What Are the Risks of Leaving a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Untreated

If you've ever had a urinary tract infection (UTI), you know that quick symptom relief is a top priority. Fortunately, prescription medication is an effective treatment in most cases.

But you may have wondered what happens if you choose not to treat a UTI. In some cases, a UTI will go away on its own. But not treating a UTI can also put you at risk for some complications.

Let's review the risks of leaving a UTI untreated - and why it's important to see a healthcare professional as soon as you develop symptoms.

What is a urinary tract infection?

A UTI is a common infection of any part of the urinary system, which includes the:

• Kidneys: two organs that filter your blood to remove waste and make urine

• Ureters: the tubes that carry urine between the kidneys and bladder

• Bladder: the organ that stores urine

• Urethra: the tube that carries the urine from the bladder to the outside

Most infections come into the urethra from the outside and involve the lower tract of the urinary system (the urethra and bladder). The bacteria E. coli is the main cause of UTIs. But other types of bacteria and even some fungi and viruses can cause them too.

UTIs can affect people of all ages. And women are up to eight times more likely than men to get them.

What are the dangers and potential complications of an untreated UTI?

UTIs may go away without treatment. But some untreated UTIs can lead to complications, like kidney infections (pyelonephritis) and sepsis.

Pyelonephritis

Pyelonephritis is an infection of any part of the kidney. It can happen if a simple UTI involving the bladder goes untreated. About 3% of UTIs turn into a kidney infection.

In young, healthy people, pyelonephritis can usually be treated with antibiotics. And there's not much risk of permanent kidney damage. But some people with pyelonephritis are at higher risk of having kidney damage or scarring.

People at risk of these complications include:

• Very young people (infants)

• Older adults (people over 60 years old)

• People with an abnormal urinary tract (like horseshoe kidney or polycystic kidney disease)

• Men with prostate obstruction

• Those with a weakened immune system (like from diabetes or cancer)

Sepsis

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused by the body's response to infection. It happens when the immune system works to fight an infection but ends up causing too much inflammation throughout the whole body.

Each year, about 1.7 million adults in the U.S. get sepsis, and almost 270,000 die from it.

UTIs cause up to 1 in 3 cases of sepsis. Risk factors for developing sepsis include:

• Being over 65 years old

• Having diabetes

• Having a weakened immune system

• Having a history of prior urinary tract procedures

Sepsis is a serious condition, and it needs immediate medical attention. Healthcare professionals use specific guidelines to diagnose sepsis. Sepsis symptoms include:

• Low or high body temperature

• High heart rate

• High breathing rate

• Swelling in parts of the body

• Change in mental status (such as confusion)

What symptoms are associated with UTIs?

The symptoms of a UTI depend on where the infection is.

Lower UTIs - those involving the urethra and bladder - are the most common type. Symptoms of a lower UTI can include:

• Pain or burning when peeing (dysuria)

• Frequent and urgent urination

• Pain in the pelvic area

• Waking at night to urinate (nocturia)

• Blood in the urine (hematuria)

Upper UTIs involve the kidneys and tend to be more serious. Symptoms of kidney infections can happen when you have a lower UTI that's left untreated.

How do you know if a UTI has spread to your kidneys?

When a UTI spreads from your lower to your upper urinary tract, your symptoms can get much more severe. This is because an upper UTI usually means that the infection has reached your kidneys. Kidney infections can be dangerous and could lead to kidney failure or other serious issues.

In addition to the lower UTI symptoms listed above, people with kidney infections can also have:

• Fevers and chills

• Nausea and vomiting

• Pain in the side (flank pain)

Can a UTI or bladder infection go away on its own?

Yes, some UTIs can go away on their own. Without treatment, symptoms of a UTI can last about a week. This can happen up to 40% of the time with a simple UTI. UTIs are more likely to go away on their own in adult women with no other health problems. But it's not always possible to predict if and when a UTI will resolve on its own.

While it's possible to get over a UTI on your own, the risks of not treating a UTI can be pretty high. Some untreated UTIs can cause serious health problems that may even require hospitalization. An untreated UTI that leads to a kidney infection can lead to kidney failure, for example. And an untreated UTI that leads to sepsis can even be deadly.

It's best to let a healthcare professional know if you have symptoms of a UTI. They can find the source of your symptoms and come up with a treatment plan.

It's also important to know that UTIs can only go away if your symptoms are mild. Your UTI is probably not going to go away on its own if:

• Your symptoms are severe

• You have an upper UTI

• You have other risk factors like a weakened immune system

Signs your UTI is going away

You'll know your UTI is going away when you begin to feel relief from your symptoms. This may happen on its own without antibiotics or after starting prescription treatment. You may notice:

• It no longer burns to urinate.

• You aren't urinating as frequently.

• You don't have lower abdominal pain or pressure.

When you start to feel better, it may be a sign that your UTI is going away without antibiotics.

If you're not taking antibiotics for your UTI, you should stay away from UTI pain relievers like phenazopyridine (Pyridium, Azo). These medications can numb the pain and may mask your symptoms, although the UTI isn't getting any better.

If you're taking antibiotics and start to feel better, don't stop taking your medication. You should still finish all of your prescribed treatment, even if your symptoms have improved. This will help ensure that the infection is fully treated.

How long can a UTI go untreated?

In general, the medical community recommends antibiotics to treat UTIs. But some people - like young women with no health problems - may choose to wait 1 to 2 days to see if their symptoms clear up on their own. If you do this, have antibiotics ready to take if your symptoms get worse or don't improve after 2 days.

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