The main symptoms of a urinary tract infection are pain or burning when urinating, frequent urge to urinate, very dark and strong-smelling urine, a feeling of heaviness in the bladder and a constant low fever, in some cases.
These symptoms can vary greatly from one person to another and according to the location of the urinary system affected, which may be the urethra, bladder or kidneys. See what the symptoms of a bladder infection are.
Generally, urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria from the intestine that reach the urinary system, and are therefore more common in women due to the proximity of the anus to the urethra. Treatment for urinary tract infections must be guided by a doctor and usually involves the use of antibiotics.
Main symptoms of urinary infection
The most common symptoms of a urinary infection are:
- Pain or burning when urinating;
- Feeling of heaviness in the bladder;
- Frequent urge to urinate;
- Urinate in small quantities;
- Very dark and strong-smelling urine;
- Constant low fever, in some cases;
- Chills;
- Lower back pain, in the most severe cases;
- Blood in the urine in some cases.
In the presence of signs and symptoms of urinary infection, it is important that the doctor is consulted so that the infection can be confirmed and the most appropriate treatment can be initiated.
Don’t ignore the signs your body is giving you!
Online symptom test
If you think you may have a urinary tract infection, select what you are experiencing and see what your risk is:
The symptom test is only a guidance tool and does not serve as a diagnosis or replace consultation with a urologist, gynecologist or general practitioner.
Watch the following video and learn more about urinary tract infections:
Symptoms by type of urinary infection
Urinary tract infection symptoms may vary depending on the type of infection and the affected location:
1. Urethritis: infection in the urethra
Urethritis appears when bacteria infect only the urethra, causing inflammation and symptoms such as:
- Frequent urge to urinate;
- Difficulty starting to urinate;
- Pain or burning when urinating;
- Yellowish discharge from the urethra.
In these cases, it is advisable to consult a doctor to start treatment with antibiotics, in order to eliminate bacteria from the urethra. However, you should also keep your intimate area clean and dry, as well as increase your water intake.
See also a home remedy to help eliminate symptoms faster.
2. Cystitis: bladder infection
Bladder infection is the most common form of urinary infection and occurs when bacteria manage to pass through the urethra and reach the bladder, causing:
- Urgent urge to urinate, but in small quantities;
- Burning sensation when urinating;
- Presence of blood in the urine;
- Cloudy urine with an intense and unpleasant smell;
- Abdominal pain or feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen;
- Fever up to 38ºC.
It is recommended to consult a urologist or general practitioner as soon as one or more of these symptoms appear to begin appropriate treatment with antibiotics, in order to prevent the infection from reaching the kidneys.
In the case of back pain, fever above 38 ºC or vomiting, you should go to the emergency room immediately.
Find out more about how this problem is treated.
3. Pyelonephritis: kidney infection
Most urinary infections only affect the urethra or bladder, however, in more serious cases, bacteria can reach the kidneys and cause a more serious infection, which leads to:
- Fever above 38.5º C;
- Severe pain in the belly, back or groin;
- Pain or burning when urinating;
- Urina security;
- Presence of pus or blood in the urine;
- Frequent urge to urinate.
In addition, chills, nausea, vomiting and excessive tiredness may appear. In the elderly, this type of infection usually causes confusion even before other symptoms appear.
If pyelonephritis is suspected, it is important to go to the hospital immediately to identify the problem and start treatment with antibiotics directly into the vein. Understand better what pyelonephritis is and its symptoms.
Symptoms of urinary tract infection in babies
Identifying the symptoms of a urinary tract infection in a baby can be difficult, as babies and children cannot explain what they are feeling. However, in these cases the most common signs are:
- Fever above 37.5ºC for no apparent reason;
- Crying when urinating;
- Urine with an intense smell;
- Presence of blood in the diaper;
- Constant irritability;
- Decreased appetite.
Whenever these symptoms appear, it is important to consult your pediatrician to assess the possibility that the child is developing a urinary infection. Understand how treatment is carried out in these cases.
Symptoms of urinary tract infection during pregnancy
The symptoms of urinary tract infections during pregnancy are the same as when you are not pregnant and the woman can often be asymptomatic, only finding out when doing a routine urine test. During pregnancy, infection is more common, due to the lowered immune system and the increase in proteins in the urine that cause greater growth and development of bacteria.
Treatment for urinary tract infections during pregnancy can be done by taking antibiotics that do not affect pregnancy and include Cephalexin and Nitrofurantoin. Find out more about the medications used to treat urinary tract infections during pregnancy.
What to do
In the presence of symptoms indicative of a urinary tract infection, it is important to consult a doctor so that the symptoms can be assessed and a urine test can be performed to confirm the infection.
Treatment involves the use of antibiotics recommended by the doctor, which is the most recommended form of treatment. Treatment lasts 7-10 days, and it is important to take the medicine by the date informed by the doctor, even if the symptoms disappear before then. It is also important to drink more water, because the more urine the body produces, the more easily bacteria are eliminated in the urine. Know the names of some medications for urinary tract infections.
Check out more tips in our video below:
How to avoid urinary tract infection
To avoid urinary tract infections, it is recommended:
- Wash the external genital region with soap and water after sexual intercourse;
- After urinating and defecating, always clean your intimate area from front to back.in order to prevent the arrival of bacteria E. Coli in the vagina, as it is present in the anal and perianal region, being the main cause of urinary infections;
- Empty your bladder completely every time you urinateto avoid residual urine that increases the chances of urinary infection;
- Drink more waterdrinking at least 1.5 L of clear liquids per day;
- Maintain a fiber-rich diet to reduce the time feces remain in the intestine, which reduces the amount of bacteria within it;
- Do not use perfume or perfumed cream in the vaginal area because this can irritate the skin and increase the risk of urinary tract infection;
- Keep the vulva region dry at all timesavoiding wearing very tight clothes and daily absorbent pads, in order to reduce perspiration in this area.
You should follow this advice daily, especially during pregnancy, when there is a greater risk of urinary tract infections due to hormonal changes and increased weight on the bladder, which favors the proliferation of bacteria.
