A burning feeling when you pee, or needing the toilet every few minutes, can ruin a day of travel. If you think you have a UTI in Brazil as a tourist, this guide explains what usually helps, why the pharmacy cannot sell you an antibiotic over the counter, and how to be assessed by a doctor licensed in Brazil without leaving your hotel.
Quick answer: in Brazil, antibiotics are only dispensed with a prescription, which the pharmacy keeps. If you have symptoms without warning signs, an online consultation is one way to be assessed. Book your online consultation.
What a UTI is, in simple terms
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection of the bladder, the kidneys or the tubes connected to them. A bladder infection is also called cystitis. Leading health references explain that it is usually caused by bacteria entering the urinary tract, and that women are more prone because of anatomy.
Common UTI symptoms while travelling in Brazil
Typical symptoms
- pain or a burning sensation when peeing;
- needing to pee more often, or more urgently, than usual, including at night;
- cloudy urine;
- pain in the lower tummy;
- feeling tired or unwell.
Dark or strong-smelling urine on its own may simply mean you are not drinking enough, which is common in the Brazilian heat (educational reference on UTI symptoms).
When a UTI needs urgent, in-person care
- pain in the back, just under the ribs;
- a high temperature, shivering, or feeling very hot or cold;
- blood in the urine;
- pregnancy, diabetes or a weakened immune system;
- symptoms in a man or a child, or in someone aged 65 or older;
- no improvement within 48 hours, or symptoms getting worse quickly;
- confusion or drowsiness: this is an emergency.
Some of these signs may indicate a kidney infection, which needs prompt in-person assessment. In Brazil, a UPA (public urgent care unit open 24 hours) or a private hospital emergency room are the usual options.
Self-care that helps while you wait for your consultation
- rest, and drink enough fluids to pass pale urine regularly through the day;
- avoid drinks that may irritate the bladder, such as alcohol, coffee and fruit juices;
- do not hold your pee when you feel the urge, and empty your bladder fully;
- keep the genital area clean and dry and prefer cotton underwear;
- cranberry products may help some people prevent repeat infections, but there is no good evidence that they treat an infection that has already started.
A simple painkiller suitable for you can ease discomfort; ask the pharmacist or doctor, especially if you take other medicines, are pregnant or have a chronic condition.
Why a Brazilian pharmacy will not sell you an antibiotic for a UTI
Under Brazilian health regulations, antibiotics are dispensed only against a prescription, and the pharmacy retains it. The box carries the phrase "venda sob prescrição médica – só pode ser vendido com retenção da receita". The prescription is valid for 10 days from issue (regulation on antimicrobial prescriptions; current list and validity rules).
The pharmacist cannot make exceptions. A prescription from your home country may not be accepted, so travellers usually need a prescription issued by a physician registered with a Brazilian Regional Medical Council (CRM).
Medical treatment for a UTI: what the doctor may decide
After assessing your symptoms and history, a doctor may offer self-care advice, ask for a urine test, suggest waiting a short time, or prescribe a short course of an antibiotic. The choice and duration depend on the individual assessment: do not use leftover antibiotics or medicines recommended by friends. If an antibiotic is prescribed, take the full course.
Before the consultation, write down: when symptoms started, any fever or back pain, whether you could be pregnant, your allergies, the medicines you take and previous UTIs. This helps the doctor assess you safely.
How an online consultation with PresençaMed International works
- Book and pay on the website: choose a time on the booking page. One price per consultation: US$ 50, by card (international cards accepted) or Pix. No CPF needed; your passport details are enough.
- At the time you chose, the doctor contacts you on WhatsApp and starts the video call.
- The consultation is in English or Spanish, every day from 8am to 10pm Brazil time (GMT-3), with a physician registered with the CRM.
- If the doctor considers it appropriate, prescriptions and documents are sent by e-mail. Most prescriptions are digital, including Brazil's blue (B1) and yellow (A) forms — PresençaMed already issues them digitally. B2 prescriptions are not issued.
A prescription is never guaranteed in advance: it always depends on the doctor's assessment, and sometimes the right recommendation is an in-person examination. Questions before booking? Use the form on our frequently asked questions page (please do not include clinical details there; health data is shared only in the consultation, under medical confidentiality and Brazil's data protection law).
Telehealth is authorised throughout Brazil, and the physician may always decide that in-person care is needed (Brazilian telehealth law; medical council telemedicine rules). For more context see how to get a prescription or medicine in Brazil and whether telemedicine is legal for tourists in Brazil.
Emergency signs: when it is not a matter for an online consultation
- chest pain, difficulty breathing or fainting;
- swelling of the face or throat, or trouble breathing after a medicine, food or sting;
- confusion, drowsiness or difficulty speaking;
- heavy bleeding or a serious injury.
In these situations call 192 (SAMU), the public emergency ambulance service, or go to the nearest emergency room.
Frequently asked questions about a UTI in Brazil
Can I buy antibiotics for a UTI without a prescription in Brazil?
No. Antibiotics are dispensed only with a prescription, which the pharmacy retains; it is valid for 10 days.
Will a pharmacy accept the prescription from my doctor at home?
It may not. Travellers usually need a prescription from a physician registered with a CRM in Brazil.
Can a UTI be assessed in an online consultation?
Often, when there are no warning signs. The doctor decides whether online care is adequate or whether you should be examined in person.
Do I need a CPF?
Not for a PresençaMed International consultation; passport details are enough.
Symptoms of a UTI in Brazil? Book an online consultation
Book your online consultation with a physician registered with the CRM, in English or Spanish, by video, every day from 8am to 10pm Brazil time. US$ 50 per consultation. Any prescription, certificate or report depends on the doctor's assessment.
Medical review: Dr. Marcelo R. Luján, Physician, CRM-SC 42.900, postgraduate in Family and Community Medicine (UNIFESP). Technical director of PresençaMed (Lujan e Perazolo Pera Serviços Médicos LTDA, CRM-SC PJ 14623). This content is general information and does not replace an individual consultation. Intense symptoms, or symptoms that worsen quickly, require in-person care or an emergency service (call 192, SAMU).