Urine Infection Condition Treatment

A urine infection, or urinary tract infection, is an infection of the kidneys, bladder, urethra or ureters. The infection develops when bacteria that are normally flushed from the urinary tract remain and multiply. Symptoms include pain while urinating, blood in the urine and a frequent need to urinate. Urinary tract infections are quite common, accounting for more than 8 million doctor visits in the United States each year, according to the National Institutes of Health. Women are much more likely than men to develop a UTI. Most urinary tract infections are fairly simple to treat.

Antibiotics

• Because urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria, antibiotics are the standard course of treatment. The antibiotic used depends on the bacteria causing the infection and the patient's history, but common choices include levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, amoxicillin, nitrofurantoin and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. Most doctors will prescribe a 7- or 10-day course of the drugs, although patients typically begin to feel better after a few days of treatment. However, it's important to finish all the prescribed medication to prevent reinfection. In the most severe cases, patients may need to be hospitalized to receive antibiotics intravenously.

Pain Relief

• Urinary tract infections can be painful, so sufferers may want to use over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen or aspirin for relief. Another way to relieve the pain is to apply a heating pad to the painful areas. This can be especially helpful when resting or sleeping.

Chronic Infections

• Some women experience chronic and recurrent urinary tract infections, and in these cases a more aggressive treatment is sometimes needed. For example, doctors will sometimes prescribe these patients antibiotics at the first sign of an infection. Additionally, some women develop UTIs related to sexual intercourse and may be prescribed single doses of antibiotics to be taken after having sex. These women may be able to prevent an infection by going to the bathroom before and after having sex.