Urinary tract infections (UTIs) occur when bacteria infect any part of the urinary tract, with symptoms varying based on the affected area and the individual’s age, gender, and fitness. Lower UTIs are less serious but still painful, while upper UTIs are more severe and can cause fever, chills, vomiting, and back pain. Treatment typically involves oral or intravenous antibiotics. UTIs are more common in sexually active women, diabetics, and those with sickle cell disease. Infants, children, and older people may experience different symptoms.
A urinary tract infection, also known as a urinary tract infection, occurs when bacteria infect any part of the urinary tract, which consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. In general, infections that occur higher up in the urinary tract, especially in the kidneys, are more serious than those that occur lower down the tract. Symptoms of urinary tract infection vary based on which part of the tract is affected and the age, gender, and overall fitness of the affected individual. Symptoms commonly associated with upper or lower urinary tract infections include painful urination, frequent urination, or blood in the urine.
Lower urinary tract infections tend to be much less serious than upper urinary tract infections, although the UTI symptoms associated with lower urinary tract infections can still be painful and frightening. Painful and frequent urination accompanied by a feeling of being unable to hold urine is indicative of a urinary infection. Other signs of a lower urinary tract infection may include bloody or foul-smelling urine, inability to urinate completely, and low-grade fever. The usual treatment for simple lower urinary tract infections involves mostly oral antibiotics. In more complicated cases, intravenous antibiotics may be administered.
Upper urinary tract infections tend to be much more serious than their lower counterparts, as the kidneys are very important for proper waste processing in the body. UTI symptoms of an upper urinary tract infection may be the same as those of a lower urinary tract infection, but are usually accompanied by more severe symptoms. Additional symptoms of upper urinary tract infection include relatively high fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, and pain in the back or side. Such pain usually occurs around the waist level. Another common symptom is extreme tiredness, which can occur even if the individual is healthy and well rested.
Urinary tract infections are more common in sexually active women, diabetics, and individuals with sickle cell disease. Infants and children sometimes get such infections, who may have different UTI symptoms than those experienced by their older counterparts. Along with the symptoms seen in normal cases, children may also experience diarrhea and general fatigue. Older people with a urinary tract infection often become very lethargic, may experience fever or hypothermia, and may experience an altered mental state. In some cases, urinary tract infection symptoms are interpreted as symptoms of a sexually transmitted disease; in other cases, there are no obvious symptoms at all.
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