What Will Happen if a Uti Goes Untreated

• Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Symptoms
  • What Are Symptoms of a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)?
• UTI Diagnosis
  • How Is a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Diagnosed?
• Guide
  • How Long Does It Take for a UTI to Go Away? Topic Guide

A UTI (urinary tract infection) is an infection of the urinary tract, which includes the kidneys, the bladder, the ureters, and the urethra. Simple bladder infections may take three days to clear up with antibiotics, while more complicated bladder infections or mild kidney infections may require a course of antibiotics for seven to 14 days.

A UTI (urinary tract infection) usually refers to bladder (cystitis) or kidney (pyelonephritis) infections. The kidneys, the bladder, the ureters, and the urethra all make up the urinary tract.

People who never had a UTI diagnosed before should first see a doctor for a diagnosis and to rule out other potential causes for the symptoms. In some cases, there can be serious complications when UTIs are left untreated.

Urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria that enter the urethra and travel up into the urinary tract, and they are treated with antibiotics, which are available from a doctor by prescription.

Even when you are prescribed antibiotics, you should drink plenty of water and other fluids (at least six to eight glasses per day, or more) to help dilute the urine and flush out harmful bacteria that cause a UTI. Urinating frequently can also help remove waste from the body.

Simple bladder infections may take three days to clear up with antibiotics, while more complicated bladder infections or mild kidney infections may require a course of antibiotics for seven to 14 days.

Antibiotics used to treat bladder infections include:

• Cephalexin (Keflex)
• Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim)
• Nitrofurantoin (Macrobid)
• Fosfomycin (Monurol)

Phenazopyridine (Pyridium, available by prescription, or Uristat, available over-the-counter) may also be used to help numb the bladder and urethra and reduce the burning pain of some UTIs.

Medications to treat kidney infections include:

• Antibiotics: the choice depends on the bacteria causing the infection and the severity of the infection
  • Amoxicillin (Amoxil, Trimox)
  • Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
  • Levofloxacin (Levaquin)
  • Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim)
• Over-the-counter (OTC) fever and pain medications
  • Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil)
  • Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• Hospitalization
  • Patients who have high fever, severe pain, or cannot keep down food or fluids may require intravenous (IV) antibiotics and fluids given in a hospital

Home treatments such as cranberry juice, cranberry tablets, and a supplement called D-mannose (a type of sugar related to glucose) have been marketed as a way to prevent frequent bladder infections, but there are no studies that demonstrate these products to be effective. However, use of these products is probably not harmful. Tell your doctor before taking any supplements.

What Are Symptoms of a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)?

Symptoms of bladder infections include:

• Urinary urgency
• Urinary frequency
• Pain or burning on urination
• Blood in the urine
• Lower abdominal discomfort

Symptoms of kidney infections may include symptoms of bladder infections as well as:

• Pain in the flank (one or both sides of the lower back, where the kidneys are located)
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fever

See a doctor immediately if you have symptoms of a kidney infection, because serious complications may occur if treatment is delayed.

How Is a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Diagnosed?

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are diagnosed with a urine test. These include:

• Urinalysis
• Urine culture

For recurrent bladder infections, additional testing may be indicated to check for abnormalities in the kidneys, ureter, bladder, or urethra, or for kidney stones, and may include:

• Computed tomography (CT) scan
• Cystoscopy
• Ultrasound

SLIDESHOW

Urinary Incontinence in Women: Types, Causes, and Treatments for Bladder Control See Slideshow

From

Reviewed on 6/23/2021

References

https://www.uptodate.com/contents/urinary-tract-infections-in-adults-the-basics?search=UTI&source=search_result&selectedTitle=2~150&usage_type=default&display_rank=2

https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/news/20130604/can-you-skip-antibiotics-for-urinary-tract-infection#1

https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/uti.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fantibiotic-use%2Fcommunity%2Ffor-patients%2Fcommon-illnesses%2Futi.html

https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/diseases-conditions/cystitis-acute

What Will Happen if a Uti Goes Untreated

Source: https://www.emedicinehealth.com/how_long_does_it_take_for_a_uti_to_go_away/article_em.htm

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