Symptoms of Urinary Infections

The urinary tract is composed of the urethra, bladder, ureters and kidneys. Any part of the urinary tract can develop an infection when bacteria, viruses, fungus or parasites are present in the normally sterile urinary tract. The kidneys convert filtered wastes from the body into urine that travels down the ureters to the bladder. When you urinate, the urine is released from the body through the urethra. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) may cause different symptoms depending on the location of the infection, but in older adults the only sign of a urinary tract infection can be confusion or mental status changes.

Risk Factors

• Women, diabetics and older adults are at an increased risk for developing a urinary tract infection. Other conditions can increase the risk of men and women develop a urinary tract infection such as using a urinary catheter short-term or long-term, bowel incontinence, prolonged bed rest, menopause, a narrowed urethra due to an enlarged prostate or a sexually transmitted disease (STD), pregnancy, sexual activity, using a diaphragm for birth control and not drinking enough fluids.

Urethritis Symptoms

• Urethritis is an inflammation of the urethra due to urinary tract infections, sexually transmitted diseases, herpes simplex virus and cytomegalovirus. Symptoms of urethritis depend on the primary cause and can differ in men and women.

  Urethritis symptoms in men can include painful urination, unusual discharge from the penis, blood in the semen or urine, increased need to urinate, painful intercourse or ejaculation and itching, tenderness or swelling the groin or penis area. Urethritis symptoms in women can include painful urination, abdominal pain, chills, fever, increased need to urinate, pelvic pain and vaginal discharge.

Cystitis Symptoms

• Cystitis is an infection of the bladder and urethra. Symptoms of cystitis include chills, fatigue, fever, pain to the sides of your back called flank pain, nausea, vomiting and painful sexual intercourse. Symptoms of cystitis related to urination include cloudy urine, increased need to urinate, urine with a foul odor, pain during urination and pressure in the lower pelvis. This condition is rare in men.

Pyelonephritis Symptoms

• Pyelonephritis is a medical term for an infection of the kidneys and ureters. Symptoms of pyelonephritis include back pain or pain to the side of your back called flank pain, chills, severe abdominal pain, fatigue, fever greater than 102 ̊ F for more than two days, vomiting, nausea and warm, moist, reddened or flushed skin. Symptoms of pyelonephritis related to urination include cloudy urine, blood in the urine, pain during urination and increased frequency or urgency of urination during the day or night.

Diagnosis & Treatment

• Diagnosis of a urinary infection is based on a urinalysis which is a urine specimen analyzed at a laboratory. Treatment for bacterial urinary infections usually begins with antibiotic therapy for a few days to a few weeks depending on the location of the infection. Urinary tract infections that are recurrent or don't respond well with treatment may need antibiotic therapy for six months to two years. You should take the antibiotics as prescribed and should not discontinue the antibiotics because you feel better.

  Your physician may prescribe medications called Pyridium which relieves irritation, burning and pain in the urinary tract or ascorbic acid which decreases bacterial concentration in the urine. Your physician will prescribe treatments based on your medical history and current infection, but not all treatments will be indicated for everyone. Your physician may request a follow-up urinalysis to ensure the infection has resolved, but may consider the infection resolved if your symptoms improve.