12 Signs and Symptoms of Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary tract infection (UTIs) is a very common disease in both child and adults, especially elder people. This disease can range from a mild to a severe and widespread infection, so its symptoms usually depend on its severity and the patient’s age. In both child and adults, the UTIs can be classified in lower and upper infections according to the organs that are affected (anatomical classification). A lower urinary tract infection refers to the bladder (cystitis) and the urethral infection (the conduit that carries the urine from the bladder to the outside). On the other hand, an upper urinary tract infection refers to ureters (the conduit that carries the urine from the kidneys to the bladder) and kidney infections (pyelonephritis). It is important to know that in children (especially newborns) and elder people, it can be very difficult to suspect and diagnose a UTI because, in most cases, they cannot express which symptoms they feel. Likewise, in most cases, the symptoms in these age groups may be too mild and quite nonspecific (in some cases they can also be confused with the flu). In fact, in many children and elder people, the disease is asymptomatic and the urinary tract infection is diagnosed by accident. Here are some symptoms which are considered more specific to urinary tract infections: 1 Increased urinary frequency. This symptom can be defined as the need to urinate constantly. Some experts say that this symptom is closely related to the discomfort that the patient feels when they urinate because they do not empty the bladder completely during each urination. 2 Discomfort when urinating. It is very frequent for the patient to refer to a burning sensation or pain while urinating, which induces the patient’s voluntary resistance to the urge of urinating. If the bladder is not drained completely during urination, the frequency of full bladder sensation increases considerably. More symptoms on next page... 3 Back or abdominal pain. This symptom is more frequent in upper urinary tract infections. This pain is due to the inflammation and distention of the urethra, bladder, ureters, and the capsule that covers and protects the kidneys. Patients usually refer to pain in the flank or lumbar fossa on the most affected side, but they can experience pain in the lower abdomen too (usually women). 4 Involuntary relaxation of the bladder sphincter. This symptom is specially noticed in bigger children and adults, who can return to wetting their beds during the night. Sphincter relaxation is produced by the irritation of these muscles by bacteria. 5 Changes in the physical characteristics of urine. Many patients go to the doctor because they notice changes in their urine, for example, the urine may become purulent (it becomes cloudy, thicker, and loses its transparency), red, bright pink or cola-colored (due to the presence of blood in it), and adopts a stronger and unpleasant smell. Non-specific symptoms: The following are among the most common non-specific symptoms of a urinary tract infection, in both children and elder people: 6 Fever. This symptom can range from a hot flush to the development of high fever (which indicates a more severe infection). In some cases the hot flush only produces redness of the skin (especially the cheeks), which is quite unspecific. However, it is very nonspecific because many infections (including viral, bacterial and some parasitic infections) can cause fever. The body's temperature elevation is due to the bacterial stimulation of the body's immune system to fight the infection. 7 Lethargy. This symptom describes the sensation of feeling sleepy, fatigued and sluggish (in both movements or thinking), so the patient may look constantly tired and without energy during the entire day. This symptom may also be present due to dehydration caused by fever. 8 Irritability. This symptom can be defined as the propensity to be easily excited or unsettled by an external action or stimuli that may not cause any response under normal conditions. The person reacts quickly and euphorically to stimuli, and in the case of children, they can be restless and crying. 9 Weight loss. This symptom is closely related to the lack of appetite and it is especially common in children with repetitive UTIs. In the case of children, their weight and size can be less than expected for their age. 10 Lack of appetite. This symptom can range from a mild lack of appetite to anorexia (complete loss of appetite). In most cases, this symptom is transient (while the infection is active), but when the person has repetitive urinary tract infections, this symptom can be chronic. 11 Vomiting. Due to the proximity between stomach and ureters, the patient may vomit regularly. This may be partly the reason for weight loss and other pains associated with vomiting. 12 Jaundice. It is an uncommon symptom in UTIs; however, it may indicate the development of some complications. Jaundice is defined as the yellow coloration of the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. It is typically a symptom of hepatic or biliary damage. Finally. The urinary tract infection can be a very common disease in children (especially in male newborns and female children) and elder people (especially those who must carry probes chronically), but luckily in most of these cases, the severity of the disease is not serious. However, if a person thinks that they, their child, or an elder person under their care may have a urinary tract infection, they must contact their pediatrician or GP to be properly diagnosed and to avoid the development of complications. It is very important to comply with treatment properly to avoid the dissemination of the disease out of the urinary tract system (sepsis), irreversible kidney damage, low birth weight or premature infants in pregnant women, urethral stricture (more frequent in men with previous gonococcal urethritis), among others.

5 Changes in the physical characteristics of urine

6 Fever

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