Urinary Tract Infections in Teens and Adults - Symptoms

Symptoms

Symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI) may include:

• Pain or burning when you urinate.
• An urge to urinate frequently but usually passing only small amounts of urine.
• Dribbling (inability to control urine release).
• Pain or a feeling of heaviness in your lower abdomen.
• Reddish or pinkish urine.
• Foul-smelling urine.
• Cloudy urine.
• Pain in your back just below the rib cage, on one side of your body (flank pain).
• Fever and chills.
• Nausea and vomiting.

Some people have bacteria in their urinary tract without having any symptoms. This condition is called asymptomatic bacteriuria. It requires attention in certain situations, such as during pregnancy or before surgery involving the urinary tract, but it usually can be left alone if symptoms do not develop.

Several other conditions, such as vaginal infections or irritable bladder, cause symptoms similar to those of a UTI. Your doctor may evaluate your health for one or more of these if you have urinary symptoms, depending on your medical history and how well you respond to treatment for a UTI.