Symptoms and Treatment of a UTI

Many women will experience a urinary tract infection at some point in their lives. This is caused by bacteria making their way into the urinary tract and creating an infection. There are tons of different ways this can happen. A common fear is that a lady will sit on a public toilet and absorb someone else’s bacteria, but it is far more common for bacteria to be pushed into the urinary tract during intercourse or while inserting a tampon.

The Symptoms

So, what does a urinary tract infection feel like and how do you know if you have one? Let’s look at some of the symptoms of this health problem.

The most common symptom of a UTI (urinary tract infection) is an inflamed bladder or urethra. This can be indicated by an itching or burning sensation, and it will likely become worse when urinating.

Since the infection is in the urinary tract, it is going to affect urination in a lot of different ways. Urine can appear dark or cloudy when the infection is present. It may also smell unpleasant or have blood in it. Also, you may need to urinate more frequently with a UTI.

You may also simply feel unwell or feverish, and you could experience some abdominal or pelvic pain from time to time.

While any of these symptoms could be indicative of a different kind of problem, it is a good idea to have a professional assessment performed by a doctor if you start to experience these. The abdominal pain could be something far milder, but if it is accompanied by burning or irritating in the urethra and bladder, then you need to get evaluated and treated right away. The longer the infection remains in your body, the more it will spread and the more pain and damage it will cause.

Treatment

There are a few different ways that a UTI could be treated, but we are going to look at one of the most effective ones, and one that your doctor will likely recommend.

Nitrofurantoin is an antibacterial agent that is excellent at getting rid of infections in the body. Its primary medical use is to fight UTIs, but it is sometimes used for other purposes as well. People with diabetes, anemia, kidney disease or a family history of these medical problems should not take this medication, and its always a good idea to talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your medical history before taking any medication.

Nitrofurantoin needs to be taken with food to be most effective, and it comes in a liquid form. It can be mixed with water, milk or another liquid to make it more palatable or easer to take. You will usually have to take it for at least three days or until the infection is cleared. Be sure to take the entire does and take it for the entire length of time recommended by your doctor or pharmacist. Your doctor may recommend a follow up visit to ensure the infection has cleared.