Urine infections: spotting them early in older women

Step by step

1. 1

   Step 1: Know that they often look like something else

   This is the important one. In older women a urine infection frequently presents as sudden confusion, unsteadiness, a fall, or simply not being herself, with none of the burning or urgency you would expect. Families often assume dementia has worsened overnight. Sudden confusion is a reason to think infection and call a doctor.

   Learn more: Dementia: what it is, and what lowers the risk
2. 2

   Step 2: Know the ordinary signs too

   Burning or stinging, needing to go far more often, urgency, cloudy or strong-smelling urine, pain low in the abdomen or back. Fever, shivering, back pain or vomiting mean it may have reached the kidneys, which needs seeing the same day.

   Learn more: Sleep: which kind of poor sleeper are you?
3. 3

   Step 3: Reduce the chances sensibly

   Drink enough water through the day rather than cutting back to avoid the toilet, which is the common instinct and makes things worse. Do not hold on for long periods, and empty fully. Wipe front to back. After menopause, dryness makes infections more likely, and that is treatable, so it is worth raising.

   Learn more: Nutrition basics
4. 4

   Step 4: Get it properly diagnosed rather than guessed

   Symptoms overlap with other things, and treating without testing leads to antibiotics being used when they are not needed. Ask for a urine test. If you get them repeatedly, that is worth investigating rather than treating again and again.

   Learn more: Muscle strength and ageing

All topics in this guide

• Dementia: what it is, and what lowers the risk
• Sleep: which kind of poor sleeper are you?
• Nutrition basics
• Muscle strength and ageing

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