![\"lower](\"https:\/\/fthmb.tqn.com\/WJAMxEt17ILmAhlKr3BZc9qHuoc=\/768x0\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)\/UTI-symptoms-5ad8bbf5642dca003692d55e.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Signs Can Vary In Women, Men, Children, And The Elderly<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n By Jerry Kennard\u00a0|\u00a0Reviewed by\u00a0Richard N. Fogoros, MD<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Anyone who has ever had a urinary tract infection (UTI) knows full well how frustrating and uncomfortable they can be. Even a mild case can cause pain when urinating, an increased urge to urinate, and blood or pus in the urine. If the infection moves from the bladder to the kidneys, the condition can get worse, triggering severe back pain, nausea, vomiting, and, in rare cases, kidney damage.<\/span><\/p>\n And, it’s not just adults who can be affected. Newborns and children can also get UTIs, and those occurring in the elderly can sometimes be life-threatening. By knowing the signs and symptoms of a UTI, you can seek treatment and avoid many of complications of this all-too-common infection.<\/span><\/p>\n Frequent Symptoms<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The symptoms of a\u00a0urinary tract infection<\/a>\u00a0are largely defined by their location in the urinary system. Broadly speaking, there are two types of UTI:<\/span><\/p>\n A lower urinary tract infection is one that occurs in the bladder or urethra (the tube through which urine exits the body). It is commonly referred to as a\u00a0bladder infection<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n An upper urinary tract infection involves the kidneys and ureters (the duct through which urine passes from the kidneys to the bladder). An infection of the kidneys is also referred to as\u00a0pyelonephritis<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Lower Urinary Tract (Bladder Infection)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n A lower urinary tract infection typically occurs when bacteria enter the urethra and cause an infection in the bladder.<\/span><\/p>\n When symptoms appear, they often start with a dull ache or discomfort in the pelvis or urethra. Usually, within hours, the UTI will manifest with characteristic symptoms, including:<\/span><\/p>\n Pain or burning during urination (dysuria<\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n An increased urge to urinate (urinary urgency)<\/span><\/p>\n The need to get up at night to urinate (nocturia<\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n Inability to hold your urine (urinary incontinence)<\/span><\/p>\n Passing frequent, small amounts of urine<\/span><\/p>\n Foul-smelling urine<\/span><\/p>\n Cloudy urine caused by pus (pyuria<\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n Bloody urine (hematuria<\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n Pus discharge from the urethra<\/span><\/p>\n Lower abdominal discomfort<\/span><\/p>\n Pelvic pain in women<\/span><\/p>\n Low-grade fever<\/span><\/p>\n Fatigue<\/span><\/p>\n Upper Urinary Tract (Pyelonephritis)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n A bladder infection that has migrated to the kidneys is usually considered serious and in need of urgent medical care. Pyelonephritis can cause systemic (all-body) symptoms that are not only more overt but frequently debilitating.<\/span><\/p>\n Signs of pyelonephritis may include:<\/span><\/p>\n A high fever (over 100.4 degrees)<\/span><\/p>\n Body chills<\/span><\/p>\n Rigors (shivering and sweating accompanied by a rise in temperature)<\/span><\/p>\n Nausea or vomiting<\/span><\/p>\n Flank pain (pain that’s usually deep and high in the back or sides, though it can be present in the upper abdomen)<\/span><\/p>\n Special Populations<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Babies, young children, and the elderly are also commonly affected by UTIs and often in vastly different ways. The main challenge in the very young and very old is that the classic signs are frequently either missing or misattributed to other causes.<\/span><\/p>\n With new-borns especially, the only clues you may have are a persistent fussiness or crying accompanied by odd-smelling urine and the refusal to eat.<\/span><\/p>\n This is why it is important <\/span>to always to discuss your baby’s bowel and urinary habits at\u00a0every doctor visit, however mild or incidental the changes may seem.