Urinary Tract Infections_for patient

What is a urinary tract infection?
Urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria. The most common type of urinary tract infection is a bladder infection. Other types of urinary tract infections are kidney infections and infections of the urethra. The urethra is the small tube that goes from the bladder to the outside of your body.

How do I know if I have a urinary tract infection?
Urinary tract infections may cause different symptoms in different people. You may feel a burning when you urinate. You may need to urinate more often, sometimes 30 to 60 minutes later. Or, you may feel like you need to go again right after you've just urinated. You may notice blood in your urine or a strong odor.

Sometimes germs can grow in the urinary tract but you won't have any of these symptoms. This is called asymptomatic bacteriuria. Your doctor can test to find out if you have this. Asymptomatic bacteriuria should be treated in pregnant women, but doesn't need to be treated in most other women.

How do you treat a urinary tract infection?
Your doctor will prescribe a medicine that is safe for you and the baby. You can help by drinking a lot of water to help flush the germs from your urine.

How do I know if the treatment isn't working?
If you have a fever (over 39℃), chills, lower stomach pains, nausea, vomiting or flank pain, you should call your doctor. You should also call your doctor if taking medicine for three days, you still have a burning feeling when you urinate.

Can I keep this from happening again?
You can help prevent urinary tract infections in several ways. First, you should always drink plenty of liquids (2500-3000 ml/day, water is the best). You should urinate often. Don't wait for long periods of time before you urinate. Always urinate after sexual intercourse. After you urinate, always wipe from front to back.

This handout provides a general overview on this topic and may not apply to everyone. To find out if this handout applies to you and to get more information on this subject, talk to your family doctor.