Symptoms of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

June 10, 2008 - 7:30am

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Symptoms of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

While it is possible to have a urinary tract infection without any symptoms, most people notice symptoms.

The Female Urinary System

Symptoms of a urinary tract infection include the following:

Increased frequency of urination
Feeling of urgency
Burning or pain while urinating
Itching in the genital area
Urinating only small amounts of urine at a time
Pain over the area of the bladder [the pubic area or lower abdomen] or in the lower back
Pain along the sides under the ribs [back and flank pain]
Blood in the urine, or on the tissue after wiping following urination in women
Cloudy looking urine, possibly signifying visible pus
Unpleasant smell to urine
New onset of incontinence (inability to hold the urine, during the day or at night)

The following symptoms suggest that the infection has gone up into the kidneys, a more serious problem:

Fever, chills
Severe pain in the lower back

Children (babies in particular) may have less common symptoms of UTI, such as:

Irritability
Difficulty feeding
Incontinence
Loose stools, diarrhea
Nausea, vomiting
Slow weight gain (failure-to-thrive)

Older people may have more vague symptoms of a UTI, such as fatigue, confusion, loss of appetite, or trouble walking.

References:

American Foundation for Urologic Disease website. Available at: http://www.auafoundation.org/auafhome.asp .

Griffith’s 5-Minute Clinical Consult. 2001 ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2001.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Available at: http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/ .

Last reviewed August 2008 by ]]>Jill D. Landis, MD]]>

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.