UTI Specialist

Doctors Of Bellevue Redmond

Internists located in Bellevue, WA

Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, are frequently more than a minor nuisance that a little cranberry juice will cure. The discomfort and pain that often accompany a UTI can have a major impact on your life. At Doctors of Bellevue-Redmond, Dr. Alex Dudetsky and Dr. Nelly Bardman can quickly relieve your discomfort and get your urinary tract back online in no time. If you’re in Bellevue, Washington, call or book an appointment using the online tool.

UTI Q & A

What is a UTI?

A UTI is an infection that can affect any part of your urinary system, including:

  • Kidneys
  • Bladder
  • Ureters
  • Urethra

While UTIs are often thought to be the sole domain of women, men can also develop infections in their urinary tracts.

What causes a UTI?

Your body has many protections in place to guard against invading bacteria, but there are times when these bacteria get through and cause an infection, which is the case with UTIs. The bacteria most often get through in one of two ways:

  • Bacteria from gastrointestinal tract, namely E. coli
  • Contamination from the outside

The distance between a woman’s anus and her urethra makes outside contamination a more prevalent issue and is the reason more women develop UTIs than men.

What are the symptoms of a UTI?

The most common symptoms of a UTI, in both women and men, are:

  • Frequent urination
  • The urge to urinate frequently, but nothing comes out
  • Pain or burning when urinating
  • Cloudy urine
  • Strong-smelling urine
  • Blood-colored urine
  • Pelvic pain

If you’re experiencing any, or a combination, of these symptoms, seek medical attention at Doctors of Bellevue-Redmond.

How is a UTI treated?

At Doctors of Bellevue-Redmond, the doctor reviews your symptoms and performs a simple urinalysis to confirm the presence of an infection.

With the diagnosis confirmed, the doctor typically prescribes an antibiotic to fight the infection. These antibiotics should clear up your infection in just a few days, but it’s important to take the full course of the medicine to make sure your urinary tract is completely clear.

If your symptoms don’t clear up, you may be resistant to that particular antibiotic, and the doctors will try another medication.

While you wait for the antibiotics to do their job, you can help by drinking extra fluids to flush your system out. If the pain of the infection and the urge to urinate are keeping you from your normal activities, take a timeout and rest in a bathtub so that you can relax your muscles.

If you suspect you have a UTI, contact Doctors of Bellevue-Redmond sooner rather than later. By getting treated as quickly as possible, you can get back to your daily routine without worrying about where the nearest restroom is. Call or use the online booking tool to schedule an appointment.