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How Dangerous Is a Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary tract infection (UTI) often occur in older adults, it happens when a bacterial infection affect the bladder which is supposed to be a sterile environment, the seriousness of urinary tract infections and how dangerous it could be can vary from a minor medical issue easy to solve with antibiotics to a life threatening condition,

it also depends on the overall state of health for the affected person and whether or not the infection spread to other parts and organs of the body or not.

In most cases with UTIs symptoms are mainly related to bladder irritation such as a burning sensation while urinating, blood in the urine, pain and urge to urine frequently, oral antibiotics treatment usually result in quick improvement.

In older adults specially ones with dementia, a UTI can cause delirium which is a worsening situation for their mental state and that can be dangerous because it put them at risk of failing and hurting themselves.

A urinary tract infection can become even more serious when it affects the other parts of the body like the kidney or it spreads to the bloodstream, in this situation a life threatening low blood pressure may occur, intravenous antibiotics may be used to treat this spreading UTI.

Note: There is a condition that is often confused with urinary tract infections but it isn’t, Asymptomatic bacteriuria which happens when a urine culture grows bacteria, even though the person may not show any symptoms,

experts recommend treating Asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant women only or people who are going to have an urological surgery as studies showed that treating the condition in older adults doesn’t reduce the risk of future Urinary tract infections.

Dangerous Is a Urinary Tract Infection

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