Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) are infections that develop in the urinary tract, be it in the bladder, urethra, or the kidneys. Women are at a higher risk of developing these infections as compared to men as they have a shorter urethra. Here are some of the symptoms and diagnosis of UTI that one should be aware of:

Symptoms

• A burning sensation while urinating: One of the telltale symptoms of UTIs is experiencing a burning sensation or pain while urinating, and this needs further diagnosis. Just like the throat gets sore and painful during a common cold, the urinary tract gets inflamed and sore due to UTIs, which can lead to pain and a burning sensation while urinating.
• The frequent urge to urinate: Since the bladder is infected, its walls get sensitive and sore, which may develop frequent urge to urinate. However, one may be able to pass a small amount of urine at a time.
• Lower back and lower abdomen pain: If there is excessive irritation due to an infection in the urinary tract, the severity of the lower abdominal and lower back pain is the symptom that the diagnosis of UTIs is based on. The infection makes the urinary tract sore, which can manifest as pain.
• Smelly and discolored urine: A very common symptom in people with a UTI is urine that smells weird or is dark in color. The infection causes such changes to otherwise colorless urine.

Diagnosis methods

• Urinalysis: This is one of the most common diagnostic methods for the signs and symptoms of UTIs. A urinalysis looks for evidence of bacteria and other microbes in a person’s urine sample.
• Urine culture test: To get a clearer idea of the symptoms and diagnosis of UTI, a doctor may prescribe a urine culture test. This will help identify which microbe is causing the infection, and the treatment method is chosen based on the results of the culture test.
• Glucose test: Sometimes, diabetes could be the reason for frequent UTIs, so doctors may also diagnose the condition using a simple blood glucose test.
• Ultrasound or CT scan: For people who keep complaining of frequent UTIs, doctors may prescribe an ultrasound or a CT scan. These will check the kidneys and the bladder for irregularities that may be triggering the infections.

UTIs are usually not an extremely difficult condition to handle, but it can get severe if the infection spreads to the blood. Understanding the symptoms and methods of diagnosis of UTI can help one know when to consult a doctor. Also, one should visit a physician as soon as they notice any of the mentioned signs of an infection in their urinary tract. The earlier the condition is diagnosed, the easier it is to cure.