Peeing should not burn
Text an AI doctor about UTI symptoms, what helps now, and whether you need antibiotics. Know what you can handle yourself and when to see someone in person.
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Care on campus at Penn State
Penn State's University Health Services offers same-day primary care appointments, an on-site pharmacy, lab, and X-ray at the Student Health Center on the University Park campus.
- Health center:
- University Health Services (UHS), Student Health Center, University Park campus
- Phone:
- 814-865-4UHS (814-865-4847)
- Hours:
- Weekday hours; same-day appointments available
- After hours:
- 24/7 advice nurse: 814-865-4847, option 3
- Booking:
- Book via myUHS or call; cancel at least 1 hour ahead ($20 no-show fee)
- If it's urgent:
- Nearest emergency departments: Mount Nittany Medical Center and Penn Highlands State College
What changes the answer
Most UTIs stay simple. Some do not. Get seen the same day if any of these show up:
- Fever or chills
- Pain in your back or side, up under the ribs
- Vomiting
- Blood in your pee
- You are pregnant or might be
- This is your second or third one this year
Those can mean the infection is moving toward your kidneys, and that is a same day visit, not a wait and see. Not sure? Text in and we will sort it with you.
What helps right now
Drink water. Pee when you need to, since holding it makes things worse. Skip coffee, alcohol, and anything spicy until it settles. A heating pad on your lower belly takes the edge off.
Cranberry products are fine to try, but they do not treat an infection that has already started. If the burning is still there tomorrow, or it is getting worse, that is your cue to get care.
What a visit looks like
Usually a quick urine test and a short conversation. If it is bacterial, antibiotics clear most UTIs within a few days. At Penn State, that is University Health Services at the Student Health Center on the University Park campus. Book through the myUHS portal.
Rather not leave your dorm? Start with a text consult first. In a few messages we can tell you whether you need the visit at all, and what to ask for when you go.
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