Common questions and answers about UTIs (urinary tract infections)
UTI stands for Urinary Tract Infection (also referred to as a bladder infection or cystitis). UTIs are common, particularly in women. Most UTIs are caused by bacteria that live harmlessly in your gut but cause inflammation if they get into your urinary tract. It often stings as urine passes the inflamed area. It is important [...]
Up to 50% of women will experience 1 or more UTIs in their life. However, UTIs are much less common in men. Any woman who gets recurring or repeated UTIs within a few months of each other (eg, 3 or more in a 12 month period), should be assessed by a doctor as this may [...]
Symptoms of a UTI usually include Burning or stinging when you pass urine (dysuria) Passing urine more frequently (frequency) or urgently (urgency) than normal Cloudy or smelly urine The feeling that the bladder is still full after urinating However, elderly people may not have typical symptoms- and may just present with fatigue, fever, confusion or [...]
Certain symptoms may indicate the presence of a more serious infection, including: Pain in your tummy (abdomen) or low back (loins/flanks) A fever (high temperature) or chills (rigors) Passing larger amounts of urine than normal (polyuria) & excessive thirst (polydipsia) Blood in the urine (haematuria) Headache/vomiting/flu-like symptoms Offensive vaginal discharge Anyone experiencing the above symptoms [...]
A UTI is usually treated with oral antibiotics. There are several antibiotics commonly used- the one chosen by the doctor will depend on local factors (such as bacterial resistance to certain antibiotics in your area), your medical history, and whether you have any allergies to medications. If there is no improvement of your symptoms within [...]
Sometimes the symptoms of a UTI can be similar to other conditions, for example: A sexually transmitted infection, eg. Chlamydia Diabetes (passing larger amounts of urine than normal & excessive thirst) Kidney stones (spasms of pain in the back or groin) Thrush (itchy vulva, sometimes a discharge or odour)Recurrent UTI (3 or more UTIs in [...]
