Male urinary tract infection symptoms can range from the mild to the severe. Some individuals will experience urinary frequency along with painful urination. Other individuals may develop a high fever. These individuals may have blood in the urine and develop mental changes. Some male urinary tract infection symptoms can become so severe hospitalization is necessary.
Urinary tract infections in males are uncommon. The length of the urethra and the bactericidal properties of the fluid excreted by the prostate usually protects men from urinary tract infections. Young healthy men who develop urinary tract infections should be examined for urinary obstructions or infection of the prostate gland.
The long term use of an indwelling urinary catheter can sometimes produce frequent male urinary tract infection symptoms. An indwelling urinary catheter can introduce various types of bacteria into the bladder. These bacteria can then produce infections that will need to be treated with antibiotics.
Men are more likely to get urinary tract infections as they grow older. The natural antibacterial secretions that are released by the prostate gland decrease as a man ages. Elderly men may develop dementia, which can lead to incontinence of the bowels or bladder. Incontinence can lead to frequent urinary tract infections.
Elderly men may not exhibit male urinary tract infection symptoms. The only clues to signal an infection is present may be urinary frequency, loss of appetite and a low grade fever. Caregivers need to be aware that male urinary tract infection symptoms are not always present in the elderly. If a caregiver notes any change in the elderly male's behavior, she should have him examined by a doctor.
In severe cases, men may need to be hospitalized for this type of infection. Urinary tract infections in men are harder to eliminate. They will generally not respond to short term antibiotic therapy. Sometimes a full 10 to 14 days of intense treatment may be necessary to fully eradicate the infection.
Symptoms of male urinary tract infections should always be taken seriously. Any male who is having a general ill feeling accompanied by back pain and fever should see a doctor. Untreated male urinary tract infection symptoms can lead to a severe infection that can damage the kidneys.
When a male has a kidney infection, he may experience back pain along with fever and chills. These symptoms may become more severe if the infection is not treated properly. Damage to the kidneys is possible. This will produce symptoms of renal failure which can include nausea, vomiting and weight loss. Fatigue and swelling is common with renal failure.
