Bladder Infection 101

Do you think that you may have a bladder infection?

While you'll want to make an appointment with your doctor ASAP, here are a few things you should know about bladder infections in the meantime.

What is a Bladder Infection?

When bacteria get into the bladder, it can cause a bladder infection. Sometimes this is also referred to as a UTI, or urinary tract infection. However, a UTI can be anywhere in the urinary system, including the kidneys, urethra and ureters, not just the bladder.

Most commonly, bladder infections are acute, meaning they occur suddenly, but it is possible to have a chronic bladder infection as well.

How Does a Bladder Infection Occur?

When bacteria get into the bladder, normally through the urethra, a bladder infection can occur. Often, the body will take care of this bacteria on its own by flushing it away when you urinate.

However, at times the bacteria doesn't get flushed out and then it multiplies, causing an infection that the body can't destroy on its own.

What are the Risk Factors?

Bladder infections are more common in women than men because men have additional hormones from the prostate gland that guard the body from this bacteria. However, men can still get bladder infections, though they're less common. If a man has had a bladder infection, his chances go up of a recurrence.

Additional risk factors include not drinking enough fluids, having a medical procedure done on the urinary tract, diabetes, immobility and pregnancy.

How do I Know if I Have a Bladder Infection?

If you think you may have a bladder infection, you'll want to visit a doctor as soon as you can.

Common bladder infection symptoms include cloudy urine, blood in the urine, frequent urination, urine that has a foul smell, painful urination, urgency (when you feel like you have to urinate often, but no urine comes out) and cramps in either the back or abdomen.

What is the Diagnosis and Treatment of a Bladder Infection?

Your doctor will take a urine sample and test it for bacteria and other chemicals in order to determine if you have a bladder infection. Some doctors will also opt to do a urine culture in order to determine the type of bacteria in your system.

If you do have a bladder infection, you'll be given prescription medication to take care of the painful or burning urination and to also kill the bacteria.