Urinary Tract Infections

Also called: UTI

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Summary

The urinary system is the body's drainage system for removing wastes and extra water. It includes two kidneys, two ureters, a bladder, and a urethra. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the second most common type of infection in the body.

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

People of any age or sex can get UTIs. But about four times as many women get UTIs as men. You're also at higher risk if you have diabetes, need a tube to drain your bladder, or have a spinal cord injury.

If you think you have a UTI it is important to see your doctor. Your doctor can tell if you have a UTI with a urine test. Treatment is with antibiotics.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Start Here

Bladder Infection (Urinary Tract Infection -- UTI) in Adults (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish
Urinary Tract Health (Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish
Urinary Tract Infection (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health) Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

Bacteria Culture Test (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
Cystoscopy and Ureteroscopy (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish
Epithelial Cells in Urine (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
Mucus in Urine (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
Nitrites in Urine (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
Urinary Tract Imaging (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish

Prevention and Risk Factors

Cranberry (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)

Related Issues

Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection Basics (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Chronic Bladder Infection: Is There a Cure? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

Specifics

Cystitis (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Kidney Infection (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Kidney Infection (Pyelonephritis) (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish

Test Your Knowledge

Test Your Bladder Health Knowledge (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov: Pyelonephritis (National Institutes of Health)
ClinicalTrials.gov: Urinary Tract Infections (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Reference Desk

Kidneys and Urinary Tract (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Urinary Tract and How It Works (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish

Find an Expert

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Children

Bladder Infection (Urinary Tract Infection -- UTI) in Children (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish
Blood in the Urine (Hematuria) (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections and Related Conditions (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Ultrasound: Renal (Kidneys, Ureters, Bladder) (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation)
Urine Tests (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation)

Teenagers

Urinary Tract Infections (For Teens) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

Asymptomatic bacteriuria (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Catheter-related UTI (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Cystitis - acute (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Leukocyte esterase urine test (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Urinary tract infection - adults (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Urinary tract infection - children (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Urine - bloody (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Urine culture (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish