Overview On Urinary Tract Infections
A urinary tract infection is an infection in any part of your urinary system including your kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. Most infections involve the lower urinary tract which is the bladder and the urethra.
Women are at greater risk of developing a UTI than are men. Infection limited to your bladder can be painful and annoying. However, serious consequences can occur if a UTI spreads to your kidneys.
Doctors typically treat urinary tract infections with antibiotics. But you can take steps to reduce your chances of getting a UTI in the first place.
Urinary tract infections dont always cause signs and symptoms, but when they do, they may include.
- A strong, persistent urge to urinate
- A burning sensation when urinating
- Passing frequent, small amounts of urine
- Urine that appears cloudy
- Urine that appears red, bright pink or cola-colored a sign of blood in the urine.
- Strong-smelling urine
- Pelvic pain, in women especially in the center of the pelvis and around the area of the pubic bone.
UTIs may be overlooked or mistaken for other conditions in older adults.
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Things You Need To Know About Utis & Treatment At An Urgent Care
If youâve ever had a urinary tract infection â the second most common type of bacterial infection â you know how uncomfortable it can be. The relentless need to pee and the burning sensation when you do prompt you to consider the fastest option for relief.
While contacting your doctor might be your first inclination, did you know there are other convenient options â like visiting an urgent care center for same-day diagnosis and treatment, saving you time and hassle? Plus, understanding the root cause of infection and knowing how best to prevent it can help you avoid reoccurrences. Because, letâs face it, no one wants a UTI.
Uti Testing At Carenow Urgent Care
If you believe you are suffering from a urinary tract infection, consider visiting your local CareNow®.
Because urinary tract infections arent something most people like to announce to others, we make testing easy, efficient and discreet.
At CareNow®, we can get you in and out, giving you your results quickly and without the hassle of a doctors office visit.
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Uti Treatment And Prevention
If you think you may have a UTI, chances are your doctor will want you to provide a urine sample to test for bacteria in your urine. Your provider will also ask you a few questions to see if you have a history of these infections.
The Mayo Clinic mentions that UTI and kidney infections are typically treated with antibiotics. Since these infections are so common, and it is not healthy to be on antibiotics all the time, it may be in your best interest to try to prevent these infections before they start.
Some of the more common ways to prevent a UTI or kidney infection according to Medical News Today are to:
- Drink plenty of water
- Avoid scented douches and washes
Ask Our Emergency Room Office: Heres What Happens If You Dont Get Uti Treatment
If you have pain when you are urinating, then you may have a UTI, in which case you should visit an emergency room for urgent care. You might be wondering what will happen if you do not seek immediate medical attention for this seemingly minor infection. However, it can have some serious consequences for your long-term health if left untreated. To understand more about UTI treatments, it is important to first understand more about UTI infections.
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Do I Need Antibiotics To Get Rid Of A Uti
Since bacterial infections are the most common cause of urinary tract infections, antibiotics are also the most common treatment option for UTIs. However, some mild UTIs can go away without the use of antibiotics. Our board-certified physicians at AFC Urgent Care in Memphis, TN, can evaluate your UTI symptoms and let you know if antibiotics are required or if the infection will resolve itself with over-the-counter medication.
First See If You Can Get A Prescription For Asthma Medication
The most effective way for people with asthma to avoid the emergency room is by managing the condition with medication so it doesnt escalate to emergency status. Experts are even recommending stocking up on a three-month supply if you can. Even if its hard for you to get affordable asthma medication in normal times, it may be somewhat more accessible during the pandemic.
Health care professionals are doing their best right now to help make essential medications more accessible so we can keep people out of the E.R., Dr. Chinthrajah says. As Dr. Chinthrajah points out, in early April, the Food and Drug Administration approved a generic form of an inhaler to help make this in-demand medication easier for people to get.
So the first thing you need is a prescription for asthma medication. You may be able to get one online. The telemedicine service Galileo has waived its fees for people who need prescriptions in hard-hit COVID-19 areas like California, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington State.
You could also try calling a local pharmacy. Dr. Cohn explains that many pharmacists are more likely to refill a past prescription for asthma medication during the pandemic, or at least coordinate with a doctors office to make it happen. Everything is very different right now, she says.
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Do I Need To Go To The Er For A Kidney Stone
In some cases, small kidney stones can pass on their own without the need for medical or surgical intervention. However, larger kidney stones often require treatment to make it possible for them to pass through the urinary tract. Additionally, stones with an extremely low probability of passing on their own may require surgical extraction. Because untreated stones can lead to a host of other complications, including infection, severe pain, and prolonged illness, it is important to seek evaluation in order to determine whether your stone may pass on its own or whether you need more immediate intervention.
