Are Nausea, Hot Flashes, Urinary Pressure And Pelvic Pain Symptoms Of UTI?

Posted on Wed, 12 Apr 2017

Question: I am 59 years old. Was nauseated, hot flashes, urinary pressure and some pelvic pain. Did at home dipstick uti test. Showed positive luekasites negative for nitrates. Took 2 azo "urinary tract defense and antibacterial protection" tabs which contain aspirin and methenamine. Next morning went to er. Gave urine sample was told it was neg. also told symptoms seemed like uti so maybe azo interfered with result????. They didn't send for culture as they said they could tell from preliminary it was neg. I've had uti before and dr would always send for culture. Anyway taking cipro (so far 2 tabs) was given 500mg twice daily for 5 days. Could hot flashes be caused by uti? Can you have a uti if dipstick says no? Should culture have been done?

Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (32 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Supportive care.

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking

I read your question and i understand your concern. Dipsticks have higher false positive rates and with negative labs in ER it is likely to treat symptoms which mimic UTI. CIprofloxacin is a good antibiotic provided it is sensitive to bugs for UTI. Urine culture should have been done and is must as empiric therapy is not suggested if resources for cultures were available. Continue cipro for 5 days and see if it improves symptoms. Rest supportive measures like good coital habits, frequent fluids intake etc will help.

As far as hot flashes are concerned that could be a separate entity and could be a sequelae of your age which is in post menopausal era. Consult a local physician and let them help you with these vasomotor symptoms due to hormonal decrease post menopausal and consider you for estrogen replacement and symptomatic care.

I hope it helps. Take good care of yourself and dont forget to close the discussion please.

Regards
Khan

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (9 minutes later)

Despite ER test showing as negative, if a culture had been done could it have shown positive despite preliminary neg er dipstick? Also can hot flashes still occur at this age? Thank you

So as I was told initial test done in er was negative, if culture had been performed is it possible that could of showed positive?

Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (11 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Culture should always be taken for infection, hot flashes may last years

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back to me

Vasomotor symptoms may be due to many cause and yes they can last for years after menopause in some cases. SMoking, obesity and ethnicity affects these ad their duration as well. DIpsticks are not that confirming and are just a preliminary, if it was negative for UTI on initial investigation then there was no need for antibiotic as well, but one a doctor was suspecting UTI he should have taken culture and then given antibiotic and in a day or two we would have know what organism growth came and was it sensitive to prescribed cipro in first place. Any how, continue with cipro and we hope that it will help improve you symptoms.

I hope it helps.
Regards
Khan

Brief Answer:
Not UTI even if initials negative

Detailed Answer:
with no focus of infection even suspecting UTI was not wise. And yes culture growth wont come if urine routine exam does not show any foucs of infection.

i hope it helps.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar