If a structural (anatomical) problem is causing the infection, surgery may be recommended.

A urinary tract infection is uncomfortable, but treatment is usually successful. Symptoms of a bladder infection usually disappear within 24 - 48 hours after treatment begins. If you have a kidney infection, it may take 1 week or longer for your symptoms to go away.

• Life-threatening blood infection (sepsis) - risk is greater among the young, very old adults, and those whose bodies cannot fight infections (for example, due to HIV or cancer chemotherapy)
• Kidney damage or scarring
• Kidney infection

Contact your health care provider if you have symptoms of a UTI. Call right away if the following symptoms develop:

• Back or side pain
• Chills
• Fever
• Vomiting

These may be signs of a possible kidney infection.

Also call if you have already been diagnosed with a UTI and the symptoms come back shortly after treatment with antibiotics.

Images

Female urinary tract

Bladder catheterization, male

Bladder catheterization, female

Male urinary tract

Prevention of cystitis

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Review Date: 09/17/2010
Reviewed By: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc., Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)