Simple bladder infections may go away on their own in about a week — even without antibiotics. If you don't have any symptoms of a kidney infection and you aren't pregnant or at high risk of developing complicated UTI, you may opt for a “wait-and-see” approach to antibiotic treatment.
One of the first things to do when you have a urinary tract infection is drink plenty of water. That's because drinking water can help flush away the bacteria that's causing your infection, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).
Sometimes your body's immune system can clear out the invading bacteria without any help from medications, said Courtenay Moore, MD, a urologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. "If untreated, a UTI would typically take about three to seven days to fight off on your own," Dr. Moore told Health.
Patients with urinary tract infection (UTI) are usually advised to drink six to eight glasses (1.5 to 2 liters) of water every day to flush the infection out of the urinary system. The best way to get the infection out of the system is by drinking liquids until the urine is clear and the stream is forceful.
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.
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.
Pain can occur at the start of urination or after urination. Pain at the start of your urination is often a symptom of a urinary tract infection. Pain after your urination can be a sign of a problem with the bladder or prostate.
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.
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.
Management included hospitalization, bed rest, attention to diet, plasters, narcotics, herbal enemas and douches, judicious bleeding (direct bleeding, cupping and leeches), and surgery for stones, abscess and retention.
Try sleeping in a position that helps to relax the pelvic muscles. Lying on your side and pulling your legs up into a fetal position, or spreading your legs apart if you sleep on your back, should be more comfortable. Put a hot water bottle on your abdomen or between your legs for 30 minutes before bed.
Water is by far the best beverage choice for someone with a UTI. Drinking at least 12 8-ounce cups of water each day while you have an infection will help flush the bacteria from your system and can speed up the healing process.
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.
No. You can take over-the-counter medications that might help your symptoms feel better, but they will not get rid of your UTI or the bacteria causing the infection.
Some pharmacies offer a UTI management service. They may be able to give antibiotics if they're needed.
They may not be able to prescribe refills for certain narcotics or controlled drugs. You can get up to 4 assessments a year (a year is counted as a 365-day period from your first assessment). Pharmacists can assess and prescribe treatment only for uncomplicated UTIs in women aged 16 or older.
Nitrofurantoin is a recommended antibiotic treatment for cystitis – also called a urinary tract infection (UTI).
A healthy bladder works best if the body just relaxes so that the bladder muscles naturally contract to let the urine flow, rather than using the abdominal muscles to bear down as with a bowel movement. In men, the need to push urine may be a sign of bladder outlet obstruction, which is commonly due to BPH.