Urinary Tract Infections In Teens And Adults: When To Call A Doctor

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When To Call a Doctor

Call your doctor immediately if painful urination or other symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI) occur with:

• Nausea and vomiting.
• Fever and chills.
• Pain in the back just below the rib cage, on one side of your body (flank pain).
• Pregnancy.

Call a doctor if you:

• Have had UTI symptoms previously and have those symptoms again.
• Have minor symptoms of a UTI that do not clear up in 1 to 2 days, such as pain or burning when you urinate, foul-smelling urine, or the urge to urinate frequently while passing only small amounts of urine.
• Notice blood or pus in your urine.
• Have symptoms of a UTI and you have diabetes.
• Have been taking antibiotics for a UTI but your symptoms do not improve or they come back (recur) after improving temporarily.

Watchful Waiting

Watchful waiting is a wait-and-see approach. If you get better on your own, you won't need treatment. If you get worse, you and your doctor will decide what to do next.

In adults, home treatment for minor urinary tract infections (UTIs) often resolves the problem. Home treatment includes drinking plenty of water and urinating often, emptying the bladder each time.

• Try home treatment for 1 to 2 days if your symptoms are minor.
• If your symptoms last longer than 1 to 2 days or are severe, seek medical help.

Watchful waiting is not appropriate if you:

• Have diabetes or an impaired immune system.
• Are pregnant.
• Are older than 65.

Who To See

The following health professionals can treat urinary tract infections (UTIs):

• Nurse practitioner
• Physician assistant
• General practitioner
• Family medicine physician
• Internist
• Obstetrician
• Gynecologist
• Urologist

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.

Last updated:	June 15, 2007
Author:	Kathe Gallagher, MSW
Reviewed By:	E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine, Philip Belitsky, MD, FRCSC - Urology
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman, MATC