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EspañolUTI symptoms: What are the early signs of a UTI?
Overview: What does a urinary tract infection (UTI) feel/look like?
A urinary tract infection is a bacterial infection of one or more parts of the urinary tract, which is comprised of the bladder, urethra (the tube which eliminates urine from the body), the kidneys, and the ureters (the tubes that pass urine from the kidneys to the bladder). What does a UTI feel like? It usually hurts. However, the pain will depend on where the infection is located. The different areas where you may feel pain include the lower back, the sides of the abdomen, the pelvis, the lower abdomen, the urethra, and the penis. You may also experience pain when urinating or during sexual activity. With a bladder infection, people usually urinate often, even trying when the bladder is empty. The urine maylook funny: cloudy, red, or dark. Feeling tired or having a fever is sometimes experienced as well. A UTI is not something that should be dismissed. You should see a healthcare provider when experiencing any of the signs of a UTI.
Key takeaways:
A UTI is a common health condition that mostly affects women but can affect anyone regardless of age, sex, race, or ethnicity.
Early signs of a UTI include painful urination, pain in areas around the urinary tract, urgent need to urinate, and discolored urine.
Serious symptoms of a UTI such as high fever, chills, shaking, back pain, side pain, bad nausea, or vomiting may require immediate medical attention.
A UTI is most often caused by bacteria. You may be at risk for developing UTI symptoms if you are a woman, sexually active, use diaphragms or spermicide, are postmenopausal, are of advanced age, or are a child. Other risk factors include urinary tract problems, blockages, a weak immune system, poor hygiene, recent urinary tract surgery, or use of a catheter.
A UTI is diagnosed by obtaining a urinalysis
Symptoms of a UTI generally do not require hospital admission. They typically resolve with antibiotic treatment in one to two weeks.
Treatment of a UTI usually includes a course of antibiotics.
An untreated UTI could result in complications like recurring UTIs, kidney infections, sepsis, and pregnancy problems.
Save on prescriptions for a UTI with a SingleCare prescription discount card.
What are the early signs of a UTI?
The early signs of a UTI are usually pain or burning when urinating, frequent urination, urgency to urinate, discolored or cloudy urine, smelly urine, and pain or pressure somewhere on the sides or pelvic area. Depending on the bacteria, it usually takes a few days to a week for symptoms to appear. Once antibiotic treatment starts, symptoms should clear up in a few days. It may take longer for antibiotics to reduce symptoms if there is also a kidney infection.
Other UTI symptoms
Frequent urination, urinary urgency, and lower abdomen or pelvic pain are the typical signs of a bladder infection. Other symptoms include:
Fever
Pain during sexual activity
Fatigue
An infection of the urethra may not have many of the symptoms listed above but do have symptoms such as:
A burning feeling when urinating
Discharge
Urethral or penis pain
A kidney infection usually starts as a bladder infection. Signs that a UTI has entered the kidneys and ureters include:
Back pain
Side pain
Fever
Chills
Shaking
Nausea
Vomiting
UTI symptoms in the elderly
The symptoms of a UTI may be the same in older adults as in younger people. However, a larger percentage of the elderly may not experience any symptoms other than white blood cells in the urine (milky urine). The elderly are also less likely to have a fever. Research shows there is usually no benefit in treating these asymptomatic “infections”, and so healthcare professionals typically don’t intervene until symptoms appear.
UTI vs. kidney infection symptoms
A kidney infection is a UTI, but it’s considered the most serious type of UTI. Because damage to the kidneys can affect the health of the entire body, treatment needs to begin as soon as possible. It is important, then, to recognize a kidney infection and not mistake it for an ordinary (uncomplicated) UTI infection.
| UTI | Kidney infection | |
| Shared symptoms | Bladder infection typically precedes a kidney infection, so people experience many of the common symptoms of a urethral or bladder infection before and after the infection migrates to the kidneys. However, some kidney infections can develop without a bladder infection. In those cases, a kidney infection will not share symptoms of a bladder or urethral infection. | |
| Unique symptoms |
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Types of a UTI: How can I tell which one I have?
Healthcare providers classify UTI infections as uncomplicated or complicated and diagnose them based on the location of the infection and its clinical aspects.
Acute cystitis: an infection of the bladder. Symptoms usually appear within a few days of the infection. These infections usually start in the urethra.
Recurrent cystitis: about 1 in 5 women will have bladder infections that keep coming back
Pyelonephritis: a bacterial infection of the kidneys and ureters —kidney infection is a serious and health-threatening medical condition
Catheter-associated UTI: though the symptoms are the same as regular UTIs, often the infecting bacteria are different
Asymptomatic UTIs: some people have UTIs with no symptoms except bacteria and pus in the urine—these UTIs are generally considered harmless except in special circumstances such as pregnancy
Urethritis, an infection of the urethra, is a lower urinary tract infection. Unlike bladder or kidney infections, urethral infections can be caused by many different pathogens including viruses, fungi, and parasites.
Uncomplicated UTIs are simply bacterial infections of the lower urinary system with no other complications (such as pyelonephritis, an abscess, or sepsis).
