Symptoms of Bladder Infection

A bladder infection can be generally classified as a type of urinary tract infection because the bladder is a part of the overall urinary tract. While a bladder infection might be the initial cause of whatever is going on, typically, the entire urinary tract is infected and the symptoms are relatively the same. Therefore, pinpointing what is going on in the urinary tract can make treatment much easier and quicker.

Typically, a urinary tract infection is caused because bacteria cling to the opening of the urethra. When this happens, they begin to multiply and move up the tract. The bacterium that usually causes a UTI is Escherichia coli (E. coli). When the bacteria reach the bladder, it causes the immune system to respond and inflame the bladder. This is known as cystitis.

Once the doctor has pinpointed what is causing the pain for a person (cystitis), they can prescribe a type of antibiotic to help get rid of the bacteria causing it. However, if that doesn’t work, the doctor might go back to the drawing board to determine another type of treatment. In some cases, it might be as simple as cutting out certain feminine hygiene products that are not healthy in that vicinity.

Symptoms of Bladder Infection and UTI

The symptoms of a bladder infection are typically synonymous with urinary tract infections. However, since both have the same type of treatment, if the symptoms appear, getting treated is necessary whether it is due to a bladder infection or UTI. The common symptoms of cystitis are:

• A strong urge to pee consistently even when it doesn’t pass.
• An extreme burning sensation when urination.
• Passing often. Short bursts of urine.
• Passing cloudy urine. If the urine has a strong smell, it is typically infected. Urine should be clear because it is sterile.
• Small fever. An infection in the bladder leads to a fever to try and get rid of the bacterial infection.
• Discomfort in the pelvic region of the body.
• Hematuria which is another word for blood in the urine.

If these are symptoms that are beginning to appear, consult with a doctor. He will prescribe an antibiotic based on the type of bacterium causing the infection. It is important to take the entire dosage of the antibiotic even if the symptoms disappear after a few days. The symptoms are known to disappear after three days, but the antibiotics will require a week of use. Take the entire week. Even if the symptoms are gone, there might still be bacteria. Once you stop taking an antibiotic, the remaining bacteria are immune to it and therefore, treating the second UTI and bladder infection will be even more difficult.