From the Guidelines
Yes, urinary frequency is a symptom of a urinary tract infection (UTI). According to the most recent and highest quality study, urinary frequency is one of the symptoms of bladder inflammation caused by a UTI, along with urgency, dysuria, and others 1. When bacteria infect the urinary tract, they cause inflammation of the bladder lining, which triggers the sensation of needing to urinate more often than usual, even when little urine is present. This happens because the inflamed bladder becomes more sensitive and signals fullness prematurely. Other typical UTI symptoms include burning during urination, cloudy or strong-smelling urine, pelvic pain, and sometimes blood in the urine.
The diagnosis of uncomplicated cystitis, a type of UTI, can be made with a high probability on the basis of a focused history of lower urinary tract symptoms, including urinary frequency, and the absence of vaginal discharge 1. In patients presenting with typical symptoms of uncomplicated cystitis, urine analysis leads to only a minimal increase in diagnostic accuracy, but if the diagnosis is unclear, dipstick analysis can increase the likelihood of a diagnosis of uncomplicated cystitis 1.
It's worth noting that urinary frequency can also be a symptom of other conditions, such as overactive bladder (OAB), but in the context of a UTI, it is a common and bothersome symptom 1. If you're experiencing urinary frequency along with other UTI symptoms, you should contact a healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and treatment. Treatment typically involves antibiotics, and while waiting for treatment, drinking plenty of water, avoiding bladder irritants, and using over-the-counter pain relievers can help manage symptoms 1.
Some key points to consider when evaluating urinary frequency as a symptom of a UTI include:
- The presence of other UTI symptoms, such as burning during urination, cloudy or strong-smelling urine, and pelvic pain
- The absence of vaginal discharge, which can help differentiate UTI from other conditions
- The use of dipstick analysis to increase the likelihood of a diagnosis of uncomplicated cystitis
- The importance of proper diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics to clear the infection completely 1.
From the Research
Urinary Tract Infection Symptoms
- Urinary frequency is indeed a symptom of a urinary tract infection (UTI) 2, 3.
- Other symptoms of UTI include dysuria, suprapubic tenderness, and pelvic pain 2, 3.
- The diagnosis of a UTI can be made based on a combination of symptoms and a positive urine analysis or culture 4.
Types of UTIs
- Uncomplicated UTIs are defined as cystitis in a woman who is not pregnant, is not immunocompromised, has no anatomical and functional abnormalities of the urogenital tract, and does not exhibit signs of tissue invasion and systemic infection 4.
- Complicated UTIs are those that do not meet the criteria for uncomplicated UTIs, and may include febrile UTIs, pyelonephritis, and prostatitis 4.
Treatment of UTIs
- Treatment of UTIs should always begin with culture and sensitivity analysis while the patient is symptomatic, to initiate antimicrobial treatment 3.
- The increasing rates of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) positivity and resistance to antibiotics have limited the use of certain treatments, but fosfomycin and nitrofurantoin may be suitable options for empirical treatment of UTI in some settings 5.