Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Overview
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) affect your urinary tract, including your bladder (cystitis), urethra (urethritis) or kidneys (kidney infection). UTIs may be treated with antibiotics, but they're not always needed.
Symptoms
Symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI) may include: pain or a burning sensation when peeing (dysuria)needing to pee more often than usualneeding to pee more often than usual during the night (nocturia)needing to pee suddenly or more urgently than usualpee that looks cloudyblood in your peelower tummy pain or pain in your back, just under the ribsa high temperature, or feeling hot or cold, and shiverya very low temperature below 36Cfeeling tired or weak Your pee may also be dark or smell. If this is your only symptom, it might be because you've not been drinking enough water. Children with UTIs may also: have a high temperature – your child is feeling hotter than usual if you touch their neck, back or tummyappear generally unwell – babies and young children may be irritable and not feed, eat or drink properlywet the bed or wet themselvesbe sick In older, frail people who have problems with memory, learning and concentration (such as dementia), and people with aurinary catheter, symptoms of a UTI may also include: changes in behaviour, such as acting agitated or confused (delirium)leaking pee (wetting themselves or incontinence) that is worse than usualnew shivering or shaking (rigors)
Causes
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are usually caused by bacteria from poo entering the urinary tract. The bacteria enter through the tube that carries pee out of the body (urethra). Women have a shorter urethra than men. This means bacteria are more likely to reach the bladder or kidneys and cause an infection. Things that increase the risk of bacteria getting into the bladder include: having sexpregnancyconditions that block the urinary tract, such askidney stonesconditions that make it difficult to fully empty the bladder, such as anenlarged prostatein men andconstipation in childrenurinary catheters(a tube in your bladder used to drain urine)having a weakened immune system – for example, if you have poorly controlled diabetes or you are having chemotherapynot drinking enough fluids
Treatment
If a pharmacist or GP thinks you may have a urinary tract infection (UTI), they may do a urine test, although this is not always needed. A GP may also: offer self-care advice and recommend taking a painkillergive you a prescription for a short course of antibioticsask you to wait for 48 hours before getting antibiotics in case your symptoms go away on their own It's important to take all the medicine you are prescribed, even if you start to feel better. If your UTI comes back after treatment, or you have 2 UTIs in 6 months (or 3 within 12 months), you'll need to see a GP. They may: prescribe a different antibiotic or prescribe a low-dose antibiotic to take for up to 6 monthsprescribe a vaginal cream, gel, tablet, pessary or ring containing oestrogen, if you are in perimenopause or have gone through the menopauseprescribe tablets that treat the infection and stop it from coming backrefer you to a specialist for further tests and treatments
Prevention
There are some things you can try to help prevent a urinary tract infection (UTI) happening or prevent it returning. wipe from front to back when you go to the toilet wipe from front to back when you go to the toilet keep the genital area clean and dry keep the genital area clean and dry drink plenty of fluids, particularly water, so that you regularly pee during the day and do not feel thirsty drink plenty of fluids, particularly water, so that you regularly pee during the day and do not feel thirsty wash the skin around the vagina with water before and after sex wash the skin around the vagina with water before and after sex pee as soon as possible after sex pee as soon as possible after sex promptly change nappies or incontinence pads if they are soiled promptly change nappies or incontinence pads if they are soiled wear cotton underwear wear cotton underwear do not use scented soap around the genital area do not use scented soap around the genital area do not hold your pee in if you feel the urge to go do not hold your pee in if you feel the urge to go do not rush when going for a pee – try to fully empty your bladder do not rush when going for a pee – try to fully empty your bladder do not wear tight underwear do not wear tight underwear do not drink lots of alcoholic drinks, as they may irritate your bladder do not drink lots of alcoholic drinks, as they may irritate your bladder do not have lots of sugary food or drinks, as they may encourage bacteria to grow do not have lots of sugary food or drinks, as they may encourage bacteria to grow do not usecondomsor adiaphragm or capwith spermicidal lube on them – try non-spermicidal lube or a different type ofcontraception do not usecondomsor adiaphragm or capwith spermicidal lube on them – try non-spermicidal lube or a different type ofcontraception If you keep getting a bladder infection (cystitis), there's some evidence it may be helpful to take: D-mannose – a sugar you can buy as a powder or tablets to take every daycranberry products – available as juice, tablets or capsules to take every day Speak to your doctor before taking any of these during pregnancy. Be aware that D-mannose and cranberry products can contain a lot of sugar. If you're taking warfarin, you should avoid cranberry products.
When to see a doctor
See GP if: symptoms severe/worsening; pregnancy; or recurrent.