Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs): symptoms, treatment and prevention

UTIs are infections anywhere along the urinary tract — most often the bladder. The common culprit is E. coli, a gut bacterium that causes about 80–90% of uncomplicated bladder infections. UTIs can be mild or get serious quickly, so knowing the signs and what to do helps you avoid complications.

Symptoms & when to see a doctor

Typical signs of a lower UTI (bladder) are: burning when you pee, needing to go more often or urgently, cloudy or strong-smelling urine, and low belly discomfort. If you have fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, or pain in your side or back (flank), that can mean the infection reached the kidneys — seek care right away.

See a clinician sooner if you are pregnant, have diabetes, a weakened immune system, a catheter, or if symptoms come back. Recurrent UTIs mean two or more in six months, or three or more in a year — that usually needs a deeper look and targeted testing.

Treatment, tests and simple self-care

Most uncomplicated UTIs are treated with antibiotics. Common options your clinician may choose include nitrofurantoin, trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole or fosfomycin, tailored by local resistance patterns and your allergy history. For bladder infections many people are treated with a short course (usually 3–5 days); kidney infections often need longer treatment and sometimes IV antibiotics.

Doctors often use a urine dipstick for quick checks and send a urine culture when infections are severe, recurrent, or not responding to treatment. The culture identifies the bacteria and which antibiotics will work best — helpful when resistance is suspected.

At home, simple steps help ease symptoms: drink enough fluids, avoid caffeine and alcohol while you’re sick, and use OTC pain relief (paracetamol or ibuprofen). An over-the-counter urinary analgesic such as phenazopyridine can reduce burning but only masks symptoms and should be used short-term. Don’t delay seeing a clinician because a pill helped temporarily.

Preventing UTIs often means small, practical changes: stay hydrated, pee after sex, wipe front to back, avoid spermicides if you’re prone to infections, and consider trying a daily cranberry product or a Lactobacillus probiotic — some people see fewer recurrences, though results vary. If you get frequent infections, your clinician may suggest preventive antibiotics or other strategies based on your situation.

Antibiotic resistance is real. Take the full course prescribed, return for follow-up if symptoms persist, and get tested again if infections keep coming back. When in doubt — fever, flank pain, dizziness, blood in urine, or if you’re pregnant — seek medical care promptly. Fast action keeps a simple UTI from becoming a serious problem.