The risk of developing a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) increases with age. It is common in older adults and can also prove to be life-threatening if not treated in time. The early warning signs, however, are usually not as common, which can make diagnosis difficult. Older adults also tend to experience more uncommon and severe symptoms than children and youngsters. You should be aware of the various early warning signs of UTI to ensure treatment at the earliest.

What are the common early warning signs of UTI in older adults?

• They might experience the urge to urinate frequently
• They experience pain or burning when they urinate.
• They may experience chills.
• They may have a fever.
• They may notice unusually foul-smelling urine.
• They may experience pain in the pelvic area.

What are the not-so-common early warning signs of UTI in older adults?

• They may not feel as hungry as usual.
• They may feel pressure in the lower abdominal area.
• They are unable to balance themselves or move properly.
• They feel more lethargic than usual.
• They may experience vomiting or nausea.
• They are unable to retain their urine.
• They may notice blood in their urine.
• They show symptoms of agitation and irritation.
• They have incontinence.
• They feel confused.
• They exhibit behavior changes like disinterest in socializing.
• They hallucinate.

Some symptoms like vomiting, nausea, fever, back pain, and flushed skin are experienced by older adults only when the infection has spread to their kidneys.

Who is at risk?
UTI is usually caused due to bacteria in older adults, and the following people are at a higher risk of developing it:

• Those who live in a full-time care facility or a nursing home
• Those who have dementia, a prolapsed bladder, diabetes, Parkinson’s diseases, or a history of UTI
• Postmenopausal women and men who have kidney stones, enlarged prostate, or bacterial prostatitis

Complications
These uncommon early warning signs and symptoms of UTI might not be clear at the beginning as they overlap with the signs and symptoms of other diseases and conditions. However, if older adults show any of these signs, it is best not to delay treatment and consult a doctor immediately. The longer the delay in treatment, the higher are the chances of complications. For example, kidney damage and sepsis are two complications of UTI in older adults not being treated. Kidney damage can lead to hospitalization, while sepsis is a life-threatening condition that can lead to shock and then death.

Doctors have not been able to pinpoint why the warning signs vary in older adults as compared to people of other ages, but some doctors say it might be because the brain’s blood vessels are weaker in older adults. So, it becomes easier for the infection to spread and get into the nervous system, which might lead to the uncommon symptoms that older adults develop.