What is the Difference Between Upper and Lower Urinary Tract Infection?

The main difference between upper and lower urinary tract infections (UTIs) lies in the specific part of the urinary tract that is infected and the symptoms associated with each type. UTIs can affect anyone of any age and are caused by infectious bacteria entering various regions of the urinary tract.

Upper UTIs typically affect the kidneys and the ureters, which are the tubes that lead from the kidneys to the bladder. Symptoms of upper UTIs include:

Flu-like symptoms affecting the whole body
Lower back pain, sometimes severe
Nausea, vomiting, and high fever
Chills

Upper UTIs are more serious than lower UTIs, as they impact the kidneys, which are responsible for filtering toxins out of the bloodstream. If left untreated, upper UTIs can progress to blood poisoning or septicemia.

Lower UTIs typically affect the bladder, urethra, or prostate. Symptoms of lower UTIs include:

Frequent urination
Pain during or after urination
Cloudy or blood-tinged urine
Strong-smelling urine

Lower UTIs are more common than upper UTIs and are often caused by bacteria entering the urethra during wiping after using the bathroom or during partnered sexual activity. If left untreated, lower UTIs can progress to the upper urinary tract, which may involve the ureters and kidneys.

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What is the Difference Between Upper and Lower Urinary Tract Infection?

Comparative Table: Upper vs Lower Urinary Tract Infection

The main difference between upper and lower urinary tract infections (UTIs) lies in the area of the urinary tract that is affected. Lower UTIs affect the bladder and urethra, while upper UTIs affect the kidneys and ureters. Here is a table summarizing the differences between the two:

Feature	Lower UTI (Bladder and Urethra)	Upper UTI (Kidney and Ureters)
Symptoms	Pain during or after urination, frequent urination, urgency, and possibly blood in the urine	Flu-like symptoms, pain in the side, lower back, or around the genitals, and high temperature
Bacteria	Mostly caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli) and other bacteria from the intestine or vagina	Infections of kidney tissue (pyelonephritis) and infections of ureters (ureteritis) can be caused by various bacteria, including those from the intestine or vagina
Severity	Lower UTIs are generally less serious than upper UTIs	Upper UTIs are more serious than lower UTIs, as they impact the kidneys, which are responsible for filtering toxins out of the bloodstream
Treatment	Lower UTIs can usually be treated with a course of antibiotics	Upper UTIs may require more aggressive treatment due to their impact on the kidneys and potentially more severe complications

Preventive measures for both types of UTIs include maintaining good hygiene, emptying the bladder regularly, and not holding in urine for long periods.

Guilherme Mazui

Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.