A bladder infection is also called a urinary tract infection (UTI) by most medical people. When bacteria get into the bladder and multiply in the urine, it causes a UTI. Men generally get fewer UTIs than women. Although they cause discomfort, urinary tract infections are usually quickly and easily treated – but it’s important that they be treated promptly.
UTIs are caused by bacteria, usually one called Escherichia coli, or E. coli. Bladder infections are characterized by an urgent desire to empty the bladder.
Symptoms include:
- frequent urination,
- burning or pain during urination,
- bladder spasms and the feeling of having to urinate even though little or no urine actually comes out.
- In some cases, you may have bloody or foul-smelling urine, and maybe a mild fever
A kidney infection is a more serious form of urinary tract infection and may involve more serious symptoms, including:
- fever,
- chills,
- nausea,
- cloudy or bloody urine,
- abdominal pain and burning,
- frequent urination,
- back pain just above the waist
If you have any symptoms of a urinary tract infection, you’ll need to do something about it right away. The symptoms won’t go away if you ignore them – they’ll only become worse. The quicker you begin treatment, the less uncomfortable you will be.
The most common treatment for UTI’s is an antibiotic; and this requires an order from a doctor. If you have not experienced many UTI’s in the past, you should probably contact your doctor as soon as your symptoms start. When your doctor orders an antibiotic use it exactly as prescribed and use all of the medicine. Stopping antibiotics early is one of the worst ways to use them. The infection doesn’t get cured if you stop early and it can return even more potent than before. If you don’t notice a dramatic improvement in two days call your doctor. The antibiotic might need to be changed. You should feel better in a couple of days but take the medicine for at least 7 to 14 days, or until it is all gone.