Chelsea A., 18

Chelsea is an 18-year-old young woman and the second-born in a family of seven children. Following her father’s death, she was raised by her unemployed mother. Financial hardship forced Chelsea to drop out of school in Form Two, and she later married a young man of similar age. However, her husband has no stable employment, and the couple largely depends on his mother, who herself survives by doing casual work for other people. Chelsea’s own mother has limited involvement in supporting the young couple, leaving them with very few resources. Chelsea is currently pregnant with her second child. Two days before presentation, she developed swelling of the legs, increasing weakness, poor appetite, abdominal pain, painful urination, whitish vaginal discharge and fever. As her condition worsened, her grandmother brought her to the health facility, where clinical assessment and laboratory investigations indicated the need for admission and treatment. Unable to afford the hospital costs, her grandmother initially considered taking her home to look for money. A Helpster volunteer, who is their neighbour, informed the family about available treatment support through Helpster Charity.

While pregnancy -related physiological changes (such as progesterone -induced ureteral dilation and pressure from the uterus) make it easier for bacteria to travel to the kidney. Untreated or improperly management UTIs can lead to serious complication.