Understanding Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Prevention

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Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common and not well understood. Affecting millions of people every year—mostly women—UTIs might be a mild annoyance or a significant medical condition. Here's everything you should understand about UTIs, including symptoms, causes, treatments, and prevention.

What Is the Urinary Tract?

The urinary tract is your body's normal drainage system that removes urine from the body. It includes:

• Kidneys – filter waste from the blood to create urine
• Ureters – carry urine from kidneys to the bladder
• Bladder– stores urine until it is released
• Urethra– carries urine out of the body

What Is a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)?

A UTI is an infection that occurs somewhere along this tract. UTIs are typically divided into:

• Lower UTIs – affect the bladder (cystitis) and urethra (urethritis)
• Upper UTIs – affect the kidneys (pyelonephritis) and ureters

Infections are more commonly lower UTIs and are more likely to occur in women, but may occur to anyone.

UTI Symptoms

Wondering how does a UTI feel? Here are primary symptoms:

• Burning or discomfort while urinating
• Need to urinate more often or urgently
• Cloudy or strong-smelling urine
• Lower abdominal pain or pressure
• Pain in the penis (in men)

Upper UTIs have other symptoms too:

• Fever, shuddering, or chills
• Nausea or vomiting
• Pain in the back or side
• Hematuria (blood in urine)

In older individuals, the symptoms can be confusion, agitation, and restlessness—often the first to be noticed.

Causes of UTIs in Women and Men

Women are also more at risk because their urethra is shorter, giving bacteria a faster route to the bladder. Between 1 in 2 women and 1 in 8 men will get a UTI over a lifetime.

Other risks include:

• Sex
• Pregnancy
• Menopause
• Urinary obstruction (e.g., kidney stones)
• Partial emptying of the bladder (typically from an enlarged prostate in a man or fibroids in a woman)

Can Children Get UTIs?

Yes. About:

• 1 in 10 girls
• 1 in 30 boys

will have developed a UTI by the age of 16.

In children, some of the symptoms may be:

• Bedwetting or accidents
• Fever
• Irritability or poor feeding (mainly in babies)
• Vomiting or being generally ill

Are UTIs Harmful?

A bladder infection is very unpleasant but usually treatable. If left untreated, however, it will spread to the kidneys or even into the bloodstream and cause serious consequences such as sepsis.

Seek instant medical advice if symptoms worsen, do not go away, or if you're suspicious of a kidney infection.

When Do You Need to Get a Doctor for a UTI?

You should visit a doctor if:

• Symptoms are bad or worsening
• There is no improvement in 48 hours
• It is your first UTI
• You are pregnant or a man
• A child or infant has symptoms
• You're just concerned

Upper UTI symptoms (e.g., fever, flank pain) require urgent medical attention.

Treatment for UTI

For light UTIs:

• Rest and lots of fluids
• Avoid sex until the symptoms subside
• Take over-the-counter painkillers (see a pharmacist)
• Medications like potassium citrate can ease discomfort

A GP can prescribe antibiotics:

3-day course for most women

Longer course in men, pregnant women, or severe infection

Prevention of UTIs

These are the best UTI prevention tips:

• Drink lots of water to stay hydrated
• Don't hold urine in—urinate when you need to
• Wipe front to back after using the toilet
• Avoid tight, synthetic underwear
• Use unscented soaps around the genital area
• Urinate before and after sex
• Postmenopausal women might find vaginal estrogen cream beneficial—consult your doctor

Urinary tract infections are common, often painful, and largely treatable. Being aware of the symptoms and risk factors—and acting promptly—can prevent complications. If you're being treated for a current UTI or trying to prevent one from developing, understanding your urinary health is crucial.

If you're uncertain whether you have a UTI or how to get rid of it, consult a healthcare professional or pharmacist for advice.