Burning sensation when you urinate? Maybe it's a UTI

It was an ordinary day in middle school when I felt a sharp, burning and excruciating pain when trying to go to the bathroom. Although a blur, I vividly remember having to be pulled out of school and heading to the doctor’s office when they told me I had a UTI, or a urinary tract infection.

Years later, I would get another one while working in the pharmacy and immediately knew that all-too-familiar burning sensation. Luckily, both times, a few days of antibiotics would do the trick and help me revert back to my perky and lively self.  But if I hadn't known about UTI's through my pharmacy training and personal experience, I may have pushed off the pain, which is how people get kidney infections, and that is something you certainly do not want to experience.

UTI’s are a common bacterial infection of the urinary tract. They occur for various reasons but primarily due to being sexually active, menopause or lack of hydration. Women are at a greater risk than men due to the female anatomy (the urethra in a woman is shorter than men, which means the bacteria have to travel a shorter distance from the rectum). Symptoms include a strong, persistent need to urinate, a burning sensation when urinating, urine that appears cloudy and is strong in smell. The important thing to note here is that a UTI can be present in the bladder, kidneys or urethra.

If you have back pain, a fever, or chills accompanied by nausea and vomiting these are serious signs and may mean that you have a kidney infection. For these symptoms you will need to go to the doctor or ER promptly. One interesting point to note is that elderly patients often show symptoms of confusion, restlessness and agitation as opposed to the symptoms mentioned above.

So, how do we prevent these pesky bacteria? Stay hydrated! Drink plenty of fluids, and primarily drink plenty of water. Cranberry juice can help, but don't over do it, as studies do not fully support this theory. Empty your bladder after sexual intercourse. Do not use douches! They can be irritating to the flora in your urethra thus causing an imbalance. Make sure to wipe from front to back to prevent bacteria spreading.

Note, that my advice here refers to UTI’s in adults. In children, UTI’s are always complicated and require medical attention with the care of a physician. The great news for adults is that simple UTI’s can typically be treated with oral antibiotics. Typically, your physician will perform a culture of the bacteria to determine which antibiotic to prescribe. Usually you will need an oral antibiotic for three to seven days depending on the culture and antibiotic. However, recurrent UTI’s might require a stronger and longer course. Please do not try to treat with any antibiotic you have at home. It may not even work for the type of bacteria that has caused your UTI. Keep in mind to drink plenty of fluids when you have a UTI to help flush out the bacteria. Most importantly, do not stop taking your antibiotic as soon as you feel better — complete your course because some bacteria may still be lingering.

All in all, UTI’s can be easy to treat, depending on the bacteria and various other factors — particularly age. Stay hydrated and practice good hygiene to prevent these unwanted infections. Hope you find this information useful and can pass on this information to a friend or a family member!

Krutika Simon is a pharmacist based in Bloomington with a focus on health and wellness and specialty medications. You can contact her at KrutikaSimon@gmail.com

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Learn symptoms and prevention for adult urinary tract infections