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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffWhen treated promptly and properly, urinary tract infections rarely lead to complications. But left untreated, a urinary tract infection can become something more serious than merely a set of uncomfortable symptoms.
Untreated urinary tract infections can lead to acute or chronic kidney infections (pyelonephritis), which could permanently damage your kidneys. Urinary tract infections may be overlooked or mistaken for other conditions in older adults. Young children also have an increased risk of kidney infections. Pregnant women who have urinary tract infections may have an increased risk of delivering low birth weight or premature infants.
Women who experience three or more urinary tract infections are likely to continue experiencing them.
- Schaeffer AJ, et al. Infections of the urinary tract. In: Wein AJ, et al. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/202281144-2/0/1445/0.html. Accessed May 21, 2010.
- Urinary tract infections in adults. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/utiadult/index.htm. Accessed May 21, 2010.
- Lentz GM. Urogynecology: Physiology of micturition, diagnosis of voiding dysfunction, and incontinence: Surgical and nonsurgical treatment. In: Katz VL, et al. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/202781245-2/0/1524/0.html. Accessed May 25, 2010.
- Urinary tract infections in children. UrologyHealth.org. http://www.urologyhealth.org/pediatric/index.cfm?cat=07&topic=146. Accessed May 25, 2010.
- McPherson RA, et al. Basic examination of urine. In: McPherson RA, et al. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 21st ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/202781245-4/0/1393/0.html. Accessed May 25, 2010.
- Hooton TM. Recurrent urinary tract infection in women. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 12, 2010.
- Guay DRP. Cranberry and urinary tract infections. Drugs. 2009;69:775.
- Cranberry. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed May 26, 2010.
- Jepson RG, et al. Cranberries for preventing urinary tract infections (review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2008;CD001321.
- Coumadin (prescribing information). Princeton, N.J.: Bristol-Myers Squibb; 2010. http://www.coumadin.com/for_hcp.aspx. Accessed May 26, 2010.
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