Symptoms of E. coli in urine
Medically Reviewed by Dr Sravya, MBBS, MS
In This Article
- What is E.coli?
- Why do you get E.coli in your urine?
- Is E.coli contagious?
- What are the first signs of E.coli?
- What are the symptoms of E.coli in urine?
- How quickly do symptoms of E.coli infections appear?
- How long do the symptoms of E.coli infections stay?
- 10 natural ways to lessen E.coli symptoms
- Safety precautions to prevent E.coli infections
- How will I know if my E.coli infections have healed?
- FAQs
What is E.coli?
E.coli stands for Escherichia coli. It is a type of bacteria that healthy humans and animals have in their intestines. It is also found in the environment and foods. E. coli are generally a large group of bacteria. Most the E.coli strains are not harmful, and they are safe, but there are a few types that can cause diarrhea, and stomach pain/cramps, whereas others can cause severe intestinal problems, UTIs, kidney failure, and respiratory diseases if not treated properly. Most of the people with E. coli infection can recover within a week without taking medications.
The most common Content editor: Richa symptoms of E.coli in urine are the urge to pee, a burning sensation while urinating, and cloudy urine is observed. You can get sick from some types of E. coli when they produce the Shiga toxin. Your intestine’s lining is harmed by this toxin. The E.coli strains that produce the toxin are commonly referred to as STEC, which stands for “ Shiga toxin-producing E.coli.”
O157:H7, a particularly harmful strain, can leave you seriously ill. It results in bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps. It leads to acute kidney failure in children. Additionally, it may result in some life-threatening symptoms like:
- Seizures
- Confusion
- Bleeding
- Fever
Why do you get E. coli in your urine?
Why do you get E. coli in your urine? There are many reasons for the presence of E. coli in urine. One of the most common reasons is the intake of contaminated foods & undercooked foods like unpasteurized milk, undercooked hamburgers, cheese made from raw milk, etc. Other reasons include:
- Improper hygiene–Not cleaning the area around the vagina before and after sex.
- Not keeping your genital area clean after a bowel movement or during periods can lead to an E. coli infection in urine.
- Catheter use– People who can’t urinate use a tube called a catheter, which increases the chance of developing an E. coli infection in urine.
- According to a few specialists, during pregnancy, the weight of the growing foetus can move the bladder which makes it easier for E.coli to enter.
- Using contraceptives, which consist of spermicides. This can kill the good/healthy bacteria in your body and makes it easier for E. coli to cause an infection.
- People who are close to animals or have any cattle or pets are prone to getting E. coli in urine.
- Water from swimming pools, lakes and ponds is not clean and purified, so when you swallow this water, it allows E. coli to enter your body more easily.
- E. coli bacteria are contagious as they can travel person-to-person, especially when children and adults who are infected do not wash their hands properly.
Is E. coli contagious?
Not all types of E. coli are contagious, but certain types of E. coli can be contagious depending on the strain and the type of infection. One of the most common ways for E. coli to spread from one person to another is through the oral/fecal route. People with gastrointestinal E. coli infection are contagious if the bacteria is discovered in the stool. But this infection spreads through transferring traces of their feces onto one another. This infection is often spread through:
- Not washing hands properly before eating
- Consuming raw beef, unpasteurized food or beverages, juices, raw milk, etc.
- Not washing vegetables and fruits properly.
- It can also spread through swallowing water while swimming
Other E. coli strains that cause UTIs are not contagious. Physical contact (like shaking hands, kissing, etc.) is not typically spread by E. coli from person to person.
What are the first signs of E.coli?
The first signs of E.coli may include:
- Frequent need to pee, even though the urine output is little
- An urge to pee
- Burning feeling while urinating
- A brownish urine
- Presence of blood in urine
- Foul-smelling urine
These are the first signs of E.coli. These are the most common symptoms that you can experience in the initial stages of the infection. However, you must consult a doctor if these symptoms appear, and if it’s confirmed that there is E.coli in urine culture, you should get treated immediately.
