The terrifying reason you should never leave a UTI untreated or risk deadly condition that kills 1 in 5
ANYONE who’s ever had a UTI will wince at the memory.
That insistent need to pee and the excruciating burning sensation that follows once you do is hard for most to forget.
UTIs are often associated with young women and having lots of sex.
So much so, that it’s are sometimes dubbed ‘honeymoon cystitis’ – but they really can affect anyone regardless of age, or gender.
Nearly half of women and 20 per cent of men will experience a urinary tract infection (UTI) at some point in their lives.
Not only are UTIs painful, but they can also be dangerous, sometimes leading to sepsis – a potentially fatal condition.
Sepsis happens when the body attacks itself in reaction to an infection, such as pneumonia and Covid.
It has a mortality rate of over 40 per cent, and research shows that around 25 per cent of sepsis cases begin as UTIs.
This happens because bacteria from the urinary tract can easily enter the bloodstream.
Older women, already at higher risk for sepsis, are particularly vulnerable.
But the risk of UTI-induced sepsis also extends to younger women.
Twenty-four year old Erin Montgomery was left fighting for her life in hospital after a “harmless” infection spread from her urinary tract to her kidneys and seeped into her bloodstream, causing sepsis.
Dr Andrew Conway Morris – Sepsis Research FEAT’s medical director – told Sun Health: “Although the great majority of urinary tract infections are self-limiting and will resolve with simple antibiotics or even just hydration and time, infections of the urinary tract are also the second commonest cause of sepsis in the UK.
“Sepsis is where the body’s response to infection is so severe that it damages the patient’s own organs, and can lead to the need for admission to intensive care for life support or even death.
“Infections in the upper part of the urinary tract, involving the kidneys, are the most common urinary cause of sepsis.”
An uncomplicated UTI – which is an infection in an otherwise healthy person – will typically cause symptoms such as pain while peeing, a frequent and sudden urge to go to the loo, cloudy wee and lower tummy or back pain.
But there are certain telltale symptoms that distinguish uncomplicated UTIs from deadly sepsis.
According to Dr Conway Morris, these include:
- Increased breathing rate
- Cold hands and feet with mottled skin or a rash
- Confusion or reduced consciousness
- Very high temperature or uncontrolled shivering
- Feeling more unwell than one has ever felt before
- Severe pain in the loins (to the sides of the small of the back) can also indicate a problem with the kidneys
You should seek medical attention urgently if you experience any of the above symptoms, Dr Conway Morris warned.
“Patients should trust their instincts and seek urgent medical advice if they have these symptoms,” he told Sun Health.
“If the doctor doesn’t think they have sepsis at the time of presentation and they are being discharged, patients should ask what symptoms they should look out for and what should prompt them to come back.
“If they do start to feel more unwell, patients should not be afraid to come back for another review,” the physician added.
‘INDISCRIMINATE ILLNESS’
Colin Graham, COO at Sepsis Research FEAT, warned that sepsis can affect anyone and urged people to be aware of the symptoms so they can act quickly if it strikes.
“Sepsis is an indiscriminate, devastating illness which takes the lives of around 50,000 people every year in the UK,” he said.
“Despite these shocking figures, many people are still unaware of how serious sepsis is.
“That is why raising awareness of this deadly condition is vital, so that more people are able to recognise the symptoms and act quickly to seek urgent medical attention and improve chances of survival.”
Erin Montgomery's brush with deadly sepsis
Erin was left fighting for life in hospital after what doctors thought was a harmless urinary tract infection.
She she felt her temperature rise and her heartbeat quicken while watching TV in September 2023.
“I was just on the couch when I started getting hot and had a pounding heart,” the 24-year-old said.
“At this point I already knew something wasn’t quite right as I was calm and sitting quietly and hadn’t done any exercise or anything.”
Things took a tun for the worse when Erin went to the toilet, as the mere act of peeing left her feeling like she “was going to die”.
“My heart rate kept increasing more and more each time I went,” she recalled.
Erin called 111 and called 111 and was reportedly told her symptoms were likely caused by a UTI, but she continued to explain how “abnormal” she felt and was told to go to A&E two hours later.
The 24-year-old was told that her body was being ravaged by sepsis, after an infection of her urinary tract spread to her kidneys and bloodstream.
Read more on Erin’s story here.
“Sepsis can be hard to recognise and diagnose and symptoms can manifest in many different ways.”
He named several key symptoms to look out for, such as a high or low temperature, uncontrolled shivering, confusion, peeing less than usual and having blotchy or cold arms and legs.
“On their own, some of these symptoms can be an indication of other health problems,” Colin warned.
“Someone with sepsis might also not show all of these symptoms at once.
“A combination of two or more symptoms, becoming progressively worse, means medical attention is needed and sufferers should call 999 or go to A&E.”
What is a UTI?
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are usually caused by E.coli bacteria – found in poo – entering the urinary tract.
The bacteria enter through the tube that carries pee out of the body (urethra).
Women are more likely than men to pick up UTIs as they have a shorter urethra than men.
This means bacteria are more likely to reach the bladder or kidneys and cause an infection.
According to the NHS, things that increase the risk of bacteria getting into the bladder include:
- Having sex
- Pregnancy
- Conditions that block the urinary tract – such as kidney stones
- conditions that make it difficult to fully empty the bladder – such as an enlarged prostate in men and constipation in children
- Urinary catheters (a tube in your bladder used to drain urine)
- Having a weakened immune system – for example, people with diabetes or people having chemotherapy
- Not drinking enough fluids
- Not keeping the genital area clean and dry
Check if it’s a UTI
Symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI) may include:
- Pain or a burning sensation when peeing (dysuria)
- Needing to pee more often than usual
- Needing to pee more often than usual during the night (nocturia)
- Needing to pee suddenly or more urgently than usual
- Pee that looks cloudy
- Blood in your pee
- Lower tummy pain or pain in your back, just under the ribs
- A high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery
- A very low temperature below 36C
Your pee may also be dark or smell. If this is your only symptom, it might be because you’ve not been drinking enough water.
What to do if you think you have a UTI
If you think you have UTI symptoms, you should speak to your GP to discuss treatment options.
Most people will need antibiotics.
Some people may be prescribed a ‘delayed antibiotic’, meaning they’ll be asked only to use it if their symptoms don’t go away after a certain amount of time.
If you keep getting UTIs, your GP might recommend you have a low dose of antibiotics over a long period of time or refer you to a specialist for more tests and treatments.
For women who have gone through menopause, there is evidence that vaginal oestrogen creams can reduce UTI symptoms.
Source: NHS