A Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is an infection that affects any part of your urinary system. The organs that can be affected by UTI include kidneys, uterus, bladder, and urethra. Although the infection can happen in both genders, it is more commonly found in women. Symptoms of the condition include feeling the urge to urinate too often and experiencing pain while urinating. Chronic pain in the lower or side back may also indicate UTI.

Let us examine the different treatment options for various types of UTI.

1. Treatment options for a simple infection
For any doctor, the first treatment prescribed to a UTI patient is always antibiotics. The medicine prescribed by the doctor depends on the health condition of the patient and the bacteria type detected in the urine. For a simple UTI, the commonly prescribed medications include Bactrim, Septra, Monurol, Keflex, Macrobid, and Macrodantin. In most cases, the UTI gets treated within few days of starting the antibiotics. However, the patient may be asked to continue the antibiotics for a week or more that. Therefore, make sure the entire course of antibiotics is taken as prescribed by the doctor. In cases of a simple UTI, where the patient is otherwise healthy, the duration of antibiotics is shorter – mostly between one and three days. 

2. Treatment options for frequent infections
In cases where the UTI keeps occurring repeatedly, some treatment recommendations can be made by the doctor. These include antibiotics in low doses which will be taken for six months initially and can also go longer than that. Also, the doctor can ask you to do self-diagnosis and treatment, but only if you keep in touch with the doctor. In case the UTI is related to sexual activity, the doctor can also ask you to take a dose of antibiotics after intercourse. If the patient is menopausal, she can be prescribed vaginal estrogen therapy also. 

3. Treatment option for severe infections
In cases of severe UTI, the patient might have to get hospitalized for antibiotics doses which are administered intravenously.

4. Home remedies for UTI
While no home remedy has been known to be a cure for urinary tract infections, some things improve the effect of medicines. Drinking water regularly clears the infection faster from the body. Likewise, cranberry is also considered an effective remedy by some, although conclusive research has not been done on the benefits of cranberry in cases of UTI. Some other foods and beverages that one should avoid in case of UTI because they can irritate the bladder include coffee and soda that include caffeine, alcohol, acidic fruits, spicy foods, and artificial sweeteners. Also, one must not hold when one feels the urge to urinate and empty the bladder as soon as possible. Lastly, make sure to visit the doctor as soon as possible because early detection is the key to treating UTI.