UTIs in the Elderly: Symptoms, part 1

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common type of bacterial infection in older adults.

Seniors often experience different UTI symptoms than younger or middle-aged adults. It’s important for family caregivers to understand how UTIs affect the elderly, how to recognize symptoms of this common infection. And, to understand any methods of prevention.

Symptoms of UTIs in the elderly can be complicated, including symptoms like fever, night sweats, nausea, abdominal pain, delirium, and incontinence. Seniors are more at risk for complications with UTIs due to lowered immune systems, imbalanced gut biomes, kidney problems, or use of incontinence pads.

Seniors may not notice a mild UTI infection right away, as the physical symptoms may be more subtle in older adults.

Physical symptoms of a UTI include:

— Burning, painful sensation with urination
— Frequent, intense urge to urinate even when there’s little urine to pass
— Feeling that the bladder is not completely emptied
— Blood in the urine
— Cloudy or foul-smelling urine

Sometimes a senior may not have physical symptoms at all until the infection has become severe. For instance, burning during urination may not be present, but flu-like symptoms might.

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