What are typical symptoms of a urinary tract infection?

Dysuria, frequency, and urgency are hallmark symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI). Dysuria refers to painful or difficult urination, which is often a primary complaint in UTIs. Frequency indicates the need to urinate more often than usual, and urgency is a strong, immediate need to urinate that can sometimes lead to involuntary loss of urine. Together, these symptoms are indicative of inflammation or infection in the urinary tract, typically affecting the bladder or urethra.

The other symptoms listed, such as elevated heart rate and fever, may occur in some cases, particularly if the infection progresses to involve the kidneys, but they are not as specific to UTIs. Fatigue and headaches can be associated with many different types of illnesses or infections, rather than being uniquely indicative of a UTI. Similarly, shortness of breath and coughing are symptoms typically associated with respiratory conditions rather than urinary tract infections. Therefore, the focus on dysuria, frequency, and urgency aligns closely with the clinical presentation of a UTI.