Ignoring urinary tract infections (UTI) can lead to recurring infections and kidney damage. When you’re ready to do something about the painful and inconvenient symptoms of a UTI, visit Neeraj Kohli, MD, MBA at Boston Urogyn in Wellesley, Massachusetts. He’s an experienced physician specializing in urogynecology, and he encourages you to call his office or schedule an appointment online to learn about your treatment options today.
Your urinary tract consists of the ureters, bladder, urethra, and kidneys. A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection in any part of this system and usually occurs in the bladder and urethra, which comprise the lower portion of your urinary tract.
You can have a UTI without any symptoms. However, you’re likely to notice one or more of the following:
If the infection spreads to your kidneys, you may experience a high fever, shaking and chills, nausea and vomiting, and upper back and side pain.
UTIs are a common health condition, and certain lifestyle behaviors, such as the following, reduce your chances of developing this condition:
However, even with these measures, it’s still possible to contract a UTI.
Bacteria in the bladder is the typical cause of UTIs. Women typically deal with that problem because of the short distance between their anus, urethra, and their urethral opening to the bladder.
However, there are additional factors that increase your risk. They include:
If untreated, a UTI can cause recurring infections, permanent kidney damage, and sepsis.
Dr. Kohli can use several tests to diagnose UTIs, including urine cultures and analyzing your urine for blood cells to determine which bacteria is causing your infection.
If you’re experiencing chronic urinary tract infections, Dr. Kohli may also recommend an ultrasound, an MRI, a CT scan, or a cystoscopy to generate an accurate diagnosis.
However, regardless of your condition’s specific cause, a course of antibiotics is probably all you need to treat most UTIs. If you have recurring infections even after using antibiotics, Dr. Kohli will recommend additional treatments to solve your problem.