In cases of severe, prolonged, or worsening symptoms related to a kidney stone, patients should visit their nearest ER in Frisco or Fort Worth. This includes:
- Blood in the urine
Furthermore, your provider can help you better understand what may have caused your kidney stones and offer guidance on how to prevent developing additional stones in the future. This may include recommendations regarding your diet, lifestyle, fluid intake, current medications, and more.
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Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy And Biopsy
In an upper GI endoscopy, a gastroenterologist, surgeon, or other trained health care professional uses an endoscope to see inside your upper GI tract. This procedure takes place at a hospital or an outpatient center.
An intravenous needle will be placed in your arm to provide a sedative. Sedatives help you stay relaxed and comfortable during the procedure. In some cases, the procedure can be performed without sedation. You will be given a liquid anesthetic to gargle or spray anesthetic on the back of your throat. The doctor will carefully feed the endoscope down your esophagus and into your stomach and duodenum. A small camera mounted on the endoscope sends a video image to a monitor, allowing close examination of the lining of your upper GI tract. The endoscope pumps air into your stomach and duodenum, making them easier to see.
The doctor may perform a biopsy with the endoscope by taking a small piece of tissue from the lining of your esophagus. You wont feel the biopsy. A pathologist examines the tissue in a lab.
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Are You Looking For The Best Kids Urgent Care
Parents want nothing but the best for their kids thats why its only right to treat their discomfort from injuries or illnesses at the best urgent care for children in Orlando, FL. We offer 24/7 medical services, so you dont have to worry about rushing to the emergency room when your child gets sick after-hours.
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Where Do You Go If You Get A Uti
If you think you may have a UTI or worse, a kidney infection, make an appointment with your primary care provider as soon as possible. If you cannot get an appointment with your provider right away know that Advanced Urgent Care & Occupational Medicine will help you!
We treat UTIs as well as many other ailments. We have locations along Colorados Denver metro area. Were open 7 days a week. Please visit our website for a list of our locations and schedule your visit today!
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Cranberry Juice Uti Evidence
It is not uncommon to hear that cranberry juice or cranberry products prevent and treat UTIs, but unfortunately this theory is unsupported by inconsistent evidence. As University of Michigan Health states, pure cranberry juice, cranberry extract, or cranberry supplements may help prevent repeated UTIs in women, but the benefit is small.
They continue to say that there is not enough verification that cranberry juice is a viable treatment or prevention option since the research to make that conclusion is minimal.
How To Cure A Uti
Although there are many UTI remedies tried at home, few have proven to be effective, including cranberry juice. The most effective UTI treatment is an effective antibiotic course. The type and duration of the UTI medication will depend on many factors, such as the patients overall health history and the type of bacteria causing the UTI infection.
Most UTI symptoms will improve after a few days of treatment. You should continue taking the antibiotics for the prescribed duration to ensure a complete recovery. Your doctor may also prescribe pain medication, such as Pyridium, to relieve any discomfort while urinating.
* The content presented on this page is not intended to diagnose health problems or take the place of professional medical care.
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Can I Go To Urgent Care With Second Or Third Trimester Health Issues
If you experience any of the above health concerns during the second or third trimester of pregnancy, you can still go to urgent care. However, the further along you are, the more serious symptoms can potentially be. Here are the issues you can go to urgent care for. In the following section, well talk about when you should go to the ER during pregnancy.
Where Do I Go If I Have A Uti
While there are several places you can go to get treated for a urinary tract infection, there are certain times and situations when one place may be more beneficial than the other! With that in mind, emergency rooms, primary care clinics, urgent care clinics, and walk-in clinics generally provide UTI treatment.
That said, emergency rooms should only be a viable option for UTI treatment if your symptoms are life-threatening or you need urgent help in the middle of the night. Emergency rooms are obligated to prioritize patients according to the severity of their condition. Consequently, if your UTI is not critical or life-threatening, you may end up spending long hours in the waiting room before you are able to see a physician.
On the flip side, while primary care clinics can provide familiarity, they do not always accept same-day appointments. As such, if you are experiencing painful UTI symptoms, you may not want to wait for the next available appointment!
In that light, an urgent care or walk-in clinic can be an excellent choice for UTI treatment! Urgent care clinics accept walk-in appointments and will also save you time and money when compared with emergency room services. Since urgent care clinics cannot treat life-threatening medical emergencies, it frees them up to see patients on a first-come, first-serve basis, which significantly reduces the amount of time patients spend in the waiting room.
