlarged prostate.
An infection of the urethra is known as urethritis. A UTI of this type can happen when GI bacteria spread from the anus to the urethra. Additionally, because the female urethra is close to the vagina, urethritis can be caused by sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea and herpes.
Common UTI symptoms include painful and frequent urination, urine that appears cloudy or reddish, fever and pelvic pain. It is important to seek health care treatment from a medical professional if you think you have a UTI.
Diagnosis and UTI Treatment
A urinalysis (collecting a urine sample) can confirm the diagnosis of a UTI, as test results will show an accurate picture of the issue you are dealing with. A urine culture can determine what type of bacteria is responsible for the infection and guide treatment by antibiotics. In most cases, simple UTIs will resolve with 3-5 days of antibiotics. As you are on antibiotics, medical professionals will recommend drinking lots of liquids to help flush bacteria from your urinary tract.
Why Choose Urgent Care for Urinary Tract Infection treatment?
Urgent care for many types of urinary tract infections in adults and children is sometimes necessary to assure that you can heal properly and return to normal function once the healing process is complete.
A+ Urgent Care can help diagnose and treat both the Urinary Tract Infection as well as help you get relief for the pain so that you feel better sooner rather than later. This can also assure that treatable issues do not become long-term problems by accurately diagnosing and treating your issues in the case that problems are serious.
If you think you may have a UTI that needs urgent care, please contact one of our convenient locations near you to find relief. Also, our locations are open seven days a week with convenient daytime and evening hours.