What are the common symptoms and complications of a urinary tract infection (UTI)?

Symptoms of UTI include:

• A burning sensation on passing urine
• Needing to pass urine more frequently than usual
• Needing to hurry to get to the toilet in time to pass urine (sometimes incontinence may occur)
• Having the sensation of needing to pass urine but being unable to do so
• Having cloudy urine, which may be foul smelling
• Having blood present in the urine
• Feeling unwell
• Having a fever

If there is infection of the kidneys themselves, the illness is usually more severe, with lower back pain on one or both sides, high fevers and chills.

Some people, usually women rather than men, have recurrent symptoms suggestive of UTI but without infection being present. This condition is not serious but can be troublesome. The symptoms sometimes can be caused by chemical irritation such as bath additives and washing powders. Therefore, they may disappear if toiletries and washing powder are changed.