Change in the body's immune response to disease is a normal effect of aging. After age 65, urinary tract infections become more frequent. At the same time, uti symptoms change dramatically. They can be very difficult to pin point, making diagnosis and treatment difficult.
It is important for seniors, their families and care givers to be aware of what they are looking for because about 10% of people over 65 have utis. Direct causes include catheterization and obstruction in the flow of urine including prostatitis, kidney stones or cancer. Diabetes can contribute to a urinary tract infection because it weakens the immune system. If a person is living in a community setting, such as a nursing home or hospital, they are more at risk of contracting the disease and it may be a strain resistant to antibiotics.
In people under 65, the signs of urinary tract infections are obvious: painful, burning urination; the urge to go frequently with only a small amount of urine being passed; cloudy or bad-smelling urine; small amounts of blood in the urine; and a general feeling of tiredness. However, after age 65, most of these signs seem to disappear, and the symptoms that arise in their place don't necessarily seem to indicate a urinary tract infection.
Any infection places heightened stress on the body. This can cause sudden behavioral changes. People will be unable to do routine chores such as putting on their clothes or feeding themselves that they could do just the day before. They may be confused and restless. Some folks will have overall discomfort and weakness, including falling. There may be loss of appetite. A person with dimentia may become temporarily worse.
Physical uti symptoms that might present themselves include incontinence, nausea, vomiting, coughing, shortness of breath and abdominal pain. Women may have pain above the pubic bone. Men sometimes have a feeling of fullness in the rectum. However, a person would probably not have all of these signs; and perhaps none.
Fever is always serious in seniors, and should be taken care of immediately, whether a symptom of a uti or not. Back or side pain along with any of these signs could indicate that the infection has reached the kidneys.
Because it is so difficult to recognize uti symptoms in seniors, it helps to be proactive and keep an infection from occuring. Natural remedies, used as part of a preventative program, can keep the urinary system healthy and balanced, enabling the body to resist infection. Herbal treatments can also be used to gently treat urinary tract infections without the harsh side effects and possible bacterial resistance of conventional medicine. Always discuss treatment options with your physician or naturopathic doctor.
About the Author
Debra Higgins has been researching herbal and homeopathic remedies for physical and mental health for many years. Visit her website at http://www.FourSeasonsHerbalShop.com/uti-clear to find her choice for urinary tract health.
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