How to get help and treatment for a UTI.
What is a UTI?
UTIs happen when bacteria get into your urinary system and cause an infection. Your urinary system includes your kidneys, bladder and the tubes that carry urine out of your body. A bladder infection is a type of UTI.
UTIs are usually not serious if treated quickly, but if the infection spreads to your kidneys, it can cause more serious problems.
What are the signs and symptoms of a UTI?
Signs and symptoms may include:
- Pain or burning when you pass urine (go pee).
- Need to urinate often, but only pass small amounts.
- Cloudy, pink or red, or strong-smelling urine.
- Chills and a fever over 38.5°C (101.3°F).
- Feeling sick to your stomach (nausea).
How to get help and treatment for a UTI
- Call your family doctor or nurse practitioner.
- If you cannot contact them or don’t have one:
- Call or book an appointment with your local pharmacy. In B.C., pharmacists can assess and prescribe antibiotics for uncomplicated UTIs (not affecting the kidneys).
- If a pharmacy isn’t an option, visit your nearest walk-in clinic.
- If a walk-in clinic isn’t available, call an Urgent Primary Care Centre.
If you receive Fraser Health services
- You are a Home Health client and can’t leave home:
- Call your Home Health office’s main phone number and tell the nurse on duty about your symptoms.
- You are a Home Support client:
- Tell your care worker about your symptoms during a visit. A nurse will call you back within 24 hours to review your symptoms and arrange treatment if needed.
- You can also call the Home Health office yourself if you want to speak with a nurse sooner.
When to go to the Emergency Department
Go to your nearest Emergency Department if you have any of these symptoms:
- Worsening pain, especially in your back.
- Repeated vomiting (throwing up).
- Fever over 38.5°C (101.3°F) that does not go away with medicine such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil).
- Very little or no urine.
- Extreme tiredness.
- A new rash.
Additional care services
Resources – general
- Register for a family doctor or nurse practitioner
- About urinary tract infections
- Bladder infection
- Urinary tract infection (child)