Uti emergency room: Where to go for a UTI

22.08.202326.06.2023 by alexxlab

Should I Go to the ER for a UTI?

UTI

According to estimations, around 50-60% of women and 12% of men are likely to experience a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) at least once in their lifetime. But these numbers alone don’t show the full picture of how impactful this condition can be on the life of each patient.

Luckily, most UTIs are curable. But is going to the ER the best way to seek treatment?

In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know.

Can You Go to the ER for a UTI?
When Should You Go to the ER for a UTI?
Where Should You Go for a UTI?
What Can You Do at Home To Treat Your UTI?
How Can DrHouse Help You?
Key Takeaways

Can You Go to the ER for a UTI?

Urinary Tract Infections are common conditions that can affect parts of the urinary system, such as the kidneys, bladder, and urethra. Although UTIs might have different causes, they are mostly triggered by a bacterial infection caused by the Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. Some other reasons why you might develop a UTI include viruses and fungi.

Although UTIs are more common in women – and even more among aging women – they can affect anyone.

The most common symptoms of UTIs include pain in the pelvic area, discomfort or a burning sensation while urinating, frequent urination, and blood in the urine. If the upper urinary tract is affected (kidneys or bladder), you might also experience fever, pain on the side of your torso, and nausea.

According to 2021 studies, UTIs account for over 2% of visits to the emergency room or emergency department each year. And, if you have been struggling with the excruciating pain that UTI can cause, it is only understandable to consider your local ER as the first point of call.

But while you can go to the emergency department for UTI symptoms, there is a little more that you should keep in mind.

When Should You Go to the ER for a UTI?

Although you can go to the Emergency Department for a UTI, it is important to understand when it is necessary to do so. Having a clear idea of when you need emergency medical services can help you avoid unnecessary fees and reduce the burden on the ER departments.

So, when should you go to the ER for a UTI?

Although this might vary, you should go to the ER for UTI symptoms if:

Pain and discomfort are progressing despite treatment
You are now experiencing lethargy
You have chills, nausea, and a fever
You have blood in the urine
You have severe and sudden shaking
You are vomiting you can’t keep down medications and clear fluids
You are getting recurring UTIs

If you are not experiencing these symptoms, or your UTI is mild, you should still seek treatment straight away. However, there are other options worth considering. Learn when to see a doctor for UTI below.

Where Should You Go for a UTI?

Some UTIs will go away without treatment in as little as 7 days. Nonetheless, if you have a UTI that won’t go away or your symptoms are getting worse, you should not think twice about seeing a healthcare professional. And, this is especially important if you suffer from this disease chronically or if you are an at-risk patient.

Here are your best options when seeking treatment for UTI.

Primary Care Physician

When it comes down to getting rid of a UTI, your primary care physician should be your first port of call.

Indeed, with proper treatment, UTI symptoms can go away in as little as 24-48 hours. However, if you have a kidney infection or other underlying conditions, a UTI can cause severe consequences. Your primary care physician will be aware of your medical history and current health status and will be able to offer a customized treatment plan (i.e.: choosing the antibiotic that will work best).

Urgent Care

Although your primary care physician should be your first port of call, you should learn when it’s appropriate to go to your local urgent care center for a UTI. This is especially important if you are experiencing severe symptoms or don’t have access to primary care services.

Generally, urgent care should be your choice if your symptoms are severe but the illness or injury isn’t life-threatening. Most severe UTIs will fall within this category.

Going to an urgent care center instead of ER also has other benefits. Firstly, urgent care clinics have shorter waiting lines than ER, and you’ll be able to get treated as soon as possible. What’s more, urgent care visits are cheaper than ED services. In the case of UTIs, the average cost of going to ER is $665, while urgent care will cost you as little as $112.

Urologist

One of the most efficient ways to treat UTIs is via antibiotics. However, this family of medications can have significant side effects and need to be administered under close clinical supervision.

Today, you can get antibiotics for UTIs without seeing a doctor via telehealth services or through your pharmacist.

However, if you have some underlying conditions that require specialized care, you should not think twice about visiting a specialized urologist. While most antibiotics for UTIs are readily available, don’t forget that nearly 50% of women are given the wrong medication for their UTIs!

Virtual Urgent Care

Another great option to access immediate and affordable urgent care for your UTI is via virtual urgent care. These telehealth platforms allow you to consult a specialist and obtain the necessary prescriptions needed to treat your UTI.

What Can You Do at Home To Treat Your UTI?

Although the best way to treat most UTIs is through antibiotics, there is a lot that you can do to ease the symptoms of urinary tract infections while waiting for your treatment to start showing results.

