DAR ES SALAAM: WHAT often begins as a mild burning sensation during urination or an increased urge to visit the toilet can quickly become a serious medical emergency if left untreated. Health experts warn that delayed diagnosis of urinary tract infections (UTIs) continues to expose many people to preventable complications, including recurrent infections, permanent kidney damage and, in severe cases, sepsis, a life-threatening condition in which infection spreads into the bloodstream. UTIs occur when bacteria enter the urinary system, affecting the bladder, urethra, ureters or kidneys.
Common symptoms include painful urination, frequent urges to urinate, lower abdominal pain, cloudy or bloody urine and a persistent feeling of needing to urinate even when the bladder is nearly empty. They say many patients ignore early symptoms, self-medicate with antibiotics or delay visiting health facilities until the infection has advanced, making treatment more difficult and increasing the risk of antimicrobial resistance. Consultant Urologist at Muhimbili National Hospital, Dr Victor Sensa, said delayed diagnosis is one of the biggest challenges in managing UTIs.
“Many people underestimate urinary tract infections because the early symptoms appear mild. But if bacteria spread from the bladder to the kidneys, the consequences can be severe,” he said. According to Dr Sensa, untreated kidney infections, medically known as pyelonephritis, can permanently damage the kidneys.
If the infection enters the bloodstream, it may cause sepsis, which requires immediate emergency treatment. ALSO READ: VISION 2050 FROM PLAN TO ACTION: Every drop counts for Tanzania’s future Dr Sensa said recurrent UTIs—defined as two or more infections within six months or three or more within a year—may indicate urinary tract abnormalities, kidney stones, incomplete treatment or antibiotic resistance. “Repeated infections should never be ignored.
Patients need proper medical evaluation to identify the underlying cause instead of repeatedly treating symptoms,” he said. Warning signs that the infection has reached the kidneys include high fever, chills, severe back or side pain, nausea, vomiting and extreme weakness. Against this backdrop, a newly introduced home urinary tract infection screening kit, CheckFor UTI Test, is expected to improve early detection by allowing people to screen themselves befor…
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