Procedure - Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

Urinary tract infections occur when bacteria, usually from the skin or rectum, enter the urethra and infect the urinary tract. These infections most often develop in the lower urinary tract – the bladder and urethra – and are more common in women and girls than they are in men and boys.

Symptoms

• Fever
• Nausea
• Frequent urination
• Bloody or cloudy urine
• Pain or burning while urinating
• Cramping in the groin or lower abdomen
• Feeling the need to urinate despite having an empty bladder

Treatment

Your Ogden Clinic physician will determine if you have a UTI by asking you about your symptoms, performing a physical exam, and possibly ordering a urine test. As discussed above, UTIs are caused by bacteria, and therefore need to be treated by antibiotics. Be certain to take your antibiotics exactly as directed by your doctor.

Prevention

There are several steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing a urinary tract infection:

• Drink lots of fluids – Drinking water and/or cranberry juice dilutes your urine and helps ensure that you’ll pee more frequently, flushing bacteria from your urinary tract before an infection can begin.
• Wipe from front to back – doing so after a bowel movement will help prevent bacteria from the anal region spreading to the urethra.
• Avoid irritating feminine products – using deodorant sprays or other feminine products on the genital area can irritate the urethra, potentially increasing chances of developing a UTI.

Please make an appointment with an Ogden Clinic Physician if you or your child are showing signs of a urinary tract infection.