Urinary Tract Infection: What Happens If UTI Is Untreated?

This is what happens if the urinary tract infection is left untreated.

URINARY TRACT INFECTION – If you have a urinary tract infection, it must be treated right away because this is what will happen if you won’t.

Women are at higher risk to have a urinary tract infection or UTI. This is common and is usually not serious if it is treated right away. However, if the infection reaches and spreads in the kidney, it can be a serious condition.

Urinary Tract Infection
Photo lifted from Medical News Today

The following are the symptoms of UTI:

  • pain or burning sensation while urinating
  • frequent urination
  • blood in the urine
  • feeling the need to urinate despite an empty bladder
  • pressure or cramping in the lower abdomen or groin

UTI is common but you must seek immediate doctor’s attention and be treated with a course of prescribed antibiotics so as to prevent serious complications.

If left untreated, here are the complications you may encounter:

  • Kidney Infection – this condition is called pyelonephritis and is life-threatening and what’s even worse is that the infection may lead to kidney damage or scarring, kidney failure, and high blood pressure.
  • Urosepsis – untreated UTIs can lead to urosepsis where the bacteria of UTI infects the blood stream and septic shock. Urospesi may cause death and some of its symptoms include dizziness, rapid breathing, confusion, rapid heart rate, fever, and chills. This is life-threatening.
  • Pregnancy Complications – it may cause premature baby or a baby with a low birth weight as per PlushCare.

Apart from women, being pregnant, old age, and people with diabetes, kidney problems, or a weakened immune system are at higher risk of these complications if UTI is not treated.

READ ALSO:

What can you say about this? Let us know!

Leave a Comment