Please know your health problems and allergies. If your personal health
care provider has advised you against implementing any of the following
recommendations, or if you have any questions about them or your current
condition, please do not perform any of these self care measures until you
have contacted a triage nurse (570-389-4451) or your personal health care
provider.
Student Health Center
Urinary Tract Infection—UTI
Urinary tract infections are infections involving the urinary bladder caused by microorganisms
(bacteria).
It is important to have urinary tract infections evaluated and treated as soon as possible.
Causes:
Urinary tract infections may occur with improper personal hygiene, sexual activity, and/or alcohol,
caffeine, and inadequate fluid intake, to name a few causes. They are caused by bacteria entering the
bladder. When bacteria numbers and strength become great enough, they become capable of causing
infection.
Symptoms may include one or more of the following:
• Inflammation and spasms of the bladder, lower abdominal pain, lower back pain.
• Burning sensation when you urinate
• Frequent urination, increased urge to urinate, and feeling of incomplete bladder emptying.
• A strong ammonia odor to the urine may be present.
• The urine may be dark yellow, cloudy or bloody and sometimes small blood clots may be
seen in the urine.
• Chills, and possible fever—usually less than 101 degrees F.
• Occasionally, loss of appetite, nausea, fatigue, headache, feelings of depression
Prevention:
• Practice good personal hygiene: wipe genitalia from front to back after using the toilet
• Urinate and wash genital area after intercourse and/or oral sex
• Urinate when the urge is present, don’t delay
• Limit caffeine intake or switch to decaf
• Avoid or limit alcohol consumption.
• Drink 8 glasses (8 ounces each, minimum 64 ounces or ½ gallon) of water daily.
• Drinking a glass of cranberry juice daily may help coat the lining of the bladder and prevent
bacteria from adhering to the bladder wall, thus preventing bladder infections.
Treatment:
Over the counter urinary symptom medications will help to alleviate the discomfort that accompanies
a urinary tract infection, but they will not adequately treat or cure a urinary tract infection. Urinary
tract infections need to be treated with prescription antibiotics in order to cure them ASAP. If
you think you may have a urinary tract infection, please call the Health Center at your earliest
convenience make an appointment to see a health care provider.
Developed May 2003
Reviewed January 2012, January 2015, January 2016
Revised January 2012, January 2015
Bloomsburg University Student Health Center, Rm. 324 Kehr Union Bldg., Bloomsburg, PA 17815
Phone: 570-389-4451 FAX: 570-389-3417 Triage Nurse: 570-389-2722 or 5055
Self care for
Urinary Tract Infection