Are UTI's harmfull

Answer 1

Short answer:

Usually it's not if its treated early and appropriately. A quick trip to the health clinic for some antibiotics should do the trick.

Long answer:

UTI's are very common in both men and women, however they occur more frequently in women. They are caused by bacteria colonizing the urinary tract, usually starting from the tip of the urethra and spreading upwards toward the bladder and kidneys over time. This is why it is important to seek treatment soon after experiencing early symptoms of a UTI (pain or burning with urination, cloudy urine, trouble stopping or starting the flow of urine).

If it remains untreated for a prolonged period of time, the bacteria can move up into the bladder causing more serious symptoms (increased pain with urination, lower abdominal cramping, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting [less common], etc...). When this occurs it is referred to as cystitis (a medical term meaning bladder infection).

After the infection has spread to the bladder, it can then continue to move up the urinary tract to infect the kidneys. This is then referred to as pyelonephritis (doctor lingo for kidney infection). If this occurs you will experience much more severe symptoms possibly including flank pain in your sides, lower to mid back pain, fevers, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, sweating, and a general ill feeling. And diuretic and anti-inflammatory pill can help.

This is when a UTI can become very serious, very fast. If the bacteria have infected the kidneys, it can then very quickly and easily spread to the blood stream and throughout the rest of the body. This is referred to as septicemia or sepsis (meaning infection of the blood). This is a life threatening condition that can cause high spiking fevers, infections of other vital organs, trouble breathing, increase in heart rate, and extreme drops in blood pressure which can then cause heart failure or cause you to loose consciousness, go into a coma and die. But this could have all be prevented by a simple antibiotic. So go to the doctor when you first experience symptoms and a UTI will never become a serious illness.

Answer 2

Yes, if they go untreated it will spread upwards to the kidneys.

Answer 3

A urinary tract infection can be dangerous if it goes into a full blown kidney infection.

Answer 4

Not directly, but it may cause complications that may result in death.

Answer 5

A UTI is not fatal.