UTIs in the Elderly: Symptoms, part 2

UTIs can be diagnosed with an over the counter test, though making a doctor’s appointment is the best way to be tested. UTIs should be treated by your doctor. And, there are lifestyle changes which will help, such as: elimination of sugar and sugar substitutes and supplementing with cranberry, probiotics, and D-mannose.

In severe cases, UTI symptoms in seniors can include other systemic and psychological symptoms, like fatigue, agitation, delirium, and changes in behavior. When left untreated, UTIs in the elderly can be dangerous, even resulting in permanent kidney damage or sepsis — a life-threatening infection.

Symptoms of a severe UTI in the elderly may include:

— Fever
— Night sweats or chills
— Nausea and vomiting
— Pain in the lower abdomen or back where the kidneys and ureters are
— Confusion or delirium
— Sudden urinary incontinence
— Inability to perform common daily tasks, such as getting dressed or feeding themselves

Why do UTIs cause confusion in the elderly? The immune system of an older adult reacts differently to infection compared to younger people. A bladder infection places stress on the body. That stress can result in confusion and abrupt changes in behavior in older adults with a UTI.

And for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia, the infection can make dementia symptoms worse. Any kind of stress, physical or emotional, will often make dementia temporarily worse. Contact your physician immediately to determine whether a trip to the emergency room is necessary.

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