What are the symptoms of E. coli in urine?
According to the journal Nature Reviews Biology, 75% of UTIs are caused by E. coli. The following are the most common E. coli infection symptoms:
- Cloudy urine is observed
- Passing urine frequently but in small amounts
- Frequent need to pee
- A sudden urge to pee
- Itching/burning sensation during urination
- Pain in the hips & lower back (abdomen)
- Pain in the rectal region in men
- Pelvic pain in women
- Pelvic pain in women
- A strong odor of the urine
- Bright red/pink, cola-coloured urine (indicates blood in the urine)
- Fever above 101°F with shivering and chills
- Feeling tired
- Restlessness
- Lightheadedness, confusion
How quickly do symptoms of E. coli in urine appear?
The symptoms of E.coli infections usually appear within 3 to 8 days after being exposed to the bacteria, and most of them are harmless. The majority of people show the symptoms evidently, while few of them are asymptomatic.
How long do the E. coli infection symptoms stay?
Most of the time, the symptoms of E.coli in urine can improve within 36 hours as the antibiotics cure the infection rapidly. But, if you have any kidney disease, it takes around 14 days to cure the infection.
10 natural ways to lessen the symptoms of E. coli in urine:
- You can reduce the symptoms of E. coli infection by drinking plenty of water which can help flush the bacteria out from your body.
- Use a heating pad–this can reduce the pain while peeing and make you feel comfortable.
- Wear loose cotton & comfortable clothes, which may ease and reduce the symptoms.
- Cranberry juice or cranberry extract is one of the most well-known natural treatment methods for UTIs.
- Consuming vitamin C supplements can improve the immune system and prevent infections.
- Probiotics aid in producing bacterial agents that prevent the bacteria from entering the urinary tract.
- Avoid carbohydrates, alcohol, artificial sweeteners, spicy foods, caffeinated food & drinks, and soda to lessen the infection.
- Personal hygiene is very important–wipe from front to back after a bowel movement. Use fragrance-free products.
- Avoiding meat and dairy products can reduce the risk of UTIs.
- Urinate frequently– even if it's a small amount, you can get rid of some bacteria every time you urinate.
Safety precautions to prevent E. coli infections in urine:
- Before eating any vegetable, make sure you wash it. Cleanse leafy vegetables like lettuce and spinach well to remove the dirt.
- After handling raw meat, wash knives, countertops, and cutting boards with hot soapy water.
- Never use the same plate for raw meat and cooked meat again without washing it beforehand.
- Leftovers have to be refrigerated immediately.
- For raw meat and meals like vegetables and fruits, use a different chopping board.
How will I know if my E. coli infections have healed?
E. coli infections in urine are treatable. Most of the symptoms can be improved within 5 to 10 days. Infections that can be treated only with antibiotics may take about 5 to 21 days to cure. Few infections which may require surgical drainage or debridement may take more time to be cured.
When should I contact a doctor?
If you experience any symptoms like urgency to pee, pain in the abdomen, if your urine is different in color i.e., cloudy appearance, reddish or cola-colored, any burning feeling during urination, you should consult your doctor, and he will confirm the presence of E. coli by performing urine analysis test and urine culture test, and if it’s confirmed that there is E. coli in urine culture, your doctor will immediately start the
treatment.
Other symptoms which are caused by E.coli in urine are bloody diarrhoea, dehydration, high fever, etc. should be evaluated immediately since they are caused by various infections. Do not delay your appointment as it may severely affect your symptoms and increase the infection more rapidly.
As long as you consult a doctor immediately, your E. coli infection symptoms will be improved as quickly as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most commonly occurs in women and it affects the bladder & urethra.
E. coli is responsible for 90% of the UTIs. It is the most common bacteria
found in the urinary tract.
Most of them recover from the infection within 5 to 10 days. It may take 2
weeks to recover if it’s a kidney disease.
Antibiotics are the best treatment for UTIs. Antibiotics can kill the bacteria
which are responsible for the infections and can prevent further infections.