clinical features of UTI

Last reviewed 01/2018

UTIs can involve any part of the urinary tract.

General features of a UTI include:

  • dysuria, frequency, urgency and a sensation of incomplete bladder emptying - a very common presentation
  • lower abdominal pain - often a presentation in children and young adults
  • sudden development of incontinence - often a presentation in the elderly
  • haematuria
  • enuresis occurring in a previously 'dry' child
  • non-specifically unwell if previously fit - presentation is seen in infants and elderly

Symptoms and signs of lower UTI include:

  • dysuria
  • urgency
  • frequency
  • suprapubic tenderness
  • strangury (a condition marked by slow, painful urination, caused by muscular spasms of the urethra and bladder)
  • flank or back pain
  • haematauria
  • a change in the smell of urine (1,2)

Three or more symptoms should be present to make a diagnosis of UTI (2). When both dysuria and frequency are present the probability of an UTI is >90% (3).

Symptoms of upper UTI include:

  • loin pain
  • flank tenderness
  • fever
  • rigors
  • other manifestations of systemic inflammatory response (4)

Upper UTI symptoms develops rapidly (1) and if accompanied by bacteraemia may be a life threatening condition (4)

Reference:

Related pages:

pyelonephritis

cystitis

bladder infections

prostatitis

urethritis