What Are the Treatments for a Urinary Tract Infection?

Urinary tract infections are often referred to as UTIs. When any part of the urinary system becomes infected, a person is considered to have a urinary tract infection. These infections should not be taken lightly because more serious conditions can result from a lack of treatment. Your doctor can perform a test in his office to let you know if you are positive for an infection. There are also home kits you can pick up from a pharmacy that will allow you to test for an infection. If the test is positive you should seek treatment right away.

Antibacterial Medications

• It is important to have your doctor prescribe you an antibiotic. This will kill the bacteria that is causing the infection in your urinary system. Your doctor may prescribe something like amoxicillin or Bactrim. You need to continue taking the antibiotic until the bottle is empty. If you stop when your symptoms clear up, the bacteria will just begin to grow again. It is also recommended that you eat one yogurt with live cultures per day to replace the good bacteria in your body. The antibiotic will kill both good and bad bacteria.

Pain Killers

• The first few days of a urinary tract infection are extremely painful. It is best to treat the pain by taking an over-the-counter pain medication. If you choose acetaminophen (Tylenol), you will need two capsules every four to six hours. If you prefer ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), you will need to take one capsule every six to eight hours. Ibuprofen medications can upset your stomach if you don't take them with food. There is also aspirin, but be aware that aspirin will thin the blood and also can cause stomach upset.

Water

• You may be tempted to drink less because it hurts to urinate. This would be the wrong thing to do. Your body needs a lot of water to detoxify the body. Drinking a lot of water will help you get rid of the bacteria that is causing the urinary tract infection. You can also drink a glass of cranberry juice in between glasses of water. Cranberry juice contains ingredients that stop bacteria from attaching themselves to the cells in the urinary tract.