The NHS has issued a warning to anyone who has urinary tract infection (UTI) symptoms and also takes warfarin. Urging people to keep an eye out for key symptoms of a UTI, the service says that if you're on these tablets, you may need to avoid certain UTI remedies.
It firstly notes that a UTI can affect your urinary tract, which includes your bladder (cystitis), urethra (urethritis) and kidneys (kidney infection). While UTIs may be treated with antibiotics, they're not always needed.
But if you keep getting these signs and symptoms, then it is better to seek help sooner rather than later.
Symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI) may include:
needing to pee more often than usual during the night (nocturia) pain or a burning sensation when peeing (dysuria) needing to pee more often than usual needing to pee suddenly or more urgently than usual pee that looks cloudy blood in your pee lower tummy pain or pain in your back, just under the ribs a high temperature, or feeling hot or cold, and shivery a very low temperature below 36C feeling tired or weak smelly or dark pee - if this is your only symptom, the NHS suggests it' could be because you've not been drinking enough water
Children with UTIs may also:
have a high temperature - your child is feeling hotter than usual if you touch their neck, back or tummy appear generally unwell - babies and young children may be irritable and not feed, eat or drink properly wet the bed or wet themselves be sick
Symptoms in older, frail people or people with a urinary catheter:
changes in behaviour, such as acting agitated or confused (delirium) leaking pee (wetting themselves or incontinence) that is worse than usual new shivering or shaking (rigors) How to prevent UTIs
As mentioned, the NHS notes that if you keep getting bladder infections (cystitis) and are taking warfarin, you should avoid cranberry products. Warfarin is a type of medicine known as an anticoagulant that helps your blood flow more easily through your veins, making it less likely that you will form a dangerous blood clot.
The reason the NHS mentions cranberries is that these products, available as juice, tablets or capsules to take every day, could also help. You should speak to your doctor before taking any of these during pregnancy.
It further notes that there is some evidence to suggest that taking D-mannose may be beneficial. This is a sugar you can buy as a powder or tablets to take every day. But be mindful as D-mannose and cranberry products can contain a lot of sugar.
Do
wipe from front to back when you go to the toilet
keep the genital area clean and dry
drink plenty of fluids, particularly water, so that you regularly pee during the day and do not feel thirsty
wash the skin around the vagina with water before and after sex
pee as soon as possible after sex
promptly change nappies or incontinence pads if they are soiled
wear cotton underwear
Don't
do not use scented soap around the genital area
do not hold your pee in if you feel the urge to go
do not rush when going for a pee - try to fully empty your bladder
do not wear tight underwear
do not drink lots of alcoholic drinks, as they may irritate your bladder
do not have lots of sugary food or drinks, as they may encourage bacteria to grow
do not use condoms or a diaphragm or cap with spermicidal lube on them - try non-spermicidal lube or a different type of contraception
Head to your local pharmacy
If you think you have a UTI and you are a woman or girl aged between 16 and 64 and are not pregnant or breastfeeding, a pharmacist can give the same medicines as a GP to treat a UTI. They can also give advice or direct you to other medical help.
Urgent GP appointment or NHS 111
You think you, your child or someone you care for may have a urinary tract infection (UTI) and:
you're aged 65 or older your child is aged 15 or younger you have a very high or low temperature, feel hot or cold, or are shivering you're a man, or are trans or non-binary and were assigned male at birth you have diabetes your symptoms get worse quickly, or do not improve within 48 hours (2 days) of starting treatment or treating it yourself you keep getting UTIs (2 within 6 months, or 3 within 12 months) you use a catheter you're pregnant you have pain in the lower tummy or in the back, just under the ribs you have blood in your pee - your pee may look bright pink, red or dark brown you have a weakened immune system
The NHS also warns that some of these are also signs and symptoms of a kidney infection. If not treated, this can become serious fast and could cause sepsis.
Call 999 or go to A&E
You should take this action if you or your child are confused, drowsy, or have difficulty speaking. It warns: "Do not drive to A&E. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance. Bring any medicines you take with you."
What causes a urinary tract infections?
The NHS explains: "Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are usually caused by bacteria from poo entering the urinary tract. The bacteria enter through the tube that carries pee out of the body (urethra). Women have a shorter urethra than men. This means bacteria are more likely to reach the bladder or kidneys and cause an infection."
Things that increase the risk of bacteria getting into the bladder include:
having sex pregnancy conditions that block the urinary tract, such as kidney stones conditions that make it difficult to fully empty the bladder, such as an enlarged prostate in men and constipation in children urinary catheters (a tube in your bladder used to drain urine) having a weakened immune system - for example, if you have poorly controlled diabetes or you are having chemotherapy not drinking enough fluids