Cystitis and urinary tract infections

Burning when you pee, an urgent need to go and only a little urine coming out can be symptoms of a bladder infection. Cystitis is a bladder infection, one of a wider group of urinary tract infections, or UTIs.

UTIs can also affect the kidneys. Fever or chills, vomiting, and pain in the back or side need prompt medical attention. Get medical help for these symptoms before trying another drink or pharmacy product.

When urinary symptoms need urgent care

Go to A&E now in the UK, or an emergency department in the US and elsewhere, if suspected UTI symptoms come with confusion, drowsiness or difficulty speaking.

Contact an urgent GP service or NHS 111 today in the UK, or your doctor or urgent care service elsewhere, if you are pregnant and think you have a UTI. Use the same route for fever or shivering, a very low temperature, vomiting, lower tummy pain, pain in the back or under the ribs, blood in your pee, or symptoms that worsen quickly.

The NHS also advises urgent assessment if you have a suspected UTI and diabetes, a weakened immune system or a urinary catheter. This route also applies if you are aged 65 or older, were assigned male at birth, or symptoms do not improve within 48 hours of starting treatment. Returning infections need assessment too. Mention these details when arranging help rather than waiting to discuss them at a routine appointment.

Pharmacy help or a doctor

In the UK, NHS advice is to see a pharmacist for a suspected UTI if you are a woman or girl aged 16 to 64 and are not pregnant or breastfeeding. In England, Pharmacy First includes prescription treatment for eligible urinary infections. The pharmacist can assess whether they can help or direct you to another service; ask which service is offered locally.

In the US, NIDDK advises contacting a healthcare professional when bladder infection symptoms appear. A clinician may use a urine sample, although the NHS notes that a test is not always needed. Treatment depends on the assessment, and antibiotics are not always appropriate.

Smelly or dark urine alone does not tell you much about the cause. The NHS notes that this can happen when you have not drunk enough water. Describe any burning, urgency or pain as well as a change in the urine.

Treatment and easing discomfort

A bacterial bladder infection is commonly treated with prescribed antibiotics. Follow the instructions and complete treatment as prescribed, even if symptoms settle. Contact your doctor or pharmacist about side effects or difficulty taking the medicine.

Water can help you stay hydrated. If another health condition limits how much you can drink, ask your clinician what is suitable. NIDDK also suggests a heating pad on the back or lower tummy for discomfort.

Ways to help prevent another UTI

UTIs usually begin when bacteria from poo enter the urinary tract through the urethra, the tube carrying pee out. Practical prevention advice includes drinking enough, wiping from front to back and allowing time to empty your bladder when you need to go.

Cochrane’s review found that cranberry products may help prevent symptomatic UTIs in women with frequent infections. Ask your doctor before using cranberry products during pregnancy. The NHS also notes that these products can contain a lot of sugar.

There is no evidence that cranberry drinks or cystitis sachets treat an infection that has already started. Ask a pharmacist before choosing a cranberry product if you take warfarin; NHS advice is to avoid that combination.

Getting a plan for repeated symptoms

After repeated infections, ask your GP or doctor about prevention. Some contraceptives, including spermicide and diaphragms, can increase bladder infection risk. During perimenopause or menopause, prescribed vaginal oestrogen may be an option to discuss.

If symptoms continue after UTI treatment, contact your GP or doctor again. NHS advice includes asking about specialist referral. Bring any records of tests and treatments, and ask what happens next if symptoms continue.