How To Tackle Urinary Tract Infection As You Grow Older

Urinary Tract Infections can be common among older adults. Here's what to watch out for.

Are you 60 plus and facing issues like frequent, urgent need to urinate, painful and burning urination, or the constant feeling of a full bladder? Do you feel consistent pressure or pain in your abdomen or lower back that doesn’t go despite applying sprays to get relief from pain? These signs are often commonly observed among older adults but rarely do they go for a diagnosis to detect the cause behind these symptoms, which is a major concern, believe doctors. 

Did you know that more than 10 per cent of women over age 65 report having a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) - an infection in any part of the urinary system, the kidneys, bladder or urethra, according to a study conducted by National Center For Biotechnology Information (NCBI).  Not just that, the incidence of UTI increases to about 30 per cent in women over age 85. Even male older adults tend to experience more UTI as they age. And the above-mentioned symptoms are the early signs of UTI among older adults. 

“Men suffer from urinary tract obstruction due to a prostate issue that is most commonly Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and this, in turn, causes the more recurrent UTI in older adult males. Also, men associated with diabetes have an increased risk of infection because there is a loss of bladder tone and enhanced susceptibility to infections. In post-menopausal older adults women anatomic factors affecting bladder emptying such as cystoceles, urinary incontinence and residual urine are most commonly associated with recurrent UTI,” says Dr Manohar Bhadrappa, consultant Urology and Renal Transplant Surgeon at Manipal Hospital Sarjapur, Bengaluru. 

Why do older adults women and men suffer from increased UTI

• Compromised immune system: older adult patients have reduced immunity making them vulnerable to infections, including urinary tract infections.
• Urinary incontinence: Urinary incontinence in older adults occurs due to muscular and neurological changes as a part of the ageing process. It increases the risk of recurrent urinary tract infections.
• Increased exposure to bacteria in hospital settings: older adult patients frequently visit the hospitals due to different medical conditions. It increases their exposure to different bacteria thereby enhancing the risk of urinary tract infection.

       *        Anatomical variations in the urinary system: People with benign prostate hyperplasia are more likely to have UTI due to stagnant urine in the bladder.

The red flags that you must watch out for:

Older adults often tend to ignore the signs of UTI which lead to delayed diagnosis. This is why Dr Bhadrappa believes that it is essential to spot the day to day red flags. Poor urinary flow, as well as incomplete emptying and frequent urination both day and night, could be an indication of UTI among older adults, he highlights. 

“It is important to look for the symptoms of urinary tract infections in older adults. Caregivers should identify a sudden increase in the frequency of urination and an urgent need for urination in older adults. Further, lethargy, loss of appetite, fever, reduced mobility, irritation and agitation, and nausea and vomiting are some of the red flags for underlying urinary tract infection. If an older adult complains about painful urination, pelvic pain, and change in colour of urine, the caregiver should immediately consult with the doctor,” adds Dr Bhadrappa.

Ways by which you can prevent UTI among older adults

• Older adults should drink sufficient fluid and remain hydrated. 
• They should also maintain adequate genital hygiene. 
• They should also limit the amount of alcohol and caffeine as they are irritants to the bladder. 
• They should urinate as soon as there is an urge to prevent problems in bladder muscles. 
• Further, avoiding douches and changing the adult diapers, when required, also prevent urinary tract infections. 
• It is important not to ignore the symptoms of UTI. Visit the urologist to look out for the cause of UTI and get treated properly by a specialist. 

The underlying conditions that increase the risk of UTI among older adults

There are several underlying medical conditions that may increase the risk of UTI in adults, says Dr Bhadrappa. “These conditions may either increase their exposure to bacteria (for example increased risk of UTI in postmenopausal women due to E.coli) or affects the muscles or the nerves that control urination. These diseases are Diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. Benign Prostate Hyperplasia also increases the risk of UTI in men. Diabetes and as well any previous urological surgeries can increase the incidence of UTI.”

Timely recognition of the signs, intervention and following the preventive measures can make it easy for older adults to tackle UTI and also keep the underlying conditions in check. 

Image courtesy: thatbaldguy/Pixabay