Understanding Urinary
Tract Infections (UTIs)

Find out more about the symptoms of infection and access prevention tips.

Understanding Urinary
Tract Infections (UTIs)

Find out more about the symptoms of infection and access prevention tips.

What Is A UTI?

A UTI (Urinary Tract Infection) is an infection anywhere in the urinary tract. The urinary tract is the body’s drainage system for removing wastes and extra water. Infections are most commonly caused by bacteria. Bacteria that enter the urinary tract are quickly removed by the body before they cause symptoms however sometimes bacteria overcome the body’s natural defenses and cause infection.1

Parts of the urinary tract include:1

  1. Kidneys — these collect waste from blood to make urine.
  2. Ureters — these carry the urine from the kidneys to the bladder.
  3. Bladder — the bladder stores urine until it is full.
  4. Urethra — the urethra is a short tube that carries urine from the bladder out of your body when you pass urine.
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UTI Symptoms

If you have a Urinary Tract Infection, then you may have some or all of these symptoms:2

  • A burning sensation when urinating;
  • Pain or stinging when passing urine;
  • An urge to pass urine a lot, but not much comes out when you go;
  • Urine that smells bad or looks milky, cloudy, or reddish in colour;
  • Pressure in your lower belly;
  • Feeling tired or shaky or having a fever;
  • Blood in the urine. If you see blood in your urine, tell a doctor right away.
BURNING
URINATION
FREQUENT
URINATION
URINE THAT
SMELLS BAD OR
LOOKS MILKY,
CLOUDY OR
REDDISH
PAIN OR
STINGING
WHEN
URINATING
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URGENCY
TO RUN TO
THE LOO
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UTI Prevention Tips

Here are a few tips that may reduce your risk of developing a Urinary Tract Infection.2

01 Urinate when you need to. Don't hold it. Pass urine before and after sex.2 
02 Drink water every day and after sexual intercourse. Try for 6 to 8 glasses a day.2
03 After you pass urine or have a bowel movement, wipe from front to back.2
04 Take showers instead of baths.2
05 Wear cotton underpants. Don’t wear tight-fitting pants, which can trap in moisture.2
06 If you get a lot of UTIs and use spermicides, or creams that kill sperm, talk to your doctor about using other forms of birth control.2
Ask your pharmacist for an appropriate treatment from Adcock Ingram, to obtain relief from the symptoms of a Urinary Tract Infection.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Access frequently asked questions and answers about the symptoms and diagnosis of Urinary Tract Infections.

UTIs that are treated right away are not likely to cause damage to the urinary tract however left untreated infection can spread to the kidneys and other areas of the body through the bloodstream.2
You may experience any or all of the following symptoms: pain or stinging when passing urine; an urge to pass urine a lot, but not much comes out when you go; pressure in your lower belly; urine that smells bad or looks milky, cloudy, or reddish in colour; feeling tired or shaky or having a fever; blood in the urine and a burning sensation when urinating.2
People of any age or sex can get UTIs however women get UTIs up to 30 times more often than men do. Women have a shorter urethra, which makes it easier for bacteria to reach the bladder. Also, the opening of a woman’s urethra is near the vagina and anus, where bacteria live.2
Women who gets two UTIs within a six month period or three in one year are considered to have recurrent UTIs.2 If you are prone to UTIs, ask your healthcare provider about your treatment options.
Consult with your healthcare provider if you have any of these signs or symptoms to prevent serious infection: a burning feeling when urinating; frequent or intense urges to urinate, even when you have little urine to pass; pain in your back or side below the ribs; cloudy, bloody, or foul-smelling urine; fever or chills.2,4
Your healthcare provider may do a simple test called a urinalysis to find out whether you have a UTI. For this test you will be asked to supply a urine sample. This sample will be studied in the lab for the presence of red and white blood cells and bacteria. Normal urine should not have bacteria or blood cells. If either of these shows up in the urine, you may have a UTI.4

How Are UTIs Treated?

UTIs are treated with antibiotics, medicines that kill the bacteria that cause the infection. Your doctor will tell you how long you need to take the medicine. Make sure you take all of your medicine, even if you feel better. If you stop treatment early, the infection may still be present or it could come back after a short time.4

In conjunction with specific antibacterial therapy, there are medications from Adcock Ingram that can provide relief from UTI symptoms. Speak to your healthcare provider or pharmacist for treatment that is appropriate for you.3

For more serious infections such as kidney infection, you may need to stay in the hospital. These infections take longer to treat and you may be given medication intravenously (through a tube in a vein).4

It’s A Fact!