Symptomatic lower urinary tract infection induced by cooling of the feet: A controlled experimental trial

Abstract

We conducted an open, non-randomized experimental study as a first step to find out whether cooling of the feet may cause symptomatic lower urinary tract infection (UTI) in cystitis-prone women. Twenty-nine healthy women, aged 19-68 (mean 42.5) years, who had had three or more symptomatic episodes of UTI during the previous 12 months were included. They registered symptoms and carried out a strip urinalysis at each urination during a control period of 72 hours. Their lower legs and feet were then immersed in increasingly cold water for 30 minutes. Another 72-hour period of registration followed. Six subjects developed acute distal urinary symptoms at a mean of 55 (95% confidence interval 50 to 61) hours after the cooling, compared with none in the control period. Five of the six had bacteriologically verified lower UTI (P = 0.03 v. the control period). Cooling of the feet seems to provoke symptomatic lower UTI in cystitis-prone women. © 1992 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.