What are the symptoms of a urinary tract infection in adults?

Common UTI symptoms in adults include a frequent urge to urinate (often in small amounts), pain or burning during urination, lower abdominal or pelvic pain, cloudy or strong-smelling urine, and sometimes blood in the urine. Fever, chills, and back pain may indicate the infection has spread to the kidneys.

How is a UTI diagnosed?

UTIs are typically diagnosed through a urine culture, which identifies the specific bacteria causing the infection, and a urinalysis that checks for white blood cells and other signs of infection. This helps guide the most appropriate antibiotic treatment.

When should I see a urologist for a UTI?

You should see a urologist if you have recurring UTIs, infections that do not respond to standard antibiotics, symptoms suggesting the infection has spread to the kidneys (fever, back pain, chills), or if you are a man with a UTI, as male UTIs are uncommon and often have an underlying cause requiring evaluation.

How can I prevent urinary tract infections?

To reduce UTI risk: drink plenty of water, wipe front to back after using the toilet, urinate after sexual activity, avoid irritating products like douches or sprays, limit alcohol and caffeine, and consider probiotics. Avoiding foods high in oxalates can also help prevent kidney stones, which can contribute to UTIs.

What happens if a UTI is left untreated?

If left untreated, a UTI can progress from a bladder infection to a kidney infection (pyelonephritis) and in severe cases to a bloodstream infection (bacteremia or sepsis), which is life-threatening. Early diagnosis and completing the full antibiotic course are essential to prevent complications.

Adult Urinary Tract Infection

Adult Urinary Tract Infection Treatment in Omaha

A urinary tract infection, or UTI, occurs when bacteria infect part of the urinary system, most often the bladder or urethra. UTIs are common, especially in women, and may cause burning with urination, frequent or urgent urination, lower abdominal discomfort, cloudy urine, or blood in the urine.

While many UTIs can be treated by a primary care provider, urgent care clinic, or other healthcare professional, recurrent, complicated, or persistent infections may require a urologic evaluation. At UroHealth Partners, we help patients in Omaha and Council Bluffs identify possible causes of recurring UTIs and develop a plan to treat current infections and reduce future risk.

When to Seek Prompt Medical Care

Contact a healthcare professional promptly if you have UTI symptoms, especially if symptoms are worsening or not improving. Seek urgent medical attention for fever, chills, nausea or vomiting, pain in your back or side, severe abdominal pain, confusion, inability to urinate, or symptoms that develop during pregnancy.

Common UTI Symptoms

UTI symptoms can vary depending on the part of the urinary tract involved. Common symptoms include:

Burning, pain, or discomfort during urination
A frequent or urgent need to urinate, often with only small amounts of urine passed
Lower abdominal or pelvic pressure or discomfort
Cloudy, strong-smelling, or bloody urine
Urine leakage or increased nighttime urination in some patients
Fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, or back and side pain, which may suggest a more serious infection

What Causes UTIs?

Most urinary tract infections develop when bacteria enter the urinary tract and multiply in the bladder or other urinary structures. The bacteria often come from the genital or anal area, but the reason someone develops repeated infections can vary.

Factors that may contribute to UTIs include:

Female anatomy, including a shorter urethra
Sexual activity
Menopause or changes in vaginal and urinary tissues
Incomplete bladder emptying
Enlarged prostate
Kidney or bladder stones
Urinary catheter use
Urinary tract narrowing, obstruction, or prior urinary surgery
Diabetes or other conditions that affect immune function
Pregnancy
Certain medications or medical conditions

Treatments

Several years ago treatment for urinary tract infections required less planning. Bacteria in the bladder almost universally responded to antibiotics over a short course of days and the sufferers were able to return to their usual daily lives free of pain or bladder irritation. As bacteria have become more resistant to the usual antibiotics, treating urinary tract infections has become increasingly more complicated for providers as well as for the patients they care for. Often patients are faced with the difficult decisions of using medications with potentially dangerous side effects versus allowing an infection to progress unchecked.

It is important to finish the entire course of the prescribed antibiotics, even if symptoms improve before the medication is finished. Failure to complete the full course of antibiotics can result in the infection returning, and the bacteria may become resistant to the medication.

Factors that Increase the Risk of UTIs:

A UTI is an infection that occurs when bacteria enter the urinary system, which includes the bladder and urethra, and causes an infection. The bacteria can come from the genital area or anus, and certain factors can increase the risk of developing a UTI. Women are more prone to UTIs because their urethra is shorter than men’s, which makes it easier for bacteria to travel up to the bladder. Sexually active women are also at a higher risk of UTIs because of the increased likelihood of bacteria entering the urinary system. Men with an enlarged prostate may also be at a higher risk.

