Symptoms:

• Abnormal urine color (cloudy)
• Frequent or urgent need to urinate
• Foul or strong urine odor
• Need to urinate at night (nocturia)
• Painful urination (dysuria)
• Pressure in the lower pelvis

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• Chills
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Flank pain
• Mental changes or confusion *
• Nausea and vomiting
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Penis pain (rare)

* Often in an elderly person, mental changes or confusion are the only signs of a possible urinary tract infection.

Signs and tests:

Urinalysis commonly shows white blood cells (WBCs) or red blood cells (RBCs). There may be blood in the urine.

Urine culture (clean catch) or catheterized urine specimen may be done to find out what kind of bacteria is causing the infection and to determine the appropriate antibiotic for treatment.