Treatment:

Patients are encouraged to drink large amounts of fluid to help increase the flow of urine and "wash out" the bacteria. For infections believed to be associated with bacteria, antibiotics may be started immediately. Alternatively, your doctor may wait for the results from the urine culture (usually 36-48 hours).

Surgery is rarely necessary, unless a serious underlying anatomical problem is the source of recurrent infections.

If an underlying problem is identified, it will need to be corrected. If a kidney stone is found, it may need to be removed. Foreign objects in the urinary system must also be removed.

If infections persist despite no obvious cause, a longer course of antibiotics may be necessary.

Expectations (prognosis):

If symptoms are mild, patients should expect to have relief of symptoms within 2-3 days with the use of antibiotics or supportive care.

Complications:

Possible complications include infection of the kidney and bloodstream, resulting from spread of the bacteria from the bladder into the blood. The occurrence of these complications may be suggested by fevers, back pain, chills or symptoms lasting more than a few days.

If infection travels to the kidneys, they may be at risk for scarring, especially if antibiotic treatment is delayed.

Calling your health care provider:

A physician should be contacted if any of the symptoms of cystitis last more than 2-3 days, if they are particularly severe, or if they include fever, chills, or back and abdominal pain, which might suggest a more serious infection.