Urinary tract infections: clear facts and practical tips

A urinary tract infection (UTI) can move from annoying to serious fast. Most UTIs start in the bladder and cause burning when you pee, frequent urges, and cloudy or strong-smelling urine. If the infection reaches the kidneys you can get high fever, chills, and pain in your back or side. Know the signs so you act quickly.

Symptoms to watch for

Look out for these common symptoms: pain or burning during urination, needing to pee often (even with little output), lower belly pressure or cramps, cloudy or pink urine, and a bad smell. If you get fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, or pain in your flank (side under the ribs), that could mean a kidney infection — call your provider right away.

Some people—especially older adults and children—may show unusual signs like confusion, weakness, or reduced appetite. Men and pregnant people should never ignore UTI symptoms; they need evaluation to avoid complications.

How UTIs are diagnosed and treated

Your clinician will usually ask about symptoms and test a urine sample to confirm bacteria. Uncomplicated bladder infections often respond well to a short course of antibiotics. Common choices include nitrofurantoin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, or fosfomycin, but the right drug depends on local resistance patterns and your health history.

Don’t self-prescribe antibiotics or buy them without a prescription. If symptoms are mild, many providers can evaluate you via telehealth and arrange testing or treatment. If you have fever, flank pain, pregnancy, diabetes, a weakened immune system, or recurrent infections, you’ll likely need in-person care and more thorough testing.

Along with antibiotics, simple self-care helps: drink water, rest, and use over-the-counter pain relievers (like ibuprofen) or a heating pad for comfort. Avoid bladder irritants such as caffeine and alcohol while you recover.

Quick prevention tips

Want fewer UTIs? Try these practical steps: drink enough water (aim to pass urine regularly), urinate after sex, wipe front to back, and avoid douches or strong soaps around the genitals. For postmenopausal women, vaginal estrogen may lower recurrence—ask your clinician. Cranberry products show mixed results; they may help some people but aren’t a guaranteed fix. Probiotics have some promise but results vary.

If you get repeated UTIs, your doctor may offer preventive options like low-dose antibiotics after sex or for a short period, or investigate underlying causes with imaging or a referral to a urologist. Keep a simple symptom diary—dates, triggers, and treatments—to help your provider choose the best plan.

Don’t ignore symptoms. Quick treatment prevents complications and gets you back to normal faster. If you’re unsure what to do, contact a healthcare provider and get a proper urine test before starting antibiotics.