<\/span><\/p>\n In contrast, the signs of a UTIs in toddlers and younger children will be more characteristic and may include dysuria, urinary urgency, daytime incontinence (enuresis), or the rubbing or grabbing of the genitals.<\/span><\/p>\n A UTI in the elderly will usually not have any of the traditional symptoms seen in other adults. These may include urinary incontinence and mental confusion (caused by the bacterial penetration of the\u00a0blood-brain barrier<\/a>).\u00a0If your loved one is older, the main clues to watch out for are sudden changes in behavior and bladder control, especially if accompanied by lower abdominal pain or strong-smelling urine.<\/span><\/p>\n Complications<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n UTI complications often occur as result of an untreated or undertreated infection. The risk is also high in people with an underlying kidney disorder,\u00a0diabetes<\/a>, or diseases that cause immune impairment (such as HIV).<\/span><\/p>\n Complications of a urinary tract infection include:<\/span><\/p>\n Recurrent UTIs occurring at least twice in six months or four times in a year, most commonly in women<\/span><\/p>\n Urethral narrowing (stricture<\/a>) in men with recurrent infections<\/span><\/p>\n Increased risk of preterm birth and low birth weight in pregnancy<\/span><\/p>\n Permanent kidney damage<\/span><\/p>\n Sepsis<\/a>\u00a0(a potentially life-threatening, whole-body inflammatory response caused by a severe infection)<\/span><\/p>\n In Children<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Because a urinary tract infection in new-borns will often have few, if any, of the classic signs of a UTI, a child\u00a0may only become symptomatic when sepsis (also referred to as\u00a0urosepsis<\/a>) develops. Sepsis is always considered a medical emergency.<\/span><\/p>\n Go to an emergency room or call 911 if your baby develops some or all of the following symptoms:<\/span><\/p>\n Yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice<\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n High Fever<\/span><\/p>\n Decreased tone (floppiness)<\/span><\/p>\n Vomiting<\/span><\/p>\n Cloudy or bloody urine<\/span><\/p>\n Irregular breathing<\/span><\/p>\n Pale pallor or even a bluish skin tone (cyanosis<\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n A bulging of the soft spot on the back of the head triggered by the development of\u00a0meningitis<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n In the Elderly<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Since UTIs are frequently missed in the elderly, the infection may only become apparent when urosepsis starts to affect the brain and other vital organs.<\/span><\/p>\n Symptoms include <\/span>of this dangerous\u00a0complication include:<\/span><\/p>\n An abnormally rapid heart rate (tachycardia<\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n High fever or\u00a0hypothermia<\/a>\u00a0(body temperatures below 95 degrees)<\/span><\/p>\n Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath (dyspnea<\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n Profuse sweating<\/span><\/p>\n Sudden extreme anxiety<\/span><\/p>\n Severe back, abdominal, or pelvic pain<\/span><\/p>\n Dementia-like<\/a>\u00a0symptoms triggered by the development of brain inflammation (encephalitis)<\/span><\/p>\n If left untreated, sepsis can lead to\u00a0septic shock<\/a>, organ failure, and death.<\/span><\/p>\n When to See a Doctor<\/span><\/p>\n While milder UTIs will often go away on their own without\u00a0treatment<\/a>, you shouldn’t avoid seeing a doctor if the symptoms persist for more than a couple of days.<\/span><\/p>\n With that being said, if you develop signs of a kidney infection, including flank pain, nausea, or vomiting, you need to see a doctor immediately.<\/span><\/p>\n If you are pregnant, you should never take a chance with UTIs, especially if you have diabetes, HIV, or have had previous infections. Even mild symptoms should be looked at, treated, and monitored to ensure that the infection is fully cleared.<\/span><\/p>\n Without exception, any symptoms of suggestive of sepsis should be treated as a medical emergency. This is especially true <\/span>in babies or the elderly.<\/span><\/p>\n Sources:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Heppner, H.; <\/span>Yapan, F.; and Wiedermann, A. “Urosepsis in Geriatric Patients.<\/a>”\u00a0Aktuelle Urol.<\/em>\u00a02016;47(1):54-9. DOI: 10.1055\/s-0041-106184.<\/span><\/p>\n Robinson, J.; Findlay, J.; Lang, M. et al. “Urinary tract infections in infants and children: Diagnosis and management.<\/a>” Paediatr Child Health. 2014; 19(6):315-19.<\/span><\/p>\n