Urinary tract infections (UTIs), the second most common type of infection in the body, is one the most serious health problems affecting millions of people each year. The urinary tract infection (UTI) involves infection in the kidneys, ureters, bladder or urethra. These are the organs that urine passes through when eliminated from the body. Women are especially prone to UTIs, even though they generally have anatomically and physiologically normal urinary tract.
1. See a doctor first
Protein in your urine could mean the infection has moved up to your kidneys. A doctor needs to check your urine and maybe your blood to see what’s going on. They’ll likely do:
A urine test to confirm the infection and see how bad it is.
A culture test to find the exact bacteria causing it.
Maybe a kidney function test, just to be safe.
Once that’s done, you’ll get an antibiotic that targets the right bacteria.
2. Take your antibiotics correctly
It’s really important to take the full course, even if you start feeling better after a couple of days.
Common antibiotics for UTIs include:
Nitrofurantoin
Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim)
Amoxicillin-clavulanate (Augmentin)
Ciprofloxacin (for more serious cases)
Don’t use leftover pills or self-medicate, the wrong antibiotic or wrong dose can make things worse or push the infection deeper.
3. Drink a lot of water
Flushing your system is key. Try to drink plenty of water every day (about 2–3 liters if you can). It helps your body wash out the bacteria naturally.
4. Ease the discomfort
Take paracetamol (acetaminophen) or ibuprofen for pain or fever.
You can also use phenazopyridine (if available), it’s a urinary pain relief that helps with burning or urgency. Just know it turns your pee orange, which is normal.
5. Watch for warning signs
If your symptoms don’t start improving within 2–3 days, or you start to feel worse, fever, chills, back or side pain, nausea, go back to your doctor right away. That can mean the infection has reached your kidneys.
Also, if your urine stays foamy or dark after you finish antibiotics, or you notice swelling in your face or legs, don’t ignore it. That could mean your kidneys are still irritated and need extra care.
Luisa
18 days agoUrinary tract infections (UTIs), the second most common type of infection in the body, is one the most serious health problems affecting millions of people each year. The urinary tract infection (UTI) involves infection in the kidneys, ureters, bladder or urethra. These are the organs that urine passes through when eliminated from the body. Women are especially prone to UTIs, even though they generally have anatomically and physiologically normal urinary tract.
1. See a doctor first
Protein in your urine could mean the infection has moved up to your kidneys. A doctor needs to check your urine and maybe your blood to see what’s going on. They’ll likely do:
Once that’s done, you’ll get an antibiotic that targets the right bacteria.
2. Take your antibiotics correctly
It’s really important to take the full course, even if you start feeling better after a couple of days.
Common antibiotics for UTIs include:
Don’t use leftover pills or self-medicate, the wrong antibiotic or wrong dose can make things worse or push the infection deeper.
3. Drink a lot of water
Flushing your system is key. Try to drink plenty of water every day (about 2–3 liters if you can). It helps your body wash out the bacteria naturally.
4. Ease the discomfort
5. Watch for warning signs
If your symptoms don’t start improving within 2–3 days, or you start to feel worse, fever, chills, back or side pain, nausea, go back to your doctor right away. That can mean the infection has reached your kidneys.
Also, if your urine stays foamy or dark after you finish antibiotics, or you notice swelling in your face or legs, don’t ignore it. That could mean your kidneys are still irritated and need extra care.