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Signs & Symptoms of UTI Gone Systemic

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common types of infection that both children and adults can suffer from. Generally, a UTI begins when bacteria goes up the urethra and spreads into the ureters and kidneys. When the infection spreads to the kidney it becomes systemic and is potentially dangerous. Kidney infections can lead to kidney failure and the need for dialysis and an eventual kidney replacement. The most common symptoms of a UTI include painful urination, a persistent need to urinate, slight fever, frequent urination as well as blood and bacteria in the urine.

  1. Pain

    • According to the Mayo Clinic, one of the most persistent and common symptoms of a UTI is painful urination. Pain can feel like sharp needles in the urethra or a burning sensation when urinating. For many people, painful urination is the first symptom of a UTI. When the infection has become systemic, pain can also be felt on the side, where the kidneys are located.

    Urination

    • Another common symptom of a urinary tract infection is changes in the frequency and pressure to urinate, according to the Mayo Clinic. For many people, this takes the form of needing to urinate more frequently, although they may only produce a small amount of urine each time they need to urinate. Also, they may feel the need to urinate much more often than normal even if they produce little urine.

    Fever

    • According to VN Acharya of the Seth SG Medical College in Bombay, India, fever is also a symptom that the urinary tract infection has progressed to the kidneys and become systemic. Fever is the body's natural effort to fight off infection, particularly when it has invaded the body.

    Blood in the Urine

    • According to the Mayo Clinic, another symptom of systemic urinary tract infection is blood in the urine. This occurs when the kidneys have become involved and are being damaged by the infection. Blood seeps into the urine as the small capillaries and blood vessels in the kidneys slowly seep blood into the urine. The urine may appear red, dark brown or orange in color as a result of blood in the urine.

    Bacteria

    • Another symptom of systemic urinary tract infection is that the urine will become cloudy, according to Stanley Hellerstein, MD of the University of Missouri School of Medicine, Kansas City. As bacteria grows in the kidneys, the urine that is produced will contain high amounts of bacterial flora, which is the source of the infection.

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