Jane A., 21

Jane is a Form Three school dropout from a local village school. She is an active member of her church youth group, relates well with others despite being shy, and previously enjoyed playing football while in school. Jane hopes to return to school after delivery to complete her secondary education and later pursue a career in beauty and therapy. Jane is expectant. She had been well and progressing normally in her pregnancy until about six days ago, when she developed severe lower abdominal pain, body weakness, extreme fatigue, and abnormal white vaginal discharge Laboratory urinalysis confirmed a urinary tract infection (UTI) in pregnancy. This is the third time Jane is being diagnosed with UTI during this current pregnancy. She reported that she had previously visited a local dispensary where she was given paracetamol and advised to purchase additional medication, which she was unable to buy due to financial constraints. Recurrent urinary tract infections in pregnancy are a major concern because, if not treated properly, they can harm both the mother and the baby. For the mother, they can lead to kidney infection or even sepsis, while for the baby they increase the risk of low birth weight and premature labour. An obstetric ultrasound was performed due to recurrent UTIs during pregnancy to rule out urinary obstruction and any related pregnancy complications.

JAO was admitted in the ward for five days being given intravenous injection for fast resolving of symptoms. When she reported no new complain and that she was no longer experiencing the symptoms, she was allowed to go home with oral medication.

The prognosis for a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) in pregnancy is very good with prompt diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic treatment, typically resulting in full recovery without long-term harm to the mother or baby. However, because pregnancy-related physiological changes make it easier for bacteria to travel to the kidneys, untreated or improperly managed UTIs can lead to serious complications like sepsis and pyelonephritis.