Peeing barbed wire - Symptom experiences in women with lower urinary tractinfection

Objective - To explore the contents and presentation of symptoms experience d by female patients with lower urinary tract infections. Design - Qualitative study based on written answers to open-ended questions on symptom experiences, analysis with Giorgi's phenomenological approach, explanatory model as frame of reference. Setting - Twelve general practices in the Bergen area of Norway. Subjects - Ninety-four women aged 19-97 years who consulted because they su spected to have an acute cystitis and who had leucocyturia and growth of 10 (5) or more uropathogens/ml in the urine. Main outcome measures - Descriptions and nuances considered mainstream for cystitis or as a supplement to the traditional medical symptom descriptions . Results - We found a great diversity of symptoms. Typical symptom descripti ons were a terrible scorch when the bladder is nearly empty, frequent need to void followed by only a few drops, sometimes so suddenly that it may go wrong, or a constant ache in the low back and belly. Subjects also describe d constant aching or pressure in the genital area, or they felt miserable a nd no good in the whole body. Specific symptoms were also localized elsewhe re in the body. Conclusion - Diverse symptom descriptions complementing previous knowledge were revealed, as well as symptoms not usually mentioned in textbooks or re views.