UTIs can affect different parts of your urinary tract.
These include:
- your bladder (cystitis)
- urethra (urethritis)
- kidneys - kidney infection (pyelonephritis)
Most UTIs can be easily treated with antibiotics.
Symptoms of a UTI
Symptoms of a UTI include:
- needing to pee suddenly or more often than usual
- pain or a burning sensation when peeing
- smelly or cloudy pee
- blood in your pee
- pain in your lower tummy
- feeling tired and unwell
- in older people, changes in behaviour such as severe confusion or agitation
UTI symptoms may be difficult to spot in people with dementia.
Symptoms of a UTI in children
Children with UTIs may also:
- appear generally unwell. Babies may be irritable, not feed properly and have a high temperature (fever) of 38 degrees Celsius or above
- wet the bed or wet themselves
- deliberately hold in their pee because it stings
If you have symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection, you can also get treatment from a sexual health clinic.
Find a sexual health clinic
Causes of UTIs
UTIs are usually caused by bacteria from poo entering the urinary tract. The bacteria enter through the tube that carries pee out of the body (urethra).
Women have a shorter urethra than men. This means bacteria are more likely to reach the bladder or kidneys and cause an infection.
Causes of UTIs include:
- pregnancy
- conditions that block the urinary tract – such as kidney stones
- conditions that make it difficult to fully empty the bladder. These could be an enlarged prostate gland in men and constipation in children
- urinary catheters. This is a tube in your bladder used to drain urine.
- having a weakened immune system. For example, from type 2 diabetes, chemotherapy or HIV
Diagnosing a UTI
Your GP will ask you about your symptoms. You may need to give a urine sample to confirm you have a UTI.
A urine test helps to rule out other conditions that might be causing your symptoms.
Men are sometimes offered a painless swab test to check for other conditions. This is where a cotton bud is wiped on the tip of the penis and sent for testing. It won't hurt but may feel uncomfortable.
Treating UTIs
Your GP may prescribe antibiotics to treat a UTI.
Once you start treatment, the symptoms should start to clear up within 5 days in adults and 2 days in children.
It's important to finish the whole course of antibiotics, even if you start to feel better.
Some people with a severe UTI may be referred to hospital for treatment and tests. You may need to stay for a few days. Hospital treatment is more likely for men and children with a UTI.
Treating recurring UTIs
If your UTI comes back any time after treatment, you'll usually be prescribed a longer course of antibiotics.
If you keep getting UTIs and regularly need treatment, your GP may give you a repeat prescription for antibiotics.
Things you can do yourself
Mild UTIs often pass within a few days.
To help ease pain while your symptoms clear up:
- take paracetamol – you can give children liquid paracetamol
- place a hot water bottle on your tummy, back or between your thighs
- rest and drink plenty of fluids – this helps your body to flush out the bacteria
It may also help to avoid having sex until you feel better. You cannot pass a UTI on to your partner but sex may be uncomfortable.
Consult with your GP about taking non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or aspirin if you have a Kidney infection (Pyelonephritis).
Preventing UTIs
There are some things you can do to try to prevent a UTI.
Natural remedies
There is very little evidence that drinking cranberry juice or using probiotics reduces your chance of getting UTIs.
Content supplied by the NHS and adapted for Ireland by the HSE
The urinary system is the body's drainage system for removing wastes and extra water. It includes two kidneys, two ureters, a bladder, and a urethra. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the second most common type of infection in the body. You may have a UTI if you notice: People of any age or sex can get UTIs. But about four times as many women get UTIs as men. You're also at higher risk if you have diabetes, need a tube to drain your bladder, or have a spinal cord injury. If you think you have a UTI it is important to see your doctor. Your doctor can tell if you have a UTI with a
urine test. Treatment is with antibiotics. Summary
NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Start Here
- Cranberry
(National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Chronic Bladder Infection: Is There a Cure? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
- FAQs about Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF
- Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Cystitis (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Kidney Infection (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
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Kidney Infection (Pyelonephritis) (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish
- Kidneys and Urinary Tract (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Urinary Tract and How It Works (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish
- Asymptomatic bacteriuria (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Catheter-associated UTI (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Cystitis - acute (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Leukocyte esterase urine test (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Urinary tract infection - adults (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Urinary tract infection - children (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
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