Neu Urgent Care
Urgent Care & Addiction Medicine located in Hazel Park, MI
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) affect 40-60% of women at least once in their lifetime, and 10% of women suffer from yearly UTIs. The medical team at Neu Urgent Care has treated many women and men, helping them get relief from their symptoms and providing treatment to prevent recurring UTIs. If you have symptoms such as pain or burning during urination, you can walk into the clinic in Hazel Park, Michigan, or schedule a same-day appointment by calling or using online booking with Dr. Mohamed Saleh MD,DC.
Urinary Tract Infection
What causes a urinary tract infection?
A urinary tract infection (UTI) occurs when bacteria get into your urinary tract, leading to an infection in the kidneys, bladder, or the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body). UTIs have specific names based on their location:
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Cystitis is a bladder infection (the most common UTI)
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Urethritis is a urethral infection
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Pyelonephritis is a kidney infection
Women are four times more likely than men to develop a UTI. This is because a woman’s urethra is closer to the anus and shorter, making it easier for bacteria to travel from the anus to the bladder. The risk for women also increases after menopause, as loss of estrogen affects the lining of the urinary tract and makes it more susceptible to infection.
What symptoms develop due to a urinary tract infection?
If you have a mild UTI, it may clear up before you develop symptoms. When symptoms appear, however, you’ll experience one or more of the following:
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Frequent urination
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Burning during urination
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Passing small amounts of urine
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Strong-smelling urine
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Cloudy, pink, or dark urine
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Pain in the lower abdomen
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Urinary incontinence
If the infection spreads from your bladder to your kidneys, you’ll develop symptoms such as nausea, fever, and pain in your upper back or side.
How is a urinary tract infection treated?
When you have the symptoms of a UTI, your doctor at Neu Urgent Care runs a urinalysis to verify the presence of an infection. Patients with diabetes, who are pregnant, or who have recurring UTIs may also need a urine culture to determine the exact type of bacteria.
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Most UTIs are treated with prescription antibiotics. However, if you have recurring UTIs, you may need additional treatment such as:
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Low-dose antibiotics for a longer period of time than the normal course for a UTI
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Single dose of an antibiotic taken after sexual intercourse
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Estrogen replacement or vaginal estrogen for postmenopausal women
About 30% of women who get an initial infection suffer from recurring UTIs, which occur when you have two or more infections in six months or three or more over the course of a year.
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You can often prevent recurring UTIs by drinking enough water. The extra fluid dilutes your urine and helps flush bacteria from your urinary tract.
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If you develop symptoms of a UTI, you can get prompt treatment by walking into or calling Neu Urgent Care. You can also book an appointment using the online scheduler.