How Do I Know If I Have a UTI?
Your health matters! Understanding the symptoms of common health issues empowers you to act when you suspect a problem.
One common issue we treat at Founders Family Medicine is urinary tract infections (UTI). Patients of all ages suffer from UTIs. When diagnosed, most patients recover quickly with a round of antibiotics.
Knowing whether a symptom is a problem that requires treatment by a healthcare professional can feel confusing, especially in the early stages of an illness. Our team is happy to talk through your symptoms to help you determine if you should make an appointment for treatment.
What Is a UTI?
A UTI is an infection in your urinary tract, including the bladder, kidneys, or urethra. The infection forms when bacteria enter the urinary tract and multiply, causing an infection. The infection leads to pain, frequent urination, and blood in your urine. Symptoms can appear within 24 hours after exposure to the bacteria.
How Do I Know If I Have a UTI?
It’s essential to seek an accurate diagnosis to ensure proper treatment. Other non-bacterial conditions can produce similar symptoms. For example, yeast infections may cause pelvic pain and pain when urinating. However, yeast infections don’t require treatment with antibiotics. Over-the-counter medications typically treat yeast infections.
The accurate way to determine if you have a UTI is by testing your urine sample.
UTI Symptoms to Look For
If you experience symptoms, contact Founders Family Medicine to schedule an urgent care appointment.
- Painful or frequent urination
- Blood in your urine
- Burning sensation during urination
- Sudden urge to urinate
- Odorous urine
- Fever
- Pain in the pelvis, lower back, or abdomen
UTIs can cause a range of symptoms. Once the infection worsens, patients may even experience vomiting, headaches, and chills.
UTI Care and Treatment
UTIs may become serious if left untreated. Fortunately, they respond well to antibiotic therapy. Antibiotics kill the bacteria that cause the infection allowing the body to heal itself.
Founders Family Medicine offers diagnosis and treatment for UTIs. We usually prescribe oral antibiotics with successful results.
If you have a UTI, you can supplement healing by drinking plenty of water and avoiding irritating drinks like coffee and citrus juices.
How to Avoid a UTI in the Future
Avoiding UTIs isn’t always possible; however, a few easy habits may improve your urinary health.
- Drink plenty of water – Drinking water helps flush the body of bacteria and causes frequent urination.
- Go to the bathroom more frequently – Don’t hold your urine. Instead, go to the bathroom when you feel the urge. Bacteria flush from the body instead of sitting in your urinary tract.
- Wipe from front to back – Teach children to wipe from front to back and follow the practice for yourself and when changing diapers. You do not want bacteria from stool to enter the urethra.
Know When to Seek Treatment
At Founders Family Medicine, we serve patients at our Castle Rock Medical Clinic and with telehealth appointments. If you doubt whether you need to make an appointment, we are happy to guide you.
Your health matters to us! Contact our office today.
