Urinary tract infections (UTIs)

​About UTIs

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common and affect the bladder, the kidneys and the tubes connected to them. You can get them for many reasons. However, the cause often is unknown.​

Women are more likely to get a UTI because the tube that carries urine out of the body, the urethra, is shorter and closer to the back passage. This makes it easier for bacteria to get into the urinary tract. ​

They can be painful and uncomfortable but usually passes within a few days and can be treated with antibiotics.​

Symptoms

A UTI can cause symptoms including:

• pain or burning sensation when peeing
• peeing more often than usual during the day or night
• a need to pee more suddenly than normal
• pee that:
• is cloudy
• is darker in colour
  
• has a strong smell
• has blood in it
• lower tummy or back pain, just under the ribs
• a high temperature, or feeling hot or cold​ and shivery
• a very low temperature below 36C
• feeling tired or weak​
  

Symptoms in children

Children with UTIs may also:

• have a high temperature or fever
• feel unusually warm when you touch their neck, back or tummy
• seem generally unwell
• become irritable or unsettled
• not eat or drink as normal
• wet the bed or have accidents during the day after being toilet trained
• feel sick or vomit

Symptoms in older adults or people with a urinary catheter

In older adults, especially those who are frail, have dementia, or use a catheter, a UTI may also cause:

• changes in behaviour, such as:
• confusion
• delirium
• agitation
• leaking pee, wetting themselves or worsening incontinence
• new episodes of shivering or shaking known as rigors

When to contact your GP

Getting medical help is very important as symptoms can also mean you have a kidney infection.

If left untreated it can be serious and may lead to sepsis, which can be life-threatening.

Learn more about sepsis on​ NHS​.​

Book an appointment with your GP if:

• you, your child or someone you care for have symptoms of a UTI
• ​the symptoms are severe or getting worse
• the symptoms haven’t started to improve after a few days 
• you get UTI​​s regularly 
• your symptoms come back after treatment

Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent complications.

List of surgeries and GPs in Jersey

Out of Hours GP service Jersey Doctors on Call​​

​Risks

The following may increase your risk of getting a UTI:

• conditions that obstruct your urinary tract, such as kidney stones
• difficulty emptying your bladder fully
• not drinking enough fluids
• using a contraceptive diaphragm
• condoms coated in spermicide
• diabetes
• a weak immune system, such as during chemotherapy or with conditions like HIV
• a urinary catheter. This is a tube in your bladder used to drain urine
• an enlarged prostate gland in men
• having sex
• pregnancy
  

Treatment

UTIs are usually treated with a course of antibiotics. 

Symptoms will normally start to improve within 3 to 5 days of starting treatment. It’s important to complete the full course of antibiotics, even if you’re feeling better before it’s finished. 

There are things you can do to help ease your symptoms while you recover, such as:

• taking paracetamol as directed to help with pain and fever
• giving children liquid paracetamol, if appropriate for their age
• resting 
• drinking enough fluids to stay hydrated and help you pass pale-coloured urine regularly during the day

Go back to your GP if your symptoms:

• don’t improve after treatment
• get worse
• come back after treatment has ended
  

List of surgeries and GPs in Jersey​

How to help prevent UTIs

Cystitis sachets and cranberry products may help prevent UTIs, but they don’t treat an infection once it starts. We've listed a few things you can try to help prevent UTIs.

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