Preparing for a telehealth UTI consultation

Describe the symptoms and timing

Record when symptoms began and whether you have burning or pain when urinating, urgency, frequency, lower abdominal discomfort, cloudy or bloody urine, fever, nausea, vomiting or pain in the back or side.

Tell the doctor whether symptoms are improving, stable or worsening and whether you have used pain relief, antibiotics or pharmacy treatment. Similar symptoms can arise from conditions other than a urinary infection.

Share factors that change the assessment

Mention pregnancy or possible pregnancy, age, sex, diabetes, immune suppression, kidney disease, stones, urinary tract abnormalities, catheters and recurrent infections. These details may change testing, treatment or the need for in-person care.

Provide medicine allergies, recent antibiotic use and any previous urine culture results or resistant infections.

• Pregnancy or possible pregnancy
• Fever, flank or back pain, vomiting or feeling very unwell
• Male urinary symptoms or symptoms in a child
• Recurrent UTI, kidney problems or recent antibiotics

Urine testing may be needed

A clinician may recommend urinalysis or urine culture before or after treatment depending on symptoms and risk factors. Home dipsticks cannot confirm every infection or identify which antibiotic may be appropriate.

Confirm where the sample should be collected, whether it needs to be taken before antibiotics and who will review the result. Do not delay urgent care to obtain a sample.

Treatment is not automatic

Antibiotics are used for bacterial urinary infections when clinically appropriate, but they are not suitable for every urinary symptom. The choice and duration depend on the person, site of infection, allergies, pregnancy, kidney function and resistance risk.

A consultation may result in testing, a different diagnosis, in-person examination or urgent review rather than an antibiotic prescription.

Know when to seek faster care

Fever with back or side pain, persistent vomiting, severe illness, confusion, pregnancy with urinary symptoms, or symptoms in a young child may need prompt in-person assessment. Kidney infection can be serious.

Call 000 for collapse, severe breathing difficulty or another life-threatening problem. If symptoms worsen or do not improve as expected, seek reassessment rather than repeating treatment without review.

Common questions