More than half of women develop a urinary tract infection (UTI) at least once in their lifetime. Although developing a UTI is not unusual, it is a serious issue and requires immediate action. If the UTI is left untreated, the symptoms will aggravate. At times, the symptoms can cause excruciating pain, followed by other severe complications. In this case, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics or even surgery to cure the condition.

There are a few early warning signs of UTI , which you should not ignore. They are:

• Abdominal pain
  In case of a UTI infection, the bacteria travel from the rectum to the urethra. From there, they goes all the way to your bladder, which may cause pain in the abdomen. Initially, the pain will start like a twinge, and may be experienced once in a while. With time, it may aggravate and become persistent in the lower abdomen.

• Exhaustion
  In some cases, the immune system displays a slow response to UTI. And when it finally gets in action, it will be overactive. An overactive immune system consumes a lot of your body’s energy, thereby tiring it. If the exhaustion does not go away with adequate rest, then it can be an early warning sign of UTI . 

• Urinating more than usual
  One of the most frustrating symptoms of a urinary tract infection is the constant urge to relieve oneself. This urge is persistent and may come back minutes after you empty your bladder. Oftentimes, when you revisit the bathroom, you will realize that it was only a false sense of urgency.

• Strange smell in urine
  At times, the urine might have a peculiar smell, which might be because of the bacteria present in it.

• Pain while urinating
  Another common symptom of UTI is a burning or tingling sensation that is felt while peeing. The pain arises from the development of white blood cells, which may cause the bladder’s wall to be inflamed. If left untreated, the pain can aggravate.

• Urine discoloration
  Normal, healthy urine is yellow or light yellow, depending on the body’s hydration levels on regular days. However, if the urine appears pink or cloudy, it may be a tell-tale sign of UTI. If you see blood in your urine on a non-period day, then it could be another giveaway of UTI.

• Stomach flu-like signs
  In addition to the symptoms listed above, you might experience a few other signs that may be similar to stomach flu, such as backache, vomiting, fever, and nausea.

If you are experiencing even one of these symptoms, then you must seek immediate medical help.