What Is a Urinary Tract Infection?

A urinary tract infection, or UTI, occurs when germs infect part of the urinary system. The urinary tract includes:

• The kidneys, which filter the blood and make urine
• The ureters, which carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder
• The bladder, which stores urine
• The urethra, which carries urine out of the body

Most UTIs begin in the lower urinary tract. An infection of the bladder is often called cystitis, while an infection of the urethra is called urethritis. If an infection moves upward to one or both kidneys, it is called pyelonephritis and can become much more serious.

Bladder infections are usually caused by bacteria. UTIs are more common in women because the urethra is shorter and closer to areas where bacteria normally live, but people of any sex or age can develop one.

What Are the Common Symptoms of a Bladder Infection?

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, bladder infection symptoms may include:

• Burning or pain during urination
• A frequent need to urinate
• A sudden, intense urge to urinate
• Passing only a small amount of urine at a time
• Pressure, pain or discomfort in the lower abdomen or pelvis
• Cloudy urine
• Blood-tinged urine
• Strong-smelling urine

When Is Urgent Care Appropriate for a UTI?

Urgent care is often a reasonable choice when you have new urinary symptoms, cannot see your primary care professional promptly and do not have emergency warning signs.

Examples include:

• Burning or pain when urinating
• Frequent or urgent urination
• Lower abdominal pressure or discomfort
• A small amount of blood in the urine with otherwise typical bladder symptoms
• A previous UTI with similar symptoms, although a new evaluation is still important
• Symptoms that need same-day assessment before they worsen

Urgent care can be especially helpful during evenings or weekends. The clinician can also decide whether your symptoms are more consistent with a kidney infection, kidney stone, sexually transmitted infection, vaginal infection, prostate problem or another condition that requires different testing or a higher level of care.

UTI Care at a Glance

What Happens During an Urgent Care Visit for a UTI?

The visit usually begins with questions about your symptoms and medical history. Be prepared to discuss:

• When the symptoms started
• Whether you have fever, chills, nausea, vomiting or back or side pain
• Whether you have noticed blood in the urine
• Previous UTIs and recent antibiotic use
• Medication allergies
• Pregnancy or the possibility of pregnancy
• Kidney disease, kidney stones, diabetes or immune-system conditions
• Vaginal or penile discharge, irritation, sores or possible STI exposure
• Difficulty emptying the bladder or prostate problems

The clinician may check your temperature, heart rate and other vital signs, examine your abdomen or back and ask you to provide a urine sample.

How Does Urgent Care Test for a UTI?

Urinalysis

A urinalysis checks the urine for signs such as white blood cells, blood and other findings that may support a diagnosis. A rapid urine test can provide helpful information during the visit, but no single result should be interpreted without considering symptoms and medical history.

Urine Culture

A urine culture attempts to identify bacteria in the sample. It may help confirm the infection and show which antibiotics are likely to work. Culture results usually take longer than a basic urinalysis and may lead the clinician to continue, change or stop an antibiotic after the visit.

A culture may be particularly helpful when:

• Symptoms are severe or unusual
• You are pregnant
• You are male
• You have recurrent infections
• A recent antibiotic did not work
• Antibiotic resistance is a concern
• A kidney infection is possible

Other Testing

Depending on your symptoms, the clinician may recommend a pregnancy test, STI testing or additional evaluation. Blood tests or imaging may be needed when a kidney infection, stone, blockage or another complication is suspected. Those services may require referral or hospital evaluation.

How Is a UTI Treated?

When a clinician determines that a bacterial bladder infection is likely, treatment usually involves an antibiotic. The specific medicine and treatment length depend on factors such as:

• The likely bacteria and local resistance patterns
• Urinalysis or culture results
• Medication allergies
• Pregnancy
• Kidney function and other medical conditions
• Whether the infection is recurrent or complicated
• Age and sex
• Recent antibiotic use

Take the medicine exactly as prescribed. Do not save doses for later, share antibiotics or use leftover medication from another illness. Contact the healthcare professional if you develop a concerning side effect or cannot take the prescription as directed.

If a urine culture was sent, the clinic may contact you when the result is available. The treatment may be adjusted if the bacteria are resistant to the initial medication or if the test does not support a bacterial UTI.

When Should Symptoms Start Improving?

Many patients begin to feel better after treatment starts, but improvement time varies. Finish the prescribed treatment even if symptoms improve early. Contact the treating clinician if symptoms worsen, fail to improve within the expected timeframe or return soon after treatment.

