Urinary tract infection (UTI)
Urinary tract infection (UTI)
Overview
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Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common infections that affect the bladder, the kidneys and the tubes connected to them. A UTI can be painful and uncomfortable, but usually passes within a few days and can be treated with antibiotics.
Anyone can get a UTI, but they’re particularly common in women. Some women experience them regularly (called recurrent UTIs).
This page is about UTIs in adults. There is a separate page about UTIs in children.
Urinary infection self-help guide
Advice for people aged 12 years or more with the symptoms of a urine infection.
Complete this self-help guide to check your symptoms and find out what to do next.
Common Symptoms
Symptom information is not available for this condition yet.
⚠️ This symptom list is for educational purposes. Having these symptoms does not mean you have this condition. See a doctor for proper diagnosis.
Medicines Commonly Used
⚠️ These medicines are commonly used for confirmed diagnoses of this condition. This is NOT a recommendation or prescription. Treatment must be determined by your doctor.
No medicines have been linked to this condition yet.
When to See a Doctor
Speak to your GP practice urgently if:
You think you, your child or someone you care for may have a UTI and:
- have a very high temperature, or feel hot and shivery
- have a low temperature below 36°C
- are confused or drowsy
- have pain in the lower tummy or in the back, just under the ribs
- can see blood in your pee
If your GP is closed, phone 111.
These symptoms could mean you have a kidney infection, which can be serious if it’s not treated as it could cause sepsis.
Speak to your GP practice if:
- you have symptoms of an upper UTI
- your child has symptoms of a UTI
- the symptoms are severe or getting worse
- the symptoms haven’t started to improve after a few days
- you get UTIs frequently
- your symptoms come back after treatment
- your urine is cloudy or has a smell
Your GP team can:
- rule out other possible causes of your symptoms by testing a sample of your urine
- prescribe antibiotics if you have an infection
Chronic UTIs
In some people UTI symptoms do not go away. Short-term antibiotics do not work and urine tests do not show an infection.
This might mean you have a chronic (long-term) UTI. This can be caused by bacteria entering the lining of the bladder.
Because urine tests do not always pick up the infection and the symptoms can be similar to other conditions, chronic UTIs can be hard to diagnose.
Chronic UTIs might be treated with antibiotics that you take for a long time.
Chronic UTIs can have a big impact on your quality of life. If you have been treated for a UTI but you still have symptoms, speak to your GP about chronic UTIs and ask to be referred to a specialist.
Causes
What causes a UTI?
A UTI happens when germs, usually bacteria, get into the urinary tract and cause an infection. Most of the time, bacteria from the gut travel through the urethra and make their way up into the urinary system.
This can happen while wiping after using the toilet or during sex. But quite often, there's no clear reason why it happens.
The following things can make you more likely to get a UTI:
- something blocking the urinary tract, such as a kidney stone
- trouble emptying the bladder completely
- using a contraceptive diaphragm, or condoms coated with spermicide
- diabetes
- a weakened immune system, for example from chemotherapy or HIV
- having a urinary catheter (a tube placed in the bladder to drain urine)
- an enlarged prostate gland in men
Women tend to get UTIs more often than men. This is because a woman's urethra is shorter and sits closer to the anus, which makes it easier for bacteria to reach the urinary tract.
Treatment
Treatment for UTIs
UTIs are normally treated with a short term course of antibiotics.
Most women are given a 3-day course of antibiotic capsules or tablets. Men, pregnant women and people with more serious symptoms may need a slightly longer course.
Your symptoms will normally pass within 3 to 5 days of starting treatment. Make sure you complete the whole course of antibiotics that you’ve been prescribed, even if you’re feeling better.
Over-the-counter pain relief such as paracetamol can help with any pain. Drinking plenty of fluids may also help you feel better.
Return to your GP if your symptoms don’t improve, get worse, or come back after treatment.
Prevention
How to prevent a UTI
There are some things you can do to try to prevent UTIs.
Do
- go to the toilet as soon as you need to pee
- always empty your bladder fully
- stay well hydrated
- wipe your bottom from front to back when you go to the toilet
- pee as soon as possible after having sex
- have a shower rather than a bath
- wear underwear made from cotton, rather than synthetic material such as nylon
- avoid tight jeans and trousers
Don’t
- do not use perfumed bubble bath, soap or talcum powder around your genitals – use plain, unperfumed ones instead
- do not use a diaphragm or condoms with spermicidal lubricant on them – try another type of contraception
Speak to your GP if these measures don’t work.
Drinking cranberry juice or using probiotics aren’t proven to reduce your chances of getting a UTI.
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