The Benefits of Accessing Primary Care

4 Common Symptoms Of Urinary Tract Infections

1 December 2022

Susan Wood

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can affect both your upper and lower urinary tract, which means infections can develop in areas such as the bladder and kidneys. It's far more common in women, but men can also be affected. If you ever do develop a UTI, you can visit your GP to take a few tests and get some antibiotics that should swiftly see you back to full health.

Unfortunately, many people can't identify the signs of a UTI, and that means that the condition often gets worse than it needs to before medical assistance is sought. With that in mind, make sure you read on to learn four of the most common UTI warning signs.

1. Frequent Need to Urinate

One of the earliest signs of a UTI is an increased need to urinate. However, you may find yourself unable to pass as much urine as you expected. In some cases, you will not be able to urinate at all, despite feeling like you need to. This is because the lining of your urethra or bladder will become swollen and irritated, which makes you feel like urinating while also making it harder to do so.

2. Discoloured Urine

If you do produce urine, it may have a cloudy or discoloured appearance. Cloudiness can occur because a large number of white blood cells will have been sent to fight the infection and then be passed out in your urine. In other cases, your urine may take on a red or pinkish tint. This indicates that there is blood in your urine, so it's definitely something to have checked as soon as possible.

3. Painful Urination

There are several reasons why you might start experiencing pain or discomfort while urinating, but a UTI is one of the most common. This occurs because the urine you produce will need to pass along the already irritated lining of your urethra. As such, pain tends to get worse the longer a UTI is left untreated.

4. Fever

Any kind of infection can cause you to feel feverish. This is simply a natural reaction to your body's fight against the infection. This does not always occur when you have a UTI, but you may experience a high temperature and start going through cycles of feeling hot and cold. In some cases, you may experience nausea or dizziness — these are especially common symptoms in older patients.

Reach out to a local doctor to learn more.

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About Me

For a very long time, I avoided visiting my GP. Even when I got really sick, I would do anything I could to avoid having to visit my local clinic. However, when I settled down, all of that changed. My wife insisted that I start to engage with primary care services. At first, I did so reluctantly. However, as time went on, I came to realise just how important primary care is. Now, I am a big advocate for visiting GPs and other primary care professionals. That is the reason I decided to start writing the articles on this blog.