What Symptoms May Mean the Infection Has Reached the Kidneys?

A kidney infection often begins as a bladder infection and moves upward. Warning signs include:

• Fever and chills
• Pain in the back, side or groin
• Nausea or vomiting
• Frequent or painful urination along with systemic symptoms
• Feeling significantly weak or ill

What If You Are Pregnant and Think You Have a UTI?

Pregnancy increases the importance of early evaluation. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advises contacting your obstetric clinician right away for possible UTI symptoms. If you cannot reach that clinician, urgent care may be an appropriate alternative for prompt evaluation.

Frequent urination can be normal during pregnancy, but burning, pain, blood in the urine, lower abdominal discomfort, fever or back or side pain should not be ignored. A urine test can help distinguish an infection from common pregnancy-related urinary changes.

Pregnant patients should not take leftover antibiotics or assume that any antibiotic is safe during pregnancy. The clinician should select a medication based on pregnancy, allergies, test findings and current guidance. Fever, vomiting or back or side pain during pregnancy may indicate a kidney infection and requires urgent medical assessment.

What About UTIs in Men, Children and Older Adults?

Men

UTIs are less common in men and may be associated with prostate involvement, incomplete bladder emptying, a stone or another urinary-tract problem. Men with urinary symptoms should be evaluated rather than self-treating. Fever, pelvic or perineal pain, inability to urinate or significant illness may require more urgent care.

Children

Children can develop UTIs, but the symptoms may differ from adult symptoms. A young child may have fever, irritability, poor feeding, vomiting, abdominal pain or new accidents after toilet training. Infants and young children with possible UTI symptoms should receive age-appropriate pediatric evaluation.

Older Adults

Older adults may have typical urinary symptoms, but other illnesses and medications can complicate the picture. Confusion alone does not prove that a UTI is present. Sudden confusion, weakness or a major change in condition still requires prompt medical evaluation because it may signal a serious illness.

Could UTI-Like Symptoms Be Something Else?

Burning, urgency and pelvic discomfort are not unique to UTIs. Other possible causes include:

• Vaginal yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis
• Sexually transmitted infection
• Irritation of the vagina, vulva, penis or urethra
• Kidney or urinary stone
• Bladder pain syndrome, also called interstitial cystitis
• Prostatitis or another prostate condition
• Dehydration
• Medication effects

Vaginal or penile discharge, genital sores, significant itching or known STI exposure may change the testing plan. Tell the clinician about all symptoms so the evaluation is not limited to a urine dipstick.

Can You Treat a UTI at Home?

Fluids and comfort measures may help you feel better, but they do not replace medical evaluation when symptoms suggest a bacterial infection. An untreated bladder infection can spread to the kidneys.

While arranging care, you may be able to:

• Drink water unless a healthcare professional has told you to limit fluids.
• Use a heating pad on the lower abdomen or back for comfort.
• Ask a healthcare professional about an appropriate over-the-counter pain reliever.
• Avoid products that seem to worsen bladder irritation.

How Can You Reduce the Risk of Another UTI?

No prevention method works for everyone, but healthy urinary habits may help:

• Drink enough fluids for your individual health needs.
• Urinate when you feel the need rather than holding it for long periods.
• Take time to empty the bladder fully.
• Wipe from front to back after using the bathroom.
• Urinate after sexual activity.
• Avoid douching and irritating personal-care products.
• Discuss spermicide or diaphragm use with a healthcare professional if UTIs recur.
• Ask about an individualized prevention plan for recurrent infections.

People with frequent UTIs may need urine cultures, medication review or evaluation for menopause-related changes, stones, urinary retention or structural problems.

Walk-In UTI Testing and Treatment in Stockton, Lodi, Manteca and Modesto

California Urgent Care Center provides walk-in and same-day evaluation for many non-life-threatening urinary symptoms at five locations:

• Lodi
• Stockton–Lorraine
• Stockton–Pershing
• Manteca
• Modesto

The Cal Urgent Care website lists urinalysis and urine culture among its diagnostic-testing services and identifies UTIs as a condition the clinics evaluate. Exact testing, culture processing, medication and follow-up procedures can vary, so contact the preferred location when a specific service is important.

All five clinics are currently listed as open seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., with the last walk-in accepted at 8:45 p.m. Hours can change, so check before visiting.

Walk in for non-emergency UTI symptoms or register online before your visit. For severe illness, possible sepsis or another medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

Frequently Asked Questions