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People can have a UTI without symptoms. But in most cases, they will notice problems. The most common are:

  • Increased frequency of passing urine
  • Feeling of urgency to pass urine
  • Burning or pain while passing urine
  • Itching in the genital area
  • Passing only small amounts of urine at a time
  • Pain over the area of the bladder or in the lower back
  • Pain along the sides under the ribs
  • Blood in the urine—may be on the tissue after wiping after passing urine in women
  • Cloudy looking urine—may also have pus
  • Unpleasant smell to urine
  • Unable to hold the urine during the day or night

If the infection has gone up into the kidneys, you may have:

  • Fever or chills
  • Severe pain in the lower back

Children and babies may have less common problems such as:

  • Irritability
  • Feeding problems
  • Not being able to hold their urine
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Slow weight loss and growth—failure to thrive

Older people may have more vague symptoms of a UTI such as fatigue, confusion, loss of appetite, or trouble walking.

REFERENCES:

Bacterial urinary tract infections (UTIs). Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at: https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/genitourinary-disorders/urinary-tract-infections-utis/bacterial-urinary-tract-infections-utis. Updated June 2018. Accessed September 20, 2018.

Symptoms & causes. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Available at: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/bladder-infection-uti-in-adults/symptoms-causes. Updated March 2017. Accessed September 20, 2018.

Uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI) (pyelonephritis and cystitis). EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T116894/Uncomplicated-urinary-tract-infection-UTI-pyelonephritis-and-cystitis. Updated June 4, 2018. Accessed September 20, 2018.

Urinary tract infections in adults. Urology Care Foundation website. Available at: https://www.urologyhealth.org/urologic-conditions/urinary-tract-infections-in-adults. Accessed September 20, 2018.

Last reviewed September 2018 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Adrienne Carmack, MD  Last Updated: 9/20/2018