Some at-home ways to reduce the pain of UTI include:

Wearing comfortable or loose clothes
Increasing your water intake
Apply warm compresses or a hot water bottle
Take cranberry supplements (but not juice)
Avoid bladder irritants

Although OTC medications might help, it is important not to make up a DIY pharmaceutical treatment. Indeed, according to studies, ibuprofen isn’t effective to treat the underlying causes of UTIs and might lead to complications if the infection isn’t properly addressed.

Another way to find treatment for UTI without seeing a doctor is to use virtual health services to obtain UTI treatment and antibiotics.

How Can DrHouse Help You?

With the DrHouse telehealth platform, you can start on-demand online doctor visits from the comfort of your home. Our certified clinicians are experienced in treating a broad range of ailments, including UTIs.

Our clinicians can diagnose your UTI and provide the necessary medication and treatment plans to help you get rid of it.

So don’t wait any longer — take control of your health with DrHouse!

Get UTI Treatment and Antibiotics Online

Key Takeaways

UTIs are incredibly common and can have a profound impact on your daily life. However, ER visits for UTIs are only necessary if your symptoms are life-threatening. Better options to treat urinary tract infections include visiting a urologist, primary care physician, or online urgent care center.

If you are unsure how to obtain antibiotics and treatment for UTIs, get in touch with us!

Sources:

Urinary Tract Infection. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/uti.html
Vik I, Bollestad M, Grude N, Bærheim A, Damsgaard E, et al. (2018) Ibuprofen versus pivmecillinam for uncomplicated urinary tract infection in women—A double-blind, randomized non-inferiority trial. PLOS Medicine 15(5): e1002569. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002569
Jepson RG, Mihaljevic L, Craig J. Cranberries for treating urinary tract infections. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2000;1998(2):CD001322. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001322. PMID: 10796775; PMCID: PMC7025796.
Clark, A., Durkin, M., Olsen, M., Keller, M., Ma, Y., O’Neil, C., & Butler, A. (2021). Rural–urban differences in antibiotic prescribing for uncomplicated urinary tract infection. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 42(12), 1437-1444. Doi: https://www.doi.org/10.1017/ice.2021.21
Urinary tract infection – adults. MedlinePlus. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000521.htm#
Poh, XE., Wu, KH., Chen, CC. et al. Outcomes for Patients with Urinary Tract Infection After an Initial Intravenous Antibiotics Dose Before Emergency Department Discharge. Infect Dis Ther 10, 1479–1489 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40121-021-00469-9
Al-Badr A, Al-Shaikh G. Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections Management in Women: A review. Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J. 2013 Aug;13(3):359-67. doi: 10.12816/0003256. Epub 2013 Jun 25. PMID: 23984019; PMCID: PMC3749018.

DrHouse articles are written by MDs, NPs, nutritionists and other healthcare professionals. The contents of the DrHouse site are for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing high fever (>103F/39.4C), shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chest pain, heart palpitations, abnormal bruising, abnormal bleeding, extreme fatigue, dizziness, new weakness or paralysis, difficulty with speech, confusion, extreme pain in any body part, or inability to remain hydrated or keep down fluids or feel you may have any other life-threatening condition, please go to the emergency department or call 911 immediately.

10 Reasons to Use an Emergency Room for Urinary Tract Infections

10 Reasons to Use an Emergency Room for Urinary Tract Infections – Emergency Room

10 Reasons to Use an Emergency Room for Urinary Tract Infections

When bacteria enter into any part of the urinary tract, from the bladder, urethra, ureters and even the kidneys, a urinary tract infection ensues. Urinary tract infections are actually more common than you may think and it is something that a number of people go through. However, most cases of urinary tract infections are usually not serious and at the most can be handled in detail over at an urgent care clinic. Just like many other medical conditions, there are instances of urinary tract infections that may require emergency medical attention and hence one may need to go to the emergency room. There are a number of reasons as to why you should use an emergency room for urinary tract infections and this article will look to highlight 10 of these reasons.

