Urinary Tract Infection(UTI): Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment (2024)

FAQs

What is the fastest way a UTI can go away? ›

While UTIs are not medical emergencies, they can lead to complications if left untreated. Additionally, the fastest way to cure a UTI is through antibiotic medication. Antibiotics will kill harmful bacteria. This will reduce symptoms quickly and prevent the infection from worsening.

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.

It can involve any part of your urinary system. Bacteria — especially E. coli — are the most common cause of UTIs. Symptoms include needing to pee often, pain while peeing and pain in your side or lower back. Antibiotics can treat most UTIs.

Often, UTI symptoms clear up within a few days of starting treatment. But you may need to continue antibiotics for a week or more. Take all of the medicine as prescribed. For an uncomplicated UTI that occurs when you're otherwise healthy, your health care provider may recommend a shorter course of treatment.

Fluids. Drinking 2-3 liters (70-100 oz) of fluid per day helps flush bacteria out of the bladder. Vitamin C. Vitamin C prevents bacteria from growing by making urine more acidic.

Sometimes a UTI will go away on its own. Most people will need antibiotics. Some people may be prescribed a 'delayed antibiotic', meaning they'll be asked only to use it if their symptoms don't go away after a certain amount of time.

Your symptoms will normally pass within 3 to 5 days of starting treatment. Make sure you complete the whole course of antibiotics that you've been prescribed, even if you're feeling better. Over-the-counter pain relief such as paracetamol can help with any pain. Drinking plenty of fluids may also help you feel better.

Can I treat a UTI on my own? ›

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can cause burning and pain when you go to the bathroom. Most UTIs need to be treated with antibiotics. But some UTIs will go away on their own without antibiotics after a few days. If you're pregnant or in a high-risk group, you should start antibiotics right away if you have a UTI.

Interstitial cystitis (IC)/bladder pain syndrome (BPS) is a chronic bladder health issue. It is a feeling of pain and pressure in the bladder area. Along with this pain are lower urinary tract symptoms which have lasted for more than 6 weeks, without having an infection or other clear causes.

UTIs can also be caused by chlamydia, gonorrhea, or other organisms. Although UTIs aren't spread from one person to another like STDs, having sex can lead to or worsen UTIs. But you don't have to have sex to get a UTI. Anything that brings bacteria in contact with your urethra can cause a UTI.

Antibiotics for UTIs are also the best way to get rid of a UTI fast. Antibiotics quickly get rid of bacteria and make your symptoms go away. In fact, antibiotics can get rid of a UTI in just 24 hours. Most people with a UTI feel back to normal just 1 to 2 days after starting antibiotics.

Sometimes, UTIs can resolve on their own without any treatment.1 "If untreated, a UTI would typically take about three to seven days to fight off on your own," Courtenay Moore, MD, a urologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, told Health.

Your symptoms will normally pass within 3 to 5 days of starting treatment. Make sure you complete the whole course of antibiotics that you've been prescribed, even if you're feeling better. Over-the-counter pain relief such as paracetamol can help with any pain. Drinking plenty of fluids may also help you feel better.