A UTI can affect the upper and lower urinary tracts, kidneys, bladder, urethra, and prostate.
Lower urinary tract infections may also have these specific names:
- cystitis, or bladder infection
- urethritis, an infection of the urethra, which is the tube carrying urine away from the bladder to the outside of the body
- prostatitis, involving the prostate
Both upper and lower UTIs can lead to leukocytes in the urine.
Symptoms vary and often overlap, but they might include:
- urinating more often, and a frequent sensation of needing to urinate
- burning or painful urination passing of only small amounts of urine
- difficulty urinating or pain when passing urine
- discharge or cloudy urine
- blood in the urine
- low abdominal pain or pressure
Symptoms of more serious infections can include:
- fever and chills
- flank or lower back pain
- nausea
- vomiting
- feeling significantly ill
It is important to seek medical attention right away if any of these symptoms occur.
