Infections des voies urinaires (IVU)

• Can I talk to a doctor on Gotodoctor.ca about my urinary tract infection?

Yes, Gotodoctor.ca provides virtual care services for Urinary tract infections. A doctor will take a comprehensive in-depth history and may provide you with prescriptions. Depending on the severity of symptoms further recommendations will be provided. If a patient is suffering from a severe infection doctor will direct him/her to clinic treatment.

• What is Urinary tract infection?

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is an ongoing infection in any part of the urinary system. It can be anywhere from kidneys to urethra^[1]. Most of the UTIs are seen in the lower urinary tract. If the UTI spreads to kidneys, it can result in a condition known as “pyelonephritis” which is a serious condition. Females have a higher risk of acquiring UTI as their urethra is shorter than males^[1-3].

• What are the symptoms of UTI?

Symptoms of UTI are a change of frequency, dysuria and urgency. There might be an associated low-grade fever as well. Sometimes blood might present in urine (hematuria) and urine might have a cloudy appearance as well^[2]. Female patients may or may not present with a vaginal discharge and male patients might experience difficulty of passing urine, especially in a condition where a prostate disease is present^[3].

• How is UTI treated?

UTI is treated with antibiotics as first line treatment. Prescription of antibiotics by doctors is based on the type of UTI, depending on the fact that whether it is an uncomplicated or complicated UTI^{[2, 3]}. A prescription of a short course of antibiotics may be provided by the doctor if the UTI is an uncomplicated UTI. If it is a complicated UTI, a prescription of a longer course of antibiotics is needed. If the patient is having a severe infection, a doctor may prescribe IV antibiotics^[4].

• How can an online doctor on Gotodoctor.ca treat UTI ?

Online doctors on Gotodoctor.ca treat UTI through virtual care services. An appointment can be easily made with an online doctor. UTI is a comparatively easy condition to treat via virtual care, and it is a proven fact that prescription of antibiotics have prevented antibiotic misuse and assured more adherence for treatment^[5-9]. An online doctor will take a comprehensive history of your signs and symptoms and may provide you with prescriptions. Prescriptions can be obtained by online doctors. Virtual care services provided by Gotodoctor.ca assure comfort, convenience and a higher level of care for the patient.

References

1. Tan, C.W. and M.P. Chlebicki, Urinary tract infections in adults. Singapore medical journal, 2016. 57(9): p. 485-490.
2. Flores-Mireles, A.L., et al., Urinary tract infections: epidemiology, mechanisms of infection and treatment options. Nature reviews. Microbiology, 2015. 13(5): p. 269-284.
3. Medina, M. and E. Castillo-Pino, An introduction to the epidemiology and burden of urinary tract infections. Therapeutic Advances in Urology, 2019. 11: p. 1756287219832172.
4. Chardavoyne, P.C. and K.E. Kasmire, Appropriateness of Antibiotic Prescriptions for Urinary Tract Infections. The western journal of emergency medicine, 2020. 21(3): p. 633-639.
5. Carter, B., K. Whittaker, and C. Sanders, Evaluating a telehealth intervention for urinalysis monitoring in children with neurogenic bladder. Journal of Child Health Care, 2018. 23(1): p. 45-62.
6. Eron, L., et al., Treating Acute Infections by Telemedicine in the Home. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 2004. 39(8): p. 1175-1181.
7. Grimes, C.L., et al., A guide for urogynecologic patient care utilizing telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic: review of existing evidence. International Urogynecology Journal, 2020. 31(6): p. 1063-1089.
8. Novara, G., et al., Telehealth in Urology: A Systematic Review of the Literature. How Much Can Telemedicine Be Useful During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic? European Urology, 2020. 78(6): p. 786-811.
9. Rastogi, R., et al., Management of Urinary Tract Infections in Direct to Consumer Telemedicine. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2019. 35.