Every year in the United States, more than 8.1 million visits are made
to a healthcare provider due to urinary tract infections (UTIs). A urinary
tract infection occurs when bacteria gets into the urine and travels to
the bladder, causing an infection. This is a very common infection that
affects about 40% of women and 12% of men at some point in their life.
Most urinary tract infections are not serious, but some can lead to serious
problems if left untreated.
Symptoms of a urinary tract infection
Keep an eye out for the following symptoms if you suspect you have a UTI:
An urgency to urinate, even though little comes out when you do
A burning sensation while urinating
Pain or pressure in the lower abdomen
Cloudy, dark, or unusual-smelling urine
Fever or chills (this is a sign the infection may have reached your kidneys)
Testing and treatment for a urinary tract infection
Urinary tract infections can become serious if left untreated. Make an
appointment to visit an Ogden Clinic urologist, your primary care physician,
or local urgent care if you think you have a UTI. You’ll be asked
for a urine sample which will be tested for bacteria. Afterward, you will
receive antibiotics to kill off the bacteria and may receive other medication
to soothe the pain associated with UTIs.
What is a chronic urinary tract infection?
About 20% of women experience a second UTI and some even experience incessant
UTIs. A different strain of bacteria is usually the culprit of reoccurring
UTIs, although there may be several causes. If you’ve had more than
two culture-documented UTIs over a six-month period, make an appointment
with an Ogden Clinic urologist.
Ogden Clinic urologists use advanced technology to identify what’s
causing repeat infections. This might include a cystoscopy to examine
the bladder and urethra or a CT scan of the urinary tract. Your urologist
may also choose to obtain culture samples using a catheter for a better
reading of the underlying cause.
Select providers are now using Telemedicine.
Visit
Telemedicine to see if your next visit can take place over video chat.
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