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Urinary Tract Infections
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Kidneys Urinary System

Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infections are the second most common type of infection, affecting the body's drainage system of kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.

Symptoms

You may have a UTI if you notice:

  • Pain or burning when you urinate
  • Fever, tiredness, or shakiness
  • An urge to urinate often
  • Pressure in your lower belly
  • Urine that smells bad or looks cloudy or reddish
  • Pain in your back or side below the ribs

Risk Factors

People of any age or sex can get UTIs, but about four times as many women get them as men. You are also at higher risk if you have:

  • Diabetes
  • A need for a tube to drain your bladder
  • A spinal cord injury

Diagnosis and Treatment

If you think you have a UTI, it is important to see your doctor. Your doctor can confirm the infection with a urine test. Treatment is with antibiotics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do not start antibiotics before the test. Wash your hands, then clean the genital area with a sterile wipe. Begin urinating, then collect the mid‑stream urine in the sterile cup without touching the inside of the lid. Deliver the sample to the lab within one hour, or refrigerate it if there will be a delay.
If you develop a high fever (≥38.5 °C/101.3 °F), chills, nausea/vomiting, severe flank or back pain, confusion, or a rapid heartbeat, these could indicate a kidney infection (pyelonephritis) or sepsis and require immediate medical attention.
Drink enough water to produce at least 1.5–2 L of urine daily, urinate soon after sexual activity, avoid prolonged use of spermicidal products, wear cotton underwear, and consider probiotic strains (e.g., Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR‑1) that have shown modest benefit in some studies.
Most uncomplicated UTIs start feeling better within 48–72 hours of therapy. If pain, burning, or fever persist beyond three days, or if you develop new symptoms such as blood in the urine or flank pain, contact your clinician for possible re‑evaluation or a different antibiotic.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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