Chronic UTIs are infections in the urinary tract that either keep recurring or don’t respond to treatment. Your urinary system includes the kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra. A UTI affects any part of the urinary tract system. If the infection only affects your bladder, it’s an easily treatable minor illness. However, if it spreads to your kidneys, it causes serious health consequences.
Apart from the common UTI symptoms, such as a burning sensation while urinating or frequent urination, there are other unusual symptoms. These include confused mental states and fatigue. Read on and learn about these unusual symptoms that you should never ignore.
What Are The Four Unusual Symptoms of a Chronic UTI?
Confused mental state
In older adults, UTI symptoms are often complex and unusual. The seniors may have bacteria in their urine, but the patient might not have any common symptoms. Older adults may experience confusion or dizziness as a result of the UTI. These uncommon, chronic UTI symptoms arise from the infection’s effect on the patient’s immune system. If left untreated, the UTI worsens, leading to acute symptoms as the infection spreads to the kidneys.
Fatigue
When you think of fatigue, you might not associate it with symptoms of a chronic UTI. However, many women experience fatigue before other UTI symptoms are evident. It’s dependent on a few variables, such as health, age, and severity of the infection. Due to medication, illness, or age, you may have a weak immune system. Consequently, you are more likely to experience fatigue at the early stages of a UTI.
High Fever, Chills, Night Sweats
If the UTI infection spreads to your kidney, you may experience a high fever above 101°F (38.3°C). Additionally, you may experience chills and sweat at night. Generally, these are not common symptoms of a UTI, and you might not even think of a UTI infection. If you are unsure about these symptoms, you must visit your doctor soon. Your doctor will perform all necessary tests and provide you with the best chronic UTI treatment.
Side Pain
Pain during urination is a common symptom of a UTI. However, other pains are unusual symptoms of a UTI. For example, when the infection travels to your kidney, you may experience side pain. It arises as the infection causes swelling of your kidneys and exhibits a steady aching pain. Others experience generalised pelvic pain that becomes chronic even after the infection clears up.
How Can You Prevent Chronic UTI?
Some people are prone to recurring UTIs. Here are a few tips for you.
· Always wipe front to back after urinating
· Urinate frequently, especially after intercourse
· Drink lots of water to flush out bacteria from your body
· Wear cotton underwear
· Avoid tight pants
· Avoid drinks that may irritate your bladder, such as coffee, alcohol, or sodas
Common chronic UTI symptoms include a burning sensation while urinating, frequent urination, or pain in your bladder region. However, other unusual symptoms don’t pass as symptoms of a UTI. These include fatigue, mental disorientation, or even chills. If you experience these symptoms, don’t ignore them. Instead, it would be best that you visit your doctor for the best diagnosis and chronic UTI treatment.
