How to get rid of a urinary tract infection (UTI): everything you need to know
What is a urinary tract infection UTI?
The urinary tract is the body’s drainage system for removing urine, which flows from the kidneys, through the ureters to the bladder, and then out of the body through the urethra.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can occur at any point along the tract – including the bladder (cystitis), urethra (urethritis) or kidneys (pyelonephritis) – however, most infections involve the bladder and the urethra, known as lower UTIs.
UTI information:
- A UTI is an infection occurring anywhere along the urinary tract - from the kidneys to the urethra.
- Women are more likely to get a UTI than men.
- Common symptoms include pain or burning when peeing, needing to pee more often than usual, and tummy pain.
- Seek medical advice if you experience severe or worsening symptoms, no improvement after a couple of days, if it’s the first time having symptoms, or if you are pregnant, or male, or simply concerned.
What does a UTI feel like?
Many people are all too aware of the symptoms of a UTI; pain or a burning sensation when peeing (dysuria), needing to pee more often than usual during the day and the night, needing to pee suddenly or more urgently than usual, lower tummy pain, and pee that looks cloudy. Men may feel pain in the penis.
A UTI can disrupt a person’s sleep, and therefore make the following day even harder to cope with.
Older people typically get lower UTIs (infection of the urethra and/or bladder) and confusion, agitation and restlessness are often the first indication of symptoms.
Infection of the kidneys or ureters – the tubes connecting the kidneys to the bladder – are known as upper UTIs, which can affect people of all ages. These can cause the same symptoms as lower UTIs and can also cause fever, shivering and chills, pain in the sides or back, blood in the pee, nausea, vomiting.
What causes a UTI in women and men?
Around one in two women will experience a UTI at some point during their lifetime. The infection is less likely in men for whom around one in eight (12%) will suffer. Women having a shorter urethra is believed to be the reason why they are at greater risk, since this means it’s easier for more bacteria to reach the bladder or kidneys.
UTI is very uncommon in healthy young and middle-aged men, and rarely develops in men under 50 years of age.
Older people are more susceptible to UTIs due to a weaker flow of urine, meaning the bladder doesn't fully empty.
Things that increase the risk of bacteria getting into the bladder include:
- having sex
- pregnancy
- being peri or post menopausal
- urinary tract obstruction (eg by kidney stones)
- conditions making complete bladder emptying difficult – such as an enlarged prostate in men or fibroids in women.
Are children affected by UTIs?
Around 1 in 10 girls and 1 in 30 boys will have had a UTI by the age of 16 years.
Structural and neurological abnormalities affecting the urinary tract, voluntary holding back from peeing, and long-term constipation, can result in problems peeing and an increased risk of UTI.
Children with a UTI may have a fever, appear generally unwell – babies and young children may be irritable and not feed or eat properly – wet the bed or wet themselves, or vomit.
Are UTIs serious?
Bladder infection can be painful, annoying, and make life miserable, but if infection spreads to the kidneys serious problems can result. Not only are the symptoms often worse, but untreated, the infection may damage the kidneys or spread into the blood stream causing sepsis.
At what point should medical advice be sought?
If symptoms are severe or worsening, if there is no improvement after a couple of days, or if someone has UTI symptoms for the first time, or is pregnant, or is male, if any of the symptoms above are occurring in babies or children, or if someone is concerned, then medical advice should be sought.
Any upper UTI symptoms should prompt urgent medical advice.
How to treat a UTI and relieve symptoms
There are many things people can do themselves to help deal with a UTI including:
- resting
- drinking enough fluid so urine is pale and passed regularly during the day
- avoiding having sex
- taking a suitable painkiller.
A pharmacist can advise on suitable painkillers and over the counter treatments that might help to ease symptoms, such as potassium citrate. The pharmacist can also advise if medical advice is needed.
A GP may recommend a short course of antibiotics. Most women are given a 3-day course, whilst men, pregnant women, and people with more serious symptoms may need a slightly longer course.
How to prevent a UTI
Top tips to try and prevent a UTI include:
- drinking plenty of water
- peeing often and not holding it in
- keeping the genital area clean and wiping from front to back
- avoiding scented soap and tight synthetic underwear such as nylon
- emptying the bladder before and after sex.
- Vaginal estrogen creams in post-menopausal women can be helpful – ask your GP about this.
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