Bladder Infection

A bladder infection is a condition that can cause painful burning and stinging during urination. Pain comes from an inflammation inside the bladder. A bladder infection may also be called a urinary tract infection, and is often abbreviated as a UTI by medical professionals. Its medical name is cystitis.

Bladder infections are more common (and less dangerous) than a kidney infection, which is another type of UTI.

In the United States, approximately eight million people a year visit a doctor because of a urinary tract infection. It is one of the most common kinds of bladder problem.

Bladder Infection Causes

A bladder infection is caused by germs that find their way into the urinary tract, which is normally free of germs.

Approximately 80 percent of bladder infections are caused by Escherichia coli, or E. coli. These bacteria usually come from the intestines and they can also be found on the skin in the rectal area after a bowel movement. From there, they sometimes make their way to the urethra, which is the narrow tube that urine passes through. They then migrate to the bladder. Once inside the bladder, these bacteria multiply, and an infection follows.

This process is more likely to happen in women, so women suffer more bladder infections than men. Approximately 50 percent of all women experience at least one bladder infection during their life.

Symptoms

Symptoms of this type of bladder problem are pretty easy to identify. Generally, they come on quickly and cause

• dysuria, which is a burning sensation during urination,
• a mild fever,
• an urge to urinate often, even though there's actually very little urine to pass.

Sometimes, urine will be dark or cloudy, and there may also be an occasional bladder spasm.

Treating a Bladder Infection

While a bladder infection can be extremely annoying and inconvenient, it's usually easy to treat with antibiotics.

The antibiotics begin working right away, and may relieve some symptoms within a matter of hours. But mild discomfort could last several days.

It's important to take the entire prescription from your doctor. Some people stop taking the medication as soon as they start to feel better. This is a bad idea since the bacteria can make a comeback if they're not completely gone. It will probably take 10 days to two weeks to clear up the infection completely.

You might be tempted to drink less water or liquid when you have a bladder infection because you don't want to urinate as much since it hurts. However, doctors recommend that you drink lots of water because it helps flush out the bacteria. Your doctor may also recommend certain juices or vitamin C.

Keep in mind that you may be allergic to certain types of medications. If you develop a skin rash or begin to have breathing difficulties, call your doctor.

Also keep in mind that a bladder infection, if not treated, can become a kidney infection. Bacteria can migrate from the bladder, up the ureters, and into the kidneys. A kidney infection can be extremely serious. A kidney infection can become chronic. If it does, it can result in life-threatening kidney failure.

For more information on similar conditions, click on bladder problems.