One of the reasons why you should use an emergency room for urinary tract infections is because there you will access the best diagnostic testing facilities. Emergency rooms have the expertise in terms of the staff as well as the facilities to carry out urinalysis and urine dipstick tests as well as the knowledge to interpret these tests accurately.
Other than the above diagnostic tests, emergency rooms also have the capacity both in terms of personnel and facilities to carry out more complex diagnostic tests, as is the case over at frontlineer. com. This includes obtaining of urine cultures among others to diagnose more complicated cases of urinary tract infections, otherwise known as upper UTIs.
Another very important reason to use an emergency room for urinary tract infections is due to the fact that the staff and physicians there have an intimate knowledge of local and national patterns as far as the susceptibility patterns of the most likely pathogens within your area. This makes for more effective treatment which is what you want if you have the infection.
Yet another reason to use an emergency room is because emergency rooms have the facilities and the personnel to handle cases of urinary tract infections in pregnant women. This is why, as is explained in detail over at the excellent frontlineer.com, cases of UTI in pregnant women are always only handled in an emergency room.
Other than having the capabilities to cater for cases of UTI in pregnant women, another reason to use an emergency room for urinary tract infections is due to the fact that they also have the capabilities to treat other special groups such as patients with physical or anatomic disabilities as well as instrumented patients; something that can’t be said for the other treatment facilities such as urgent care clinics.
The fact that emergency rooms provide patients with treatment with antibiotics is yet another reason why you should use them for urinary tract infections. There, you will find a wide array of options as far as antibiotics are concerned, all of which are discussed in detail over at frontlineer.com, with the staff and physios being highly knowledgeable to know which ones to prescribe as well as in which dosages.
Other than the above antibiotics, emergency rooms also have the facilities and staff to provide IV antibiotics when needed, especially in more complex or upper urinary tract infections. This, as one may expect, may not be found in the other treatment facilities which is why you should look to use an emergency room when it comes to urinary tract infections.
Yet another very key reason to use an emergency room for urinary tract infections is because there one may receive more specialized treatment if they need it; something that is true for the excellent and highly rated frontlineer. com. These specialized treatments include prescription of topical hormone infections in postmenopausal women who suffer from frequent urinary tract infections, a flexible ring that is inserted inside the vagina known as Estring and many others. obviously, such treatments may not be available in the other treatment facilities.
Another reason to use an emergency room for urinary tract infections is due to the fact that there you will find facilities for hospitalization and admission when required. This may be required in severe cases, especially those with complications or cases of upper urinary tract infections. The physician may deem it fit to keep you for treatment and close monitoring hence. This is not a facility that can be found in the other treatment facilities such as urgent care clinics.
Another reason to use an emergency room for urinary tract infections is because when you go there you will have access to specialists, if and when you need them. These specialists include board-certified OB/GYNs for cases of urinary tract infections in pregnant women, urologists, emergency medicine specialists among others depending on your situation. Such specialists can’t be found in an urgent care clinic.

Remember, if after reading this article you are in need of an excellent emergency room facility to head to, then you should look no further than the excellent frontlineer.com

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The selection of patients for emergency care at home is carried out in accordance with the algorithm, which is approved by the order of the UZ of Yekaterinburg No. 245/46/35 dated April 29, 2013 “On the organization of the provision of emergency care by outpatient departments of medical and preventive institutions” . According to the order, the emergency team is called from 8:00 to 19:00 with the following symptoms: high fever, abdominal pain, headache, shortness of breath, rash on the body … Read more about the reasons for calling a pediatrician in the emergency department of medical institutions to children.
Emergency assistance is provided by paramedics of the mobile team, paramedics of first-aid appointments, and district pediatricians. Medical workers of the emergency department can resolve the issue of examination of temporary disability, prescribe and prescribe medications.

! We ask parents not to confuse “ambulance” with “ambulance”. Emergency ambulance will be provided in cases where it is a threat to human life.
Urgent – with sudden acute diseases that are accompanied by high fever, but do not directly threaten the patient’s life. In all other cases, local pediatricians will serve children at home.
Dispatchers will tell you which service to call in a particular situation. All departments work in close cooperation and, if necessary, your call will be forwarded to competent specialists.

Order No. 521 dated 06/21/18 On approval of the regulation on the emergency department in the GAUZ SO DGKB No. 11. Appendix 2. PROCEDURE for calling a doctor (paramedic) at home
Calling a doctor at home is a type of outpatient care, in which the patient is received outside the doctor’s office. A call at home is served by district pediatricians, paramedics performing the functions of a district doctor, doctors (paramedic) of the emergency department.
Service calls to the house is carried out from the clinic at the place of actual stay of the patient (according to the territorial principle). The call is made by calling the doctor at home, or by a personal visit to the registry by the legal representatives of the child.

In other cases of acute diseases or exacerbation of chronic ones, incl. in case of minor injuries with stopped bleeding and bruises of the limbs that do not interfere with the patient’s movement, injuries of the fingers, the administrator of the polyclinic receiving the call may offer to visit the emergency room;
If the administrator detects a threat to the patient’s life, the call is transferred to the ambulance station.
The administrator must offer the patient’s legal representative any available option for providing medical care: calling a doctor at home, consulting in an emergency room, calling an emergency medical service, making an appointment with a local doctor or offering to contact a pre-medical appointment (for a healthy child)
When calling a doctor at home, the administrator is obliged to clarify and record:
 Name of the child and age
 Address of actual residence, incl.

Uti emergency room: Where to go for a UTI

Should I Go to the ER for a UTI?