can someone explain to me what a urinary tract infection is and what will happen it you do nNOT get it treated???
2006-12-12 06:33:41 · 6 answers · asked by lovely 1 in Health ➔ Women's Health
A urinary tract infection refers to an infection in the bladder or urethra (urethra being the tube that connects the bladder to the outside). If untreated, it can spread to the kidneys and cause serious kidney problems. There is no need for a UTI to go untreated, since most UTIs are easily treated with an oral antibiotic.
2006-12-12 06:40:01 · answer #1 · answered by Nicole B 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Treatment
If your symptoms are typical of a UTI and you're generally in good health, antibiotics are the first line of treatment. Which drugs are prescribed and for how long depends on your health condition and the type of bacteria found in your urine. Drugs most commonly recommended for simple UTIs include amoxicillin (Amoxil, Trimox), nitrofurantoin (Furadantin, Macrodantin), trimethoprim (Proloprim) and the antibiotic combination of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra). Make sure your doctor is aware of any other medications you're taking or any allergies you have. This will help him or her select the best treatment.
Usually, UTI symptoms clear up within a few days of treatment. But you may need to continue antibiotics for a week or more. Take the entire course of antibiotics recommended by your doctor to ensure that the infection is completely eradicated. For an uncomplicated UTI that occurs when you're otherwise healthy, your doctor may recommend a shorter course of treatment, such as taking an antibiotic for three days. But whether this short course of treatment is adequate to treat your UTI depends on your particular symptoms and medical history.
If you have recurrent UTIs, your doctor may recommend a longer course of antibiotic treatment or a self-treatment program with short courses of antibiotics at the outset of your urinary symptoms. For infections related to sexual activity, your doctor may recommend taking a single dose of antibiotic after sexual intercourse.
For severe UTIs, hospitalization and treatment with intravenous antibiotics may be necessary. When recurrences are frequent or a kidney infection becomes chronic, your doctor will likely refer you to a doctor who specializes in urinary disorders (urologist) or a doctor whose specialty is kidneys (nephrologist) for an evaluation to determine if urologic abnormalities may be causing the infections.
Complications
When treated promptly and properly, UTIs rarely lead to complications. But left untreated, a urinary tract infection can become something more serious than a set of uncomfortable symptoms.
Untreated UTIs can lead to acute or chronic kidney infections (pyelonephritis), which could permanently damage your kidneys. Young children and older adults are at the greatest risk of kidney damage due to UTIs because their symptoms are often overlooked or mistaken for other conditions. Women who have UTIs while pregnant may also have an increased risk of delivering low birth weight or premature infants.
2006-12-12 06:39:28 · answer #2 · answered by OfficeMom 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
an infection in your urinary tract, can be very painful, cause fever, chills, etc... you need to get it treated before you get a severe kidney infection. get some antibiotics.
2006-12-12 06:40:35 · answer #3 · answered by Steph C 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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2017-03-01 00:26:20 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bladder Infection!!! drink cranberry juice regularly and drink lots of water..you can also buy meds for it. NO SODA or CAFFEINE
2006-12-12 07:21:10 · answer #5 · answered by ALF08 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its an infection in your bladder. symtoms are an over active bladder meaning you have to pee alot and when peeing it will hurt
2006-12-12 07:06:53 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