“Should I go to the ER for a UTI?”
I think I'm experiencing symptoms of a UTI. I've had one before, but this time I have severe abdominal pain, along with a fever. This seems a lot more serious than my last UTI, do you think I should go to the ER? I tried flushing the infection out with water but the pain only goes away temporarily.
10 Answers
We would be happy to take care of UTI, But do understand that the wait time in EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT goes up significantly because of NON EMERGENCY visits such as UTI which generally are taken care of by your primary care doctor or a walk-in clinic.
If you think you have a simple bladder infection then you should see your family doctor or (if its more urgent) go to an urgent care center. If you develop pain in your back /flank or fever over 102 or vomiting then go to the ER as the infection may have spread to your kidneys, which is more serious. If you are pregnant see a doctor within 24 hours of having burning with urination- can be urgent care, your OBGYN, or family doctor.
Yes, you should; with high fever and possible urinary infection, what is called urosepsis could lead to complication and septicemia.
Drinking a lot of water (or cranberry juice) will not make a serious UTI go away. If it is associated with severe abdominal pain and a fever there is always a chance it is not a UTI at all but some other abdominal infection or inflammation (acute appendicitis, colitis, diverticulitis, or pyelonephritis---to name a few possibilities.) If you are still experiencing the symptoms you described, see your doctor, or go to your closest ER, so they can hopefully make the correct diagnosis and treat you appropriately.
Yes, you should go to the ER as it might be pylo or PID.
Abdominal pain is not common with a UTI. You should see a doctor, be that in an ER, urgent care or office is your choice.
Anytime you have severe abdominal pain should seek care immediately- whether your PCP or ER.
Are you sure it is a "duck?" While the ER should just about never be the place to go if you have other access options and are comfortable that your issue is a urinary tract infection (UTI) -- in your example, those are almost never accompanied by severe abdominal pain. So, I would suggest that you have severe abdominal pain, which only rarely can be properly evaluated in office or clinic settings and should go to the ER. Appendicitis; torsion; diverticulitis; gallbladder issues; early pregnancy issues; and multiple others can cause the symptom. While it is true that drinking water will not temporize the pain from the concerning potential actors above, relying on a coincidence can often delay presenting for evaluation and care. Get seen and feel better.
Donald W. Alves, MD, MS, FACEP
Donald W. Alves, MD, MS, FACEP
If you are having abdominal pain and fever, you need to go to the ER. It's as simple as that. That's because there are a number of serious conditions that can cause fever with abdominal pain. The UTI symptoms may be a completely separate matter. Many patients will have more than one diagnosis at the same time.
Yes. If you have symptoms of a UTI as well as a fever, it may be best to be seen by the ED. At least go to your primary doctor or an urgent care for antibiotics.
