Kidney infections can be extremely serious and painful, sometimes leading to hospitalization to receive intravenous antibiotics. If left untreated, kidney infections due to UTIs can cause infections in the bloodstream. This can be life-threatening. Treatments for UTIs often depend on the severity of the infection. Doctors can usually treat them with antibiotics over the course of three to five days.
Common antibiotics used to treat bladder infections include trimethoprim, ciprofloxacin, and amoxicillin-clavulanate potassium. If you have an infection, you should always take all of your antibiotics, even if you feel better.
This keeps the infection from coming back. Complicated UTIs are harder to treat. Kidney infections usually fall into this category. If you have a complicated UTI, you may require IV antibiotics and have to take antibiotics for a week or more. Doctors may recommend some home remedies along with antibiotics to treat UTIs. These can also help to prevent UTIs too. Examples of these remedies include:. Applying warm compresses or a cloth-covered heating pad to the pubic area may help to ease some of the discomfort associated with a bladder infection.
If they hold their urine in, the bacteria can collect in the bladder and lead to infection. Try to go to the bathroom at least every two to three hours to keep this from happening. Risk factors for urethritis include having a sexually transmitted infection or from trauma to the urethra, such as due to the insertion of a urinary catheter.
In addition to these specific risk factors for bladder infections, there are general risk factors for all UTI types. These include:. Women are also more likely than men to get UTIs because their urethra is shorter. The bacteria have less distance to go to reach the bladder and can cause infections.
Seek treatment for a bladder infection before it becomes worse and potentially causes a kidney infection. The most common symptoms of a bladder infection include :.
Some pregnant women with UTIs do not get symptoms or only notice symptoms when the infection spreads to the kidneys. It is important to catch UTIs that occur during pregnancy early because they can affect the health of the fetus.
The symptoms of a bladder infection, which people may refer to as cystitis, are very similar to those of UTIs in other parts of the urinary tract. As a result, it may be difficult to tell which part of the urinary tract has an infection based on the symptoms alone.
An infection in the urethra may cause pain and burning when urinating and discharge from the urethra, but bladder pain is not a symptom. An infection that has spread to the kidneys will cause the most severe symptoms. A person with a kidney infection may notice the same symptoms as those of a bladder infection, plus fever , chills, and back pain.
Treatment is usually the same for all types of UTI, except for kidney infections. Treating a kidney infection may require a person to stay in the hospital.
Kidney infections can cause serious health conditions, so anyone with these symptoms should seek treatment as early as possible. Anyone can get a urinary tract infection , but certain risk factors can elevate the chances.
These include:. To diagnose a UTI, a doctor will ask the person about their symptoms and carry out a physical examination. They are also likely to request a urine sample. If a certain number of white blood cells are present in the sample, they can indicate an infection. The doctor will often send the urine sample to a laboratory where technicians will grow a culture and further analyze the bacteria to determine what antibiotics will work best.
As bacteria cause UTIs, antibiotics are the most effective treatment. It is important to take the right antibiotics at the correct dosage for a UTI, so a person should not reuse old prescriptions or self-medicate. Sometimes, the first course of treatment does not work for a UTI. If this happens, a doctor may alter the dosage, change the antibiotics, or recommend intravenous IV antibiotics.
People should call the doctor if their symptoms get worse after taking antibiotics or do not significantly improve within a few days. Some people experience recurring UTIs.
In these cases, a doctor may order further tests, such as an ultrasound scan or cystoscopy, to determine the root cause. The symptoms are largely the same:. But, there are some key differences between the two. UTIs and bladder infections are relatively simple to treat, but other kinds of UTIs can have different symptoms:. UTIs happen when bacteria enters the urethra and spreads. Urinary tract infections are fairly common and can happen to anyone, but the following risk factors can increase your chances of getting one:.
Thankfully, Virtuwell can treat you online without a urine sample—and without having to leave the comfort of your home. The sooner you can get treated for your UTI, the better. The longer you wait, the more chance the infection has of traveling to your kidneys. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Youtube Instagram. Bladder infection vs. UTI: What's the difference? Time saver 4 min read. Is a bladder infection the same as a urinary tract infection?
0コメント