UTI in Elderly Women: The Often-Missed Diagnosis

Almost everyone has a story about an elderly family member or friend who suddenly began acting strangely.  Within a 24-hour period they became confused, unable to communicate clearly and having hallucinations.  Everyone’s first thought was dementia. 

But when the patient was examined by a doctor, everyone was shocked and relieved to find out that this was a condition called “UTI delirium” caused by a urinary tract infection, and that it was easily curable with an intravenous dose of strong antibiotics.

What is UTI Delirium?

Delirium is a state of acute confusion and inability to pay attention.

People often ask at what age delirium becomes a symptom of a UTI.  Generally this occurs after age 80.

How Can You Tell If It's Delirium or Dementia?

There are four important differences which help you decide if its delirium or dementia.

How Does A UTI Lead To UTI Delirium?

Body’s Immune Response Can Affect The Brain: When the body is fighting an infection, it triggers an immune response. In the case of a UTI, this can lead to the release of inflammatory molecules called cytokines. These cytokines can affect the brain, leading to changes in cognitive function and behavior.

Bloodstream Infection: In severe cases, bacteria from the urinary tract can enter the bloodstream and reach the central nervous system leading to inflammation in the brain. This can disrupt normal brain function and contribute to delirium.

Dehydration: UTIs can cause symptoms such as frequent urination and burning, which may lead older people to decrease their fluid intake. Dehydration can worsen confusion and cognitive function.

Underlying Health Conditions: Older adults may have underlying health conditions such as dementia or cognitive impairment; the infection can exacerbate these conditions.

What Are The Symptoms of UTI Delirium?

Impaired Attention: The individual may have trouble maintaining attention on tasks or conversations and may be easily distracted.

Disorganized Thinking: Delirium can cause confusion and disorientation.

Difficulty Communicating: The person may have difficulty organizing their thoughts, expressing themselves coherently, or understanding others.

Hallucinations or Illusions: The person may see or hear things that are not there, or misinterpret sensory input.

Memory Impairment: The person may have trouble recalling recent events or forming new memories.

Hyperactivity or Lethargy: Delirium can cause changes in motor activity. The person may be hyperactive, restless, and agitated, or they may be hypoactive, lethargic, and slow to respond. 

Emotional Disturbances: Individuals with delirium may suddenly experience mood swings, anxiety, irritability, or other emotional changes.

Why Do The Elderly Get UTI Delirium?

The simple answer is that as people get older, they may no longer get the “early warning symptoms” of a UTI, such as burning when urinating or bladder pressure.  This leads to an undiagnosed and untreated UTI, which then becomes a very serious kidney infection and fever which affects the brain.

At this point hospitalization is required to arrest the spread of the infection using intravenous antibiotics.

Read more about UTI delirium in the elderly at Understanding UTIs.

How Prevent UTIs and Delirium In The Elderly

Antibiotics Are No Longer Permitted For Prevention

Recurrent UTIs are common among elderly female patients.  The first line of UTI treatment for the elderly is a course of oral antibiotics. 

However, the American Medical Association has recently issued guidance on UTI prevention for the elderly: doctors are no longer permitted to prescribe long-term antibiotics as a preventative against recurring UTIs due to the serious side effects they caused in older women and men. 

Natural Alternatives Are Now Being Recommended

The good news is that there are two all-natural alternatives which have been proven effective in preventing UTIs in the elderly females and males.  Doctors are now recommending both as safe and effective for the elderly.

1.      D-Mannose powder which binds to the UTI bacteria and flushes them out of the bladder.    A March 2022 article in The Nutrition Journal confirmed that D-Mannose has great potential for preventing recurring UTIs and has minimal side effects (which is important for the elderly).

2.      Cranberry Extract capsules which deliver a daily dose pf 36 mg. of proanthocyandins (PACs) prevents bacteria from sticking to the bladder lining and starting an infection.  A November 2019 article in Today’s Geriatric Magazine confirmed that 36 mg of PAC was as effective as the antibiotic trimethoprim in preventing recurring UTIs in the elderly.

Read more about how these two products are helping the elderly live a UTI-free life here: www.goodbye-uti.com