Most urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria. The urinary tract includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. Any part of your urinary tract can become infected, but bladder infections are the most common.
Symptoms:
Treatment
Most often a health care provider will prescribe 3 days of antibiotic pills (to be taken as prescribed). If you experience 3 or more UTIs each year, you may be placed on preventive antibiotics to reduce the chance of infection.
When you have a urinary tract infection, it is important to drink plenty of non-caffeinated, clear liquids to keep the urine diluted. This will relieve some of the discomfort with urinating as well as help wash out the infection. Drink at least 2 - 4 quarts of clear liquids a day, cranberry juice may be particularly helpful.
It is important to maintain a certain level of medication in your bloodstream. If you feel that the drug does not agree with you, return to the Campus Health Service or call 621-6490. Do not just stop taking your medication.
If your urinary symptoms (burning, frequency, urgency) are not noticeably improved within 36-48 hours of starting the antibiotic, return to the clinic or call for further treatment.
An untreated urinary tract
infection can spread to the kidneys. Signs of kidney infection include
fever, chills, lower back pain, nausea and vomiting. If you have any of
these symptoms, return to Campus Health.
Prevention
References
www.familydoctor.org
Mayo
Clinic
Urinary
Tract Infections (NIDDK)