Symptoms

Needing to pee suddenly or more often than usual
Pain or burning sensation when peeing
Smelly or cloudy pee
Blood in the Urine
Pain
Pain in the affected area
Belly pain
Fatigue

What To Expect

Like most bacterial inflammations, urinary tract infections cause redness and swelling of the tissue. Typical symptoms of urinary tract infection are pain and burning sensation when urinating, blood in the urine and a general feeling of illness. In severe cases, the urinary tract infection can also be accompanied by fever and chills. Many affected persons, who suffer from recurrent urinary tract infections, recognize the first signs of a urinary tract infection early and can still avert the imminent bladder infection with the help of home remedies.

Made Worse By

Urinary tract infections often occur due to lack of hygiene. It is important to regularly clean the intimate area with soap or shower gel. In addition, the urge to urinate should be avoided and the bladder should always be emptied as completely as possible. After sexual intercourse it is very important to drain water immediately. Cold and wetness should be avoided.

How Common

Women are significantly more likely to suffer from a urinary tract infection. This is because women have a shorter urethra than men, which is why germs can enter the bladder more easily. Young women in particular are often affected by a urinary tract infection. Elderly people with a bladder catheter are also more likely to suffer from a urinary tract infection. Here the bacteria use the catheter like a "guide rail". Children can also be affected by a urinary tract infection. The risk of infection is particularly high in diaper age, as bacteria can multiply rapidly in a moist environment.

Diagnosed By

The doctor can usually diagnose a urinary tract infection on the basis of the typical symptoms and a urine test strip. The test strip determines various typical changes in the urine, such as the content of (parts of) red and white blood cells or certain products of bacterial metabolism (nitrate). In the case of complicated or frequently recurring urinary tract infections (medically: recurrent urinary tract infections), further diagnosis is necessary. For this purpose, the bacteria responsible for the urinary tract infection are identified with so-called urine cultures and tested for their sensitivity to antibiotic treatment. In addition, a cystoscopy can be performed in such cases to detect previously undetected pathological changes in the urinary tract.