Manali Singh

Urinary tract infections or UTIs as it is usually known is quite common, especially in women. The bug which is mainly responsible for causing UTI is a bacterium, named E.coli. UTI is basically an infection of the urinary system which includes the kidneys, the bladder, the ureters and the urethra.

There are some cardinal signs of UTI which you must keep in mind. This is important so that you consult a doctor on time and your treatment is started immediately.

1. Burning sensation while passing urine: Usually the first and also the most important complaint with which the patient will come up with. It’s quite painful and troublesome. Such patients will also complain of itching along with burning sensation.

2. Increased urge: Patient will have an increased urge to urinate and thus will go to the toilet frequently. The condition is quite irritating because the patient will feel the urge but won’t be able to pass urine. Frequent trips to the toilet make the condition even worse!

3. Leaking of urine in small amounts: If you are a young woman, and you notice your clothes getting wet due to urine leakage- you must think of UTI. The situation is embarrassing and this is the reason as to why people avoid going to the doctor for consultation. Urine leakage can also occur in older people however there it is often due to weak urethral muscles.

4. Bloody and foul smelling urine: If you notice any offensive smell in your urine for 2-3 days, you must consult a doctor immediately. Passing blood in urine (hematuria) could be serious and demands immediate attention.

Other than this, patients can also have high fever with chills and lower abdominal pain. So remember these cardinal signs of UTI and go to your doctor immediately if you notice any. If UTI isn’t treated on time, the infection can spread to blood and can even turn fatal. Timely treatment of UTI is thus very important!

Watch the video to learn more about UTIs!