Urology Care

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Treatment in Delhi & Gurgaon

Understanding Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections

Illustration showing urinary system anatomy and infection pathways

What is a urinary tract infection (UTI)?

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection of your urinary system. This type of infection can involve your urethra, kidneys, or bladder.

Urine (pee) is a byproduct of your blood-filtering system, which your kidneys perform. Your kidneys create pee when they remove waste products and excess water from your blood. Pee usually moves through your urinary system without any contamination. However, bacteria can get into your urinary system, which can cause UTIs.

Urethritis

Infection of the urethra

Pyelonephritis

Infection of the kidneys

Cystitis

Infection of the bladder

What is the urinary tract?

The urinary tract makes and stores pee. It includes:

Kidneys

Small, bean-shaped organs that filter water and waste products from your blood, which becomes pee.

Ureters

Thin tubes that carry pee from your kidneys to your bladder.

Bladder

Balloon-like organ that stores pee before it leaves your body.

Urethra

Tube that carries pee from your bladder to the outside of your body.

How common are urinary tract infections?

UTIs are very common, especially in females. About half of females will have a UTI at some point during their lives. Males can also get UTIs, as well as children, though they only affect 1% to 2% of children. Healthcare providers treat 8 million to 10 million people each year for UTIs.

What are the signs of a urinary tract infection?

A UTI causes inflammation in the lining of your urinary tract. The inflammation may cause the following problems:

Common UTI symptoms include:

Pain in your flank, abdomen, pelvic area or lower back
Pressure in the lower part of your pelvis
Cloudy, foul-smelling pee
Urinary incontinence
Frequent urination

Urge incontinence
Pain when you pee (dysuria)
Blood in your pee (hematuria)
Pain in your penis (in males)

Other UTI-associated symptoms may include:

Feeling extremely tired (fatigue)

Fever and chills

Nausea and vomiting

Mental changes or confusion

How do you get a urinary tract infection?

Microorganisms — usually bacteria — cause urinary tract infections. They typically enter through your urethra and may infect your bladder.

The infection can also travel up from your bladder through your ureters and eventually infect your kidneys.

What tests will be done to diagnose a urinary tract infection?

A healthcare provider may order the following tests to diagnose a UTI:

Urinalysis

During this test, you'll pee into a special cup. The provider will send the sample to a laboratory, where technicians will examine it for signs of a UTI using multiple variables such as nitrites, leukocyte esterase and white blood cells.

Urine Culture

You'll pee into a special cup, and lab technicians will test your sample to grow and identify any bacteria that are present. Urine cultures are important because they help your provider determine the most appropriate treatment.

Advanced diagnostic tests (if infection doesn't respond to treatment):

Ultrasound

Imaging test that helps look at your internal organs. Painless and doesn't require preparation.

CT Scan

More precise than X-ray, takes cross-section images that create 3D images of inside your body.

Cystoscopy

Uses a cystoscope to look inside your bladder through your urethra.

Note: If you get UTIs frequently, a healthcare provider may perform tests to check for other health issues — such as diabetes or an abnormal urinary system — that may contribute to your infections.

What is the best thing to do for a urinary tract infection?

The best thing to do for a urinary tract infection is to see a healthcare provider. You need antibiotics to treat a UTI.

Your provider will select an antibiotic that works best against the bacteria responsible for your infection. Once you get a prescription for antibiotics, it's very important that you follow the directions for taking them.

Important Treatment Guidelines:

Be sure to take the full course of antibiotics, even if your symptoms go away

If you don't finish all your medicine, the infection can return and be more challenging to treat

For frequent UTIs, a provider may recommend antibiotics:

Daily/Every Other Day

Take antibiotics daily or every other day as preventive measure

After Sex

Take single dose after sexual activity

At First Sign of Symptoms

Begin treatment immediately when symptoms appear

Talk to a provider about your best treatment option if you have a history of frequent UTIs.