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Can I Treat My Uti At Home
If diagnosed early, most UTIs can be treated at home with a course of antibiotics. However, its important to see our team at Physicians Medical Urgent Care as soon as you notice UTI symptoms because there are multiple types of bacteria that can cause UTIs.
During your UTI appointment, Dr. Sveltlana Burkhead or Dr. Ines Munoz De Laborde examines the urinary tract for signs of infection and takes a urine sample to identify the type of bacteria involved. Once the bacteria is identified, you are given an antibiotic course to treat that specific type of bacteria.
Once you go home, follow your prescribed antibiotic regimen and drink lots of water. Its very important to finish your entire course of antibiotics even if you start to feel better so that your infection is fully cleared.
If youre suffering from the pain, burning, and discomfort of a UTI, dont wait until your infection gets worse. Speak to our team at Physicians Medical Urgent Care immediately by calling 888-265-2120 or booking an appointment online.
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How Is A Urinary Tract Infection Treated
When you have the symptoms of a UTI, your doctor at Neu Urgent Care runs a urinalysis to verify the presence of an infection. Patients with diabetes, who are pregnant, or who have recurring UTIs may also need a urine culture to determine the exact type of bacteria.
Most UTIs are treated with prescription antibiotics. However, if you have recurring UTIs, you may need additional treatment such as:
-
Low-dose antibiotics for a longer period of time than the normal course for a UTI
-
Single dose of an antibiotic taken after sexual intercourse
-
Estrogen replacement or vaginal estrogen for postmenopausal women
About 30% of women who get an initial infection suffer from recurring UTIs, which occur when you have two or more infections in six months or three or more over the course of a year.
You can often prevent recurring UTIs by drinking enough water. The extra fluid dilutes your urine and helps flush bacteria from your urinary tract.
If you develop symptoms of a UTI, you can get prompt treatment by walking into or calling Neu Urgent Care. You can also book an appointment using the online scheduler.
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What Are The Symptoms Of A Urinary Tract Infection
Although symptoms vary depending on which area of the urinary tract is infected, the most common symptoms of UTIs include:
- A frequent, possibly intense, urge to urinate, which results in a minimal amount of urine
- Painful, burning, or stinging sensation while urinating
- Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
- The passing of small blood clots
- Tenderness in the lower abdomen
- Back pain in the waist area
- Fever or chills, especially if the infection spreads to the kidneys
In general, someone who has experienced a past UTI is more likely to have a future one.
Can You Effectively Treat A Uti At Home
While most all UTIs require a course of antibiotics, there are a few things you can do to help alleviate your symptoms until you can get to an urgent care clinic:
- Stay hydratedDrinking plenty of fluids not only helps remove bacteria from your urinary tract but also helps lessen the painful, burning sensations while urinating.
- Drink unsweetened cranberry juiceCranberry juice helps stop bacteria from adhering to the urinary tract.
- Take vitamin CIncreasing your vitamin C intake helps make your urine more acidic, which helps kill infection-causing bacteria.
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Can Urinary Tract Infections Be Prevented
There are steps you can take to prevent a urinary tract infection from occurring in the first place. One of the biggest things you can do to promote good urinary tract healthand prevent UTIsis to stay well-hydrated.
Donât wait until youâre thirsty to drink. Sip water continuously throughout the day, especially during and after physical activity.
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What Causes Kidney Stones
Kidney stones, which are hardened or calcified deposits of certain minerals, salts, and other materials, develop in the kidneys themselves before traveling through the ureter and into the bladder, where they are ultimately passed from the body in the urine. Generally speaking, kidney stones affect men more often than women, though virtually anyone can develop a stone. There are a number of potential causes of kidney stones, as well as risk factors that make certain patients more likely to develop kidney stones. Some of the most common causes and risk factors of kidney stones include:
- Dietary factors, such as increased salt, oxalate, or calcium intake
- Certain medications
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What Causes A Uti
Women are especially prone to UTIs because they have shorter urethras. This makes it easy for the bacteria to travel and causes more damage. A UTI that goes unchecked can see the bacteria travel up the urinary tract, and into the kidneys. In this way, UTIs can be the cause of something much worse.
Roughly 2 in every 10 women experience chronic UTIs. The reason isnt quite clear and can vary from person to person. In some cases, it seems to be genetic. Some women are born predisposed to UTIs. In other cases, chronic UTIs can be a sign of abnormality in the urinary tract. Women with diabetes are also at an increased risk of chronic UTIs.