The Most Effective Urinary Tract Infection Treatment

Overview

At the onset of symptoms like lower abdominal pain and burning sensations with urination, or fever, chills, nausea and vomiting, you want a urinary tract infection cured as fast as possible. People commonly advise to drink cranberry juice, but while it can help, cranberry juice alone won't make the infection go away. Medical intervention with antibiotics is the most effective urinary tract infection treatment.
Diagnosis

Doctors begin treatment by discovering what type of infection you have. Along with noting your symptoms, your doctor will ask for a clean catch urine sample. Cleanse the area around the urethra with the provided cleansing towelette, then allow some urine to fall into the toilet bowl before you catch any in the sterile sample container. This is called "mid-stream" collection. The lab will test this urine for a variety of known bacteria and match the largest culture with the appropriate antibiotic. This is called sensitivity testing.

Medical Treatment

Depending on the type of bacteria and the patient's health, antibiotics can be prescribed from a single dose to a 10-day or longer course. Generally, the infection symptoms will clear up in two or three days. Continue to take the full prescribed course of antibiotics even after symptoms disappear, or the infection may reoccur. Doctors may also prescribe anti-spasmodic medicines for the pain associated with urinary tract infections. Patients may be advised to take Tylenol, with its acetaminophen ingredient, for pain and discomfort.
Home Care

Heating pads or hot water bottles placed on the lower abdomen or lower back can help alleviate pain. Drink lots of water---at least eight 8-ounce glasses in a day---and avoid caffeine, artificial sweeteners, alcohol and spicy food, which can all irritate the bladder. Do not smoke cigarettes; tobacco has been linked to bladder cancer. Cranberries and cranberry juice help the bladder cleanse bacteria with antioxidant compounds called proanthocyanidins and hippuric acid, which both disallow bacteria to cling to the urinary tract walls. Alvin Hopkinson, a natural remedies researcher, says antibiotics are the most effective cure for a urinary tract infection, but that preventive measures using diet, hygiene and supplements can help avoid a reoccurrence.

Overview