UTI

If you have to urinate more often or experience back pain that limits how often you can ride, you might have a urinary tract infection (UTI). At Ringside Health, diagnostic testing is available on-site to quickly identify a UTI in adults and children. The board-certified medical team designs a treatment plan using antibiotics and other methods to clear the infection and protect your urinary tract health. Call the Wellington, Florida, office today to schedule an evaluation of UTI symptoms or book an appointment online.

What causes a UTI?

Bacteria invade the urinary tract and settle into the urethra, kidneys, or bladder, causing a UTI.

Often, the infection-causing bacteria originate in or near the rectum and travel into the urinary tract when you wipe from back to front after using the bathroom. You can also be at increased risk for developing a UTI due to:

• Poor hygiene
• Sexual activity
• Pregnancy
• Structural issues in the urinary tract

Typically, UTIs are more common in women and girls because their urinary tract is shorter than a man’s or boy’s, which makes it easier for bacteria to enter their bodies.

Ringside Health offers complete care for UTIs in adults and children. The medical team provides on-site testing to confirm an active infection. They personalize a care plan to relieve the symptoms and completely clear the infection.

What are the symptoms of a UTI?

UTI symptoms vary depending on where in the urinary tract the infection is. If the infection is in your kidneys, you might experience:

• Fever
• Chills
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Lower back pain

A bladder infection causes painful urination, a frequent need to urinate, and pressure in the lower abdomen. In some cases, you might also notice blood in your urine.

The Ringside Health team will complete a comprehensive physical exam and will likely order urine testing to check for signs of infection. If you meet with the team virtually, they’ll refer you for UTI testing and personalize your care plan to eliminate the infection.

How is a UTI treated?

Typically, antibiotics are included in a treatment plan for a UTI to clear the infection and ease symptoms. Ringside Health maintains an on-site pharmacy to fill your prescription so that you don’t have to travel anywhere else.

If you suffer from recurrent UTIs, the providers might recommend taking a low-dose antibiotic for several months. They also recommend ways to prevent additional infections, including:

• Drinking plenty of water
• Urinating soon after sex
• Taking showers instead of baths
• Changing out of wet clothing

Women should also avoid feminine hygiene products like douches and deodorants that can irritate the skin and increase the risk of infections.

Call Ringside Health today to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for UTI symptoms or book an appointment online.