Complicated UTIs are often related to pre-existing medical or physical conditions, such as an enlarged prostate, blockages, weakened immune system, or antibiotic-resistant bacteria. These other factors can bring on more severe UTIs or cause them to happen over and over again. Some cases of recurrent UTIs and most cases in men are considered complicated UTIs. (most UTIs in men are caused by an enlarged prostate). Treatment may need to address these complicating factors as well as the infection.
RELATED: Kidney infection treatment and medications
When to see a doctor for UTI symptoms
See a doctor or visit an urgent care center if any of the symptoms of a UTI are experienced and are not going away. Go to an emergency room if experiencing signs of a kidney infection: high fever, chills, shaking, flank pain, or severe nausea and vomiting.
A doctor diagnoses a UTI based on the symptoms and a physical exam. In many cases, that’s all that’s needed to get a prescription for some type of antibiotic. In some cases, however, a doctor may need to take a urine test and urine culture to discover the bacteria responsible before deciding on the appropriate antibiotic. If a doctor discovers that you are having recurrent infections or a complicated infection, lab testing and imaging may be needed. In addition, the doctor may need to look at the inside of the bladder using a cystoscope.
Complications of a UTI
Possible complications of a UTI include:
Developing recurrent UTIs
Incontinence
Kidney infection
Kidney damage/failure
Abscess development
Infection of the amniotic sac, premature rupture of the amniotic sac, and low birth weight deliveries in pregnant women
RELATED: Your guide to UTIs during pregnancy
How to treat UTI symptoms
UTI symptoms can only be treated by eliminating the underlying infection, though over-the-counter analgesics will help with pain or fever. There are few treatment options for the infection itself outside of antibiotics. Several different antibiotics may be prescribed depending on the type of UTI and the bacteria involved. Bactrim (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole) is commonly used as a first-line agent, but other common antibiotics prescribed include amoxicillin, ampicillin, fluoroquinolones, cephalosporins, gentamicin, and nitrofurantoin. While there are natural remedies and lifestyle changes, such as drinking cranberry juice, that may help reduce the incidence of UTIs, they are not effective at combating an active infection.
Treatment source: Urinary tract infections in adults, American Family Physician
Living with recurrent UTIs
Some people have repeated bouts with urinary tract infections. Women are at a higher risk of recurrent UTIs because they have a shorter urethra and get UTIs more frequently than men. The causes are many, but a few tips can keep help reduce the incidence of these troublesome infections:
See a doctor to determine a possible cause of your recurrent infections
Carefully follow any prescribed treatment plan
Drink plenty of fluids every day
Urinate frequently throughout the day
Practice good hygiene habits like frequently cleaning the area around the genitals and anus, wiping front to back after going to the toilet, and keeping the genital area dry
Urinate right after sexual intercourse
Consider using other forms of birth control besides spermicide, diaphragms, or condoms
Avoid douches
Take the supplement D-mannose to help control E. coli, the bacteria responsible for many UTIs
Consider estrogen replacement therapy if past menopause
Most importantly, see a doctor when symptoms start
UTIs may resolve on their own without any treatment, but most do not. An untreated UTI carries a higher risk of developing into a serious problem like a kidney infection. If symptoms of a UTI are experienced, see a healthcare professional or go to an urgent care. If signs of a kidney infection are noticed, go to an emergency room. Do not try to self-diagnose or self-treat. Only a healthcare professional can determine the exact problem and how best to treat it.
FAQs about UTI symptoms
How long does it take for UTI symptoms to appear?
It typically takes three to seven days for UTI symptoms to appear, but it depends on the type of bacteria. However, some people with UTIs will experience no symptoms at all. Symptoms of a kidney infection usually appear within hours to a couple days after the start of the infection.
How long do UTI symptoms last?
For lower UTIs, symptoms typically resolve a few days after the start of antibiotic treatment. It may take up to a week when treating an upper UTI (kidney infection) with antibiotics.
What mimics a UTI?
A lower UTI (urethra and bladder), the most common type of UTI, causes irritation of the bladder, a condition called cystitis. However, cystitis can have other causes besides infection: chemicals, drugs, kidney stones, diabetes, blockage, chemotherapy, or a condition called interstitial cystitis. It’s easy to confuse other types of cystitis with an actual bladder infection. A healthcare professional is required to identify the real problem.
How do you know the difference between a UTI of the urethra and a bladder infection?
Bladder infections are the most common UTI. For most people with a UTI, there is no difference between a urethral infection and a bladder infection. However, UTIs also include infections of the ureters and the kidneys, both of which may have symptoms different from a bladder infection.
What’s next? Additional resources for people with UTI symptoms
Test and diagnostics
Common questions about recurrent urinary tract infections in women, American Family Physician
Complicated urinary tract infections, StatPearls
Cystoscopy, Cleveland Clinic
Your guide to UTIs during pregnancy, SingleCare
Treatments
20 home remedies for UTI prevention and treatment, SingleCare
Kidney infection treatment and medications, SingleCare
Urinary tract infections in adults, American Family Physician
UTI treatments and medications, SingleCare
What to do if you have recurring UTIs, SingleCare
Scientific studies and clinical trials
Cranberry for prevention of urinary tract infections, American Family Physician
Inappropriate treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria in elderly patients: a quality improvement study, Infectious Diseases