What Happens If Chronic Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) Aren’t Treated?

It’s back. You have the constant urge to urinate, and when you do, the discomfort is dreadful. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common infections that typically get better quickly with a round of antibiotics. 

However, they can recur — and if you have three or more UTIs a year, you have what we call chronic UTIs. We know UTIs are inconvenient, but not getting treatment can lead to serious health complications.

At Pro-Health Urgent Care of Midland in Midland, Michigan, our urgent care specialists can help. Here, we explain what happens when chronic UTIs aren’t treated.

About chronic UTIs

UTIs affect men and women, but they’re more common in women due to the location and shortness of the female urethra. One out of five women get a UTI at some point in their life, and more than 25% of those have a recurrence within six months after treatment.

If you have two urinary infections in six months or three in 12 months, you have chronic UTIs. Pregnancy, menopause, and not completely emptying your bladder when you go are some of the risk factors for recurrence.

Most UTIs are bacterial infections caused by Escheria coli (E. coli) from the large intestine. The infection may affect any part of the urinary system, such as urethra, bladder, ureters, or kidneys. 

Symptoms of a UTI include:

• Incessant urge to urinate
• Burning sensation during urination
• Pressure or pain in the lower pelvic region
• Difficulty urinating
• Cloudy or smelly urine

In older adults, UTI symptoms can include confusion, fatigue, and anxiety, making it sometimes difficult to recognize.

As with any infection, you need medical treatment for a UTI to clear it up.

What happens when you don’t get UTI treatment

Leaving chronic UTIs untreated allows the infection to spread and worsen, leading to serious complications. Some of the potential complications include:

Pyelonephritis

Most UTIs affect the lower part of the urinary tract, your urethra and bladder. But when left untreated, the infection may travel to the kidneys. Pyelonephritis is the medical term for a  kidney infection.

Though treatable with antibiotics, pyelonephritis may cause permanent kidney damage. Older adults and people with medical conditions like diabetes are at greater risk of complications from a kidney infection.

Sepsis

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that occurs when your immune system damages parts of the body trying to fight off an infection, potentially leading to organ failure. Fever, chills, and confusion are symptoms of sepsis.

You need emergency medical care if you think you have sepsis. Early intervention is your best chance for survival.

Treating chronic UTIs 

Chronic UTIs are challenging, but getting the right treatment can reduce your risk of complications. Low-dose antibiotics taken for six or more months is the primary treatment for chronic UTIs. 

We also recommend taking preventive steps to reduce your risk of UTIs like drinking plenty of water, not holding in your urine, and urinating after sex. 

You may also benefit from probiotic supplements to help replenish beneficial bacteria affected by the antibiotic. You should take probiotics at least two hours after your antibiotic so one doesn’t cancel out the other.

Don’t ignore your symptoms. If you think you have a UTI, call us today or  use the “Book online” button to schedule an appointment. We provide both in-office and telehealth visits.