Urinary Tract Infections and Treatments to cure them

The types of urinary tract infections, and treatments available, vary depending on several factors. Treatment may be quick and simple, but it may also be complex if complications develop.

If you have the classic symptoms of UTI, and you are in a good state of health, antibiotics are the first line of treatment.

Your health care provider will aim at relieving your symptoms, eliminating the infection, preventing recurrence and preventing complications such as kidney damage and sepsis from occurring.

Commonly used drugs include Amoxycillin, Cotrimoxazole, Nitrofurantion, Ciprofloxacin, Amoxiclav, etc. Your health care provider would decide which is best for you. The choice of medication would depend on test results, local factors and the kind of infection you have.

If UTI is uncomplicated the antibiotics may be taken for 5 days only. If UTI is recurrent a longer course may be required.

For severe infections that affect the kidneys, hospitalization and treatment with intravenous antibiotics may be necessary.

If symptoms are recurrent, or there is radiologic evidence of a structural urinary tract disorder, a Urologist may be consulted for possible surgery.

Recurrent infections in men may be a sign of prostate infection and may require up to 6 weeks of therapy with antibiotics.

Recurrent bladder infections in women may require up to 6 months of preventive antibiotic therapy to resolve completely.

Created - March, 2007
Last updated - August, 2009