Diagnosis of UTIs

UTIs can be diagnosed through urine tests, such as a urine culture, which can identify the type of bacteria causing the infection. White blood cells in the urine may also indicate an infection.

Some people may experience symptoms such as:

Frequent urge to urinate, often in small amounts
Pain, burning, or discomfort during urination
Lower abdominal or pelvic pain
Cloudy or strong-smelling urine, and sometimes blood in the urine

If a UTI is left untreated, it can progress to a kidney infection, which can be life-threatening. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to prevent complications and ensure a swift recovery.

Prevention of UTIs

Preventing UTIs is important, and there are several steps that can be taken to reduce the risk.

Drinking plenty of water can help flush out bacteria from the urinary system.
Wiping from front to back after using the toilet can prevent bacteria from the anus from entering the urinary system.
Urinating after sexual activity can also help flush out bacteria that may have entered the urethra.
Avoiding the use of irritating products such as douches, powders, and sprays can also reduce the risk of UTIs.

Eating, Diet, and Nutrition

Eating, diet, and nutrition can also play a role in preventing and treating UTIs. Certain foods and beverages can irritate the bladder and urethra, which can increase the risk of UTIs. Alcohol, caffeine, and spicy or acidic foods can all be irritants.

It is important to maintain a healthy and balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. These foods can help support the immune system, which can help fight off infections. Probiotics, such as yogurt, may also help prevent UTIs by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut and urinary system.

Foods and Drinks to Avoid

Some foods and drinks can irritate the urinary tract and may make UTI symptoms worse. Common irritants include:

Alcohol: Can increase bladder irritation and dehydration.
Caffeine: Stimulates the bladder, potentially worsening symptoms.
Spicy and Acidic Foods: Can irritate the bladder lining, contributing to discomfort.

Kidney Stones and UTIs

In some cases, UTIs can be caused by kidney stones, which are small, hard deposits that form in the kidneys. These stones can obstruct the urinary system, which can increase the risk of UTIs. Drinking plenty of water and avoiding foods high in oxalates, such as spinach and nuts, can help prevent the formation of kidney stones.

Many UTIs can be treated by a local primary care provider, some individuals experience infections that are more severe or recurrent. In these cases, our kidney and bladder specialists in Omaha at UroHealth Partners can provide specialized care. Our team offers comprehensive urology care to evaluate underlying causes and recommend strategies for preventing future infections.

UroHealth Partners | Omaha Urologists

The Omaha urologists at UroHealth Partners like to see you in person for the treatment of a urinary tract infection. This allows for accurate urine sample gathering and testing, and discussion of the potential risks and benefits of such treatment.

At UroHealth Partners, we want to hear about your symptoms and find any triggers for infections, if they exist. Some patients note more infections with travel, exercise, sexual encounters, or stress at work.

We look diligently through the patient’s medical history, surgical history, and allergies to find treatment options. Often we perform imaging and diagnostic testing to find any potential cause for your urinary tract infection and potentially improve your risk for future infections. These investigations often but do not always include imaging of the kidneys and looking inside the bladder for potential reasons for the infections. Oftentimes these investigations do not demonstrate a clear cause for infection.

In these cases, we can discuss continued strategies to mitigate the risk of future infections. These treatments may include medications or behavioral changes. In some cases, small procedures to help empty the bladder may also drastically improve your risk of a urinary tract infection. For men, this may involve prostate surgeries that can be performed as same-day surgery.

When to See a Doctor for a UTI

If you have struggled with more than 3 infections a year, two infections in 6 months, or you are a man with even 1 urinary tract infection you should consider discussing this with one of our specialists or with your primary doctor.

Contact one of our UTI Omaha or Council Bluffs specialists today to learn more about effective treatment and prevention strategies.

Our Bladder Health Program

Bladder symptoms such as urgency, pain, visible blood in the urine, or difficulty emptying often share common causes and may occur together over time. At UroHealth Partners, these problems are evaluated within a dedicated Bladder Health program that looks at infection risk, stones, obstruction, nerve function, and long-term bladder safety.

If you are dealing with recurring or multiple bladder issues, exploring our broader Bladder Health services can help you see what other evaluations and treatments may support better control, comfort, and protection of your urinary tract.

Our Bladder Health Services