Your community pharmacist can provide a short consultation to diagnose and appropriately manage an uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). Management may involve providing an appropriate treatment option to you or providing a referral to a medical practitioner for further investigation.
If you think you are eligible for the service and would like a testing kit, speak to your local pharmacist in your nearest pharmacy. They will be able to conduct your free consultation and give you more advice and information on the service.
You can buy a home urinary tract infection (UTI) test kit. They are available without a prescription at a drugstore or online. The home test kit contains specially treated test strips. You hold them in your urine stream or dip them in a sample of your urine.
"Frequent UTIs are sometimes the result of an underlying health issue, such as kidney stones or abnormalities in your kidneys, bladder, or urethra," Dr. Kannady adds. "A urologist can rule out or diagnose and treat issues such as these, as well as provide further guidance on how to prevent UTI reoccurrence."
Do antibiotics for a UTI require a doctor's visit or prescription? You need to talk to a healthcare provider to get a prescription for an antibiotic. But it's possible to get a prescription for antibiotics without seeing a provider in person. If this is your first UTI, it can be helpful to see a provider in person.
Pharmacists may only prescribe treatment for clients who have had a previous diagnosis of uncomplicated cystitis (e.g., is not your first episode of uncomplicated cystitis). Pharmacists cannot prescribe treatment for clients who have had a cystitis episode in the past month.
Urologist Mark Perlmutter, M.D., says a UTI can go away on its own, but not every type of UTI and not every time. “Yes, a UTI could go away on its own, but some infections are different than others,” he says. “And if left untreated, it may linger longer.”
Pain or burning while peeing. Frequent or intense need to urinate although little comes out when you do. Foul-smelling, cloudy, or bloody urine. Pain or pressure in your lower abdomen, just above where your bladder is located.
Painful Bladder Syndrome (PBS)
PBS is not caused by an infection, but it can feel like a urinary tract infection or UTI. Painful bladder syndrome is also referred to as bladder pain syndrome and interstitial cystitis.
Antibiotics for UTIs can quickly get rid of bacteria and make your symptoms go away. Most people with a UTI feel better just 1 to 2 days after starting antibiotics. Without antibiotics, UTIs can last for about 1 week.
If you're diagnosed with a UTI your community pharmacist may prescribe you suitable antibiotics. The consultation service fee with your community pharmacist is $19.95 + medication cost (if required). Contact your community pharmacy to discuss the service further and commence the consultation as soon as you are ready.
Burning or pain when urinating is the most common symptom. You may even feel a strong urge or need to urinate but only get a few drops. This is because the bladder is so irritated that it makes you feel like you have to urinate, even when you don't have much urine in your bladder.
Bladder infections are a type of UTI, but not all urinary tract infections are bladder infections. A UTI is defined as an infection in one or more places in the urinary tract—the ureters, kidneys, urethra, and/or bladder. A bladder infection is a UTI that's only located in the bladder.
You can buy a home urinary tract infection (UTI) test kit. They are available without a prescription at a drugstore or online. The home test kit contains specially treated test strips. You hold them in your urine stream or dip them in a sample of your urine.
The fastest way to feel better is by taking an antibiotic to kill the bacteria causing your infection. If going to see a provider in-person is not an option, there are telehealth services available that allow you to set up a virtual appointment.
Speak to your GP if:
the symptoms are severe or getting worse. the symptoms haven't started to improve after a few days. you get UTIs frequently. your symptoms come back after treatment.
UTIs in Women
A UTI develops when microbes enter the urinary tract and cause infection. Bacteria are the most common cause of UTIs, although fungi rarely can also infect the urinary tract. E. coli bacteria, which live in the bowel, cause most UTIs.
During the infection — and after — make sure to drink a lot of water, at least 12 8-ounce cups per day. This will flush out your system and help prevent future infections. If you feel like you've got to go, GO! Don't hold it, as this simply delays getting rid of more bacteria.
If left untreated, a UTI can turn into a kidney infection, also called pyelonephritis. Pyelonephritis can cause serious complications, like kidney scarring, high blood pressure, and renal failure, which is why treatment is essential.