Urinary Tract Infections

The urinary tract includes the kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are far more common in women than men. Urinary tract infections have different names depending on which part of the urinary tract is infected:

• • Cystitis: infection of the bladder
• • Urethritis: infection of the urethra
• • Pyelonephritis: infection of the kidney

Among newborns, UTIs are more common in boys, but by one year of age, UTIs are ten times more likely to occur in girls. The rate of infection is higher for sexually active women – between 16 and 35 years old – than for men.

As many as 50% to 60% of North American women have had at least one UTI in their lifetime. Among seniors, the gender difference in infection rates diminishes, but rates of infection in seniors living at home or in care facilities or hospitals remains high.

Ask questions and learn more about your urinary tract infection, talk to your Pharmasave pharmacist today!

For most UTIs, three days to a week of antibiotics taken by mouth are the best treatment. Your doctor or pharmacist will help decide how long treatment should last. Before beginning any treatment, make sure that you discuss with your doctor or pharmacist any allergies you may have, previous antibiotic use within the last 3 months, and current prescription and non-prescription medications you are taking.

To prevent the infection from returning, it’s important to take all of your medication until the end of the prescribed period. Your doctor or pharmacist may also suggest certain medications that relieve pain to help ease the burning that occurs when you urinate.

Very serious infections – such as a severe kidney infection – may require an intravenous drip of antibiotics. Aside from standard antibiotic treatment, children with UTIs may be checked for urinary tract abnormalities.

Find your local Pharmasave and talk to your Pharmasave pharmacist about your urinary tract infection and which treatment might be right for you.

After an assessment, your Pharmasave pharmacist can write a prescription for treatment instead of an over-the-counter medication or at-home treatment if deemed necessary.

The common ailments, like UTIs, a pharmacist can prescribe for varies by province*. For more details, view the Canadian Pharmacists Association’s chart: Common Ailments Prescribing in Canada.

To learn more about how your pharmacist can help, visit your local Pharmasave store and speak with your Pharmasave pharmacist.

*Note that common ailments prescribing is not always covered by provincial health care – a pharmacy fee may apply. Speak with your pharmacist about eligibility.