Family medicine
Urinary tract infections
Bladder and kidney infections—symptoms, safe antibiotic use, and prevention tips.
What it is
Uncomplicated cystitis is common, especially in women, when bacteria—often E. coli—ascend into the bladder. Pyelonephritis involves the kidney and can be serious. CDC urinary tract infection basics describe general prevention ideas.
Men, pregnant patients, children, and people with catheters or structural abnormalities often need broader evaluation—not “simple” UTI.
Symptoms
- Brûlure mictionnelle, pollakiurie, urgence
- Urine trouble ou malodorante
- Sang dans l’urine (parfois)
- Douleur sus-pubienne
- Si rein : fièvre, frissons, douleur lombaire, nausées
- Confusion chez la personne âgée possible sans symptômes classiques
Common causes
Anatomie féminine (urètre court), rapports sexuels, grossesse, ménopause, calculs, rétention, sonde à demeure, diabète mal contrôlé.
When to see a doctor
Urgence : fièvre avec douleur lombaire, vomissements, sepsis, grossesse avec symptômes urinaires, ou confusion aiguë.
Récidives fréquentes méritent évaluation pour cause sous-jacente.
How we can help
Nous confirmons par symptômes et analyse d’urine ; culture parfois si récidive ou atypique. Antibiotiques choisis selon résistance locale et votre contexte (grossesse, reins). Hydratation, analgésiques, et mesures préventives (miction post-rapport, éviter irritants, prophylaxie discutée si récidives).
La canneberge : preuves limitées—pas un substitut aux antibiotiques si infection documentée.
Related topics
Frequently asked questions
Evidence is mixed; it is not reliable prevention for everyone. Discuss recurrent UTI strategies with your clinician—sometimes prophylaxis or postcoital antibiotics are considered.
Resistant bacteria, incomplete treatment, stones, atrophic vaginitis, or bladder dysfunction can contribute—evaluation is individualized.
Symptomatic bacterial cystitis in non-pregnant women is usually treated; some very mild cases are monitored differently—pregnancy changes thresholds.
Yes—when they occur, clinicians often evaluate for prostate issues, stones, or strictures because uncomplicated male UTIs are uncommon in younger men.