An infection developing in any part of the urinary system could be termed as a urinary tract infection or UTI. In most cases, the infection develops towards the lower part of the urinary tract, including the urethra and the bladder. Generally speaking, women are more susceptible to developing a urinary tract infection, as compared to men. Herein, we’ll discuss with you the common symptoms and diagnosis of UTI.

• Symptoms of UTI
  Sadly, UTI might not always appear with concrete symptoms. However, when they do develop, they produce symptoms, such as the following:

• A persistent and a strong urge to pee
• Cloudiness in the urine
• A painful burning sensation felt while peeing
• Passing only smaller quantities of urine
• Visiting the toilet more frequently
• An appearance of blood in the urine
• Change in the color of urine could be cola-colored, bright pink, or red (if it is related to blood) or could turn darker than usual, in other cases
• Urine suddenly has a strong-smell
• Women might also experience pelvic pain, which could predominantly occur in the central region of the pelvis and even around the pubic bone

At times, the symptoms of the UTI infections appear only in the bladder. These are certainly annoying and painful. However, if these symptoms are overlooked, the UTI will spread to the other organs, such as the kidney. In that case, it could bring in a range of serious complications. In most cases, the symptoms of the UTI can be treated via antibiotic.

• Diagnosis
  Unfortunately, when the UTI is still in the earlier stages, its symptoms are either mistaken to be related to a routine pain or are overlooked. However, it would help if you didn’t ignore these symptoms, and diagnosis of UTI should happen while in its earlier stage, for faster treatment. Some diagnostic procedures that will be used to ascertain it is a UTI infection include:

• Analysis of the urine sample
  First, when you visit a lab, the doctor will take your urine sample and test it to check for the presence of the white blood cells, bacteria, or red blood cells.

• Urine culture
  After the urine sample is analyzed, it would be followed by a urine culture. In this culture, the doctor will be able to ascertain what is causing the infection in you, and which medications you should use to treat it.

• MRI and CT scan
  In case the infection is frequent, there could be an underlying abnormality. To find out about this, the doctor might tell you to undergo MRIs and CT-scans.

• Cystoscopy
  Also, if the UTI is recurrent in you, the doctor will perform cystoscopy. Cystoscopy is done via a thin and long tube, which has a lens annexed to it. This lens helps to see the insides of your bladder and the urethra. The tool is known as a cystoscope and is put into the urethra and taken to the bladder.