7 Unusual Symptoms of Urinary Tract Infections

Find Out the Hidden Urinary Tract Infection Symptoms

You must be familiar with the common symptoms;

• The all-time urge to urinate.
• Burning sensation during urination.
• Passing small amounts of urine frequently.
• Cloudy, dark, strong-smelling urine.
• Blood in urine.
• Fever and Chills.

But, as we are here to know, these symptoms are just the tip of the iceberg.

Yes, you heard it right! 

UTI symptoms show in different forms; some will even surprise you. Not recognising them can lead to getting delayed treatment and increased discomfort.

1. Unending Tiredness

Though this is not an instantly recognisable symptom, it grows slowly. Fatigue comes from the work your body is putting into fighting the infection. 

Any infection in the body triggers your immune system to fight off the invading bacteria. This fight needs a lot of energy which makes you feel drained. 

If your UTI increases, further ascending to the kidneys (pyelonephritis), then the body energy consumption increases further on. 

2. Sleep Issues

Even though UTI can hardly have a direct impact on insomnia, repeated waking up for frequent urination, abdominal pain, and burning sensation can keep you awake. Some studies say that UTI also influences sleep hormones, causing insomnia. This may also come from anxiety and stress related to UTI.

3. Headaches and Dizziness

These symptoms also need our attention when it comes to UTI. 

When your body starts its immune response to fight a bacterial infection, the energy demand in the body may tire you, giving you a headache. With an infection, the inflammatory markers are triggered, releasing some chemicals that stimulate the pain pathway in the body.  Additionally, one of the common causes of UTI is dehydration. So this can also lead to dizziness and headaches.

4. Blood Pressure Changes

If you see changes in your blood pressure with UTI symptoms, immediate attention is required. This symptom can mean either of the two things; body is under severe dehydration or the infection has spread to your nephrons (urine filtration system inside your kidneys). The change in water to electrolyte balance in your kidney can lead to blood pressure changes.

5. Confusion and Disorientation

When you have a severe infection with dehydration or electrolyte imbalance, it affects your brain function. Usually, the elderly face this. When UTIs are not treated promptly, they can lead to severe infections that can spread all over the body.

6. Seizures

With severe untreated infections, your brain coverings can get infected. This condition is called meningitis. If you or your loved ones experience seizures with UTI, then think that uncontrolled infection spread to the brain can be a cause.

7. Back Pain

UTI usually comes with severe abdominal pain and cramps. But, if the infection spreads to the kidneys, or the UTI itself has occurred from the presence of stones in the kidneys, you may feel a painful ache in the back. Chronic UTI back pain can also feel like radiating to the insides of your legs.

So, it is important to recognise the early symptoms of UTI before the complications give you the symptoms. Some of the complications you do not want are;

• Kidney issues and functional damage
• Sepsis (Infection entering the bloodstream)
• Chronic Kidney Disease
• Hypertension
• Infertility
• Papillary Necrosis (Kidney tissue death)

So, find the best ways to cope with early UTI signs and symptoms by connecting with the best experts.

Old Age and UTIs: The Uncommon UTI Causes You Might be Missing

It is important that you recognise the early symptoms of UTI in the elderly population. They are highly susceptible to infections for many reasons, such as;

• Decreased immune health
• Inability to carry out hygienic routines themselves
• Health conditions that do not allow them to attend to their natural urges
• In severe cases of UTI in the elderly, the symptoms can be seen as;
• Increased confusion or delirium, which you may mistake as an age-related change.
• Dizziness that does not stop from going away.
• Blood pressure changes, which again increases the dizziness.
• Weakness in legs and decreased mobility.

The symptoms of UTI pose a challenge in the elderly due to the overlap of different health conditions, especially in those who are under the nursing of caretakers. 

The Dangerous Symptoms of  UTI and Sepsis

Sepsis is a severe kind of infection that has entered your bloodstream and can spread throughout the body. It is life-threatening. Never fail to miss these symptoms in anyone you know or are taking care of. 

• Fever
• Chills
• Rapid breathing
• Heart palpitations

To Conclude

The lesser-known symptoms of urinary tract infections may pose a danger if you fail to recognise urinary infections as the root cause. That is why you must make sure to talk to an experienced medical professional who can suggest the right way to deal with the treatment. Do not take chances even when you face just mild symptoms of UTI. Take action for your protection!