Urinary Infection or Urinary Tract Infection is caused due to the entry of bacteria in your urinary tract which includes the kidneys, bladder, urethra, etc. Urinary tract infection is more common in females than males since the urethra is closer to the anus, allowing easy entry for bacteria. Frequent questions like how long does it take antibiotics to work or can the use of antibiotics cause urinary infection are frequent in patients. There are incidents where antibiotics given before dental procedures have led to urinary infection.
Causes of UTI
More than often, E. Coli or Escherichia coli is the bacteria responsible for this infection which enters into the gastrointestinal tract and multiplies. Sexual intercourse may be a reason for UTI but not in all cases. The causes of UTI can be based on the parts that are infected.
Kidneys: This infection is called cystitis and is caused by bacteria. Women have a higher risk at this kind of infection.
Urethra: This type of infection is called urethritis and happens when the bacteria move from the anus to the urethra.
Symptoms
Urinary tract infections don’t always show symptoms but there might be a few of them. These symptoms are:
- Pain in the pelvic region
- Frequent urge to urinate
- Passing only little amount of urine every time
- Burning sensation during urinating
- Cloudy urine or blood in urine
Antibiotics given for UTI
UTI is usually not complicated and can be treated through antibiotics. Some of the antibiotics prescribed are: Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra, etc. ), Fosfomycin (Monurol), Nitrofurantoin (Macrodantin, Macrobid), Cephalexin (Keflex), Ceftriaxone
The symptoms will probably not be seen after a few days of treatment but, it is important to finish the complete dose to avoid this infection again. In acute cases of Urinary Tract Infection, the doctor may make use of fluoroquinolone which is not a recommended drug to patients suffering from uncomplicated UTI because of its risk factor.
How long does it take for antibiotics to work? Your doctor will tell you the exact amount of time required to treat UTI. Typically, it takes 2 to 3 days for the symptoms to disappear in normal and uncomplicated cases of infection. However, if you are suffering from an acute case of urinary tract infection, then it might take up to 14 days or more for the symptoms to disappear.
