The abnormal presence of bacteria within the bladder can cause a medical condition known as a urinary tract infection. Symptoms of a urinary tract infection include pain during urination and increased urinary urgency and frequency. Antibiotic treatments are typically utilized to resolve this infection. If this condition is left untreated, you can develop potentially life-threatening complications of a urinary tract infection.
Pyelonephritis
Bacteria first enters the urinary tract at the opening of the urethra--the tiny tube that allows urine from the bladder to exit your body. As the bacteria multiply, they can travel up the urethra and settle into the bladder and the muscle of the bladder wall, causing a urinary tract infection. If the infection is not resolved while the bacteria are in the bladder, these bacteria can start to travel further up into the urinary tract. Bacteria can migrate up the ureters--the small tubes that allow urinary waste to be passed from the kidneys to the bladder--and into the kidneys, causing a kidney infection called pyelonephritis. Symptoms of pyelonephritis include high fever, back pain, chills, night sweats, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain. Pyelonephritis requires immediate medical attention to prevent further medical complications.
Sepsis
Bacteria within the kidneys can spread into your bloodstream, causing a life-threatening urinary tract infection complication referred to as sepsis. Symptoms of sepsis can include confusion, delirium, hyperventilation, increased heart rate, dizziness, fever or hypothermia, chills, skin rash or shaking of the body. If you develop sepsis as a complication of a urinary tract infection, you may need to be admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) at a hospital to receive antibiotic treatment through intravenous (IV) therapy. Even with appropriate treatment, the death rate for people with sepsis can be more than 60 percent--especially for people with additional medical problems, warns Medline Plus, a health website established by the National Institutes of Heath (NIH).
Kidney Damage
High levels of bacteria within the kidneys can lead to extensive kidney damage, especially in people who develop recurrent urinary tract infections. Scarring can interfere with the normal function of your kidneys and lead to additional kidney-related problems. Scarring and damage within the kidneys can cause increased blood pressure and renal failure in certain people. Such conditions can be life-threatening and require immediate medical intervention.
Pregnancy Complications
Women who develop urinary tract infections during pregnancy are at risk of experiencing pregnancy-related complications. An untreated urinary tract infection that develops into pyelonephritis can lead to early labor in some pregnant women. This infection can also increase the likelihood that a pregnant woman will deliver a low-birth-weight baby. Low-birth-weight babies are more susceptible to developing certain types of medical conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease, later in life. These babies can also be at an increased risk of experiencing developmental delays that impact motor or language skills.
