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The Bladder Infection: What’s The Cause?

12th September, 2010 - Posted by health news - No Comments

A bladder infection is also commonly called a urinary tract infection, or UTI. A kidney infection is also a urinary tract infection, but bladder infections occur more frequently than kidney infections, and are less dangerous. Kidney infections, if left untreated, can eventually lead to kidney damage and even kidney failure, which can be life-threatening.

A bladder infection is simply an infection inside the bladder caused by germs. The medical name for a bladder infection is cystitis.

A bladder infection occurs when bacteria gets into the urinary tract. Most people think there’s already plenty bacteria in the urinary tract, but actually there isn’t. While bladder collects a variety of waste materials and salts, but normally it’s free of bacteria.

However, there are times when bacteria are able to infiltrate the bladder. When this happens, they are able to spread, and before long, an infection is underway.

About 80 percent of bladder infections are caused by Escherichia coli, or E. coli. This bacteria can originate in a number of places, but it’s usually found in the intestines and on skin surfaces around the rectal areas and around the vaginal areas in women.

When bacteria migrates from the anus, or from an outside source, into the urethra (the narrow canal that urine passes through during urination), they can then make their way into the bladder. Since this is more likely to occur with women, more women have UTIs than men. Some women experience repeated infections, and approximately 1 of every 2 women will have at least one urinary tract infection during their lifetime.

Tight fitting clothing can also constrict the genital area and increase the risk that bacteria will get through the urethra and into the bladder.

Bladder infections are usually easy to diagnose because the symptoms are generally obvious. You feel an urgent need to to urinate, even though very little urine is produced. A burning sensation is also typical while you’re urinating (another name for this burning sensation is dysuria).

Someone with a bladder infection also feels an urgency to visit the bathroom to urinate often. Urine will probably appear cloudy and dark, and will often be accompanied by an unpleasant foul odor.

There may also be bladder spasms and a slight fever.

Because of the unpleasant symptoms that you have during a bladder infection (especially the burning sensation), you might be tempted to drink less water or liquid because you don’t want to urinate as much. However, doctors recommend that you drink lots of water because it helps flush germs out of your urinary tract. Your doctor may also recommend that you drink certain juices or take vitamin C.

A bladder infection can be decidedly uncomfortable, but it is usually not hard to treat with antibiotics that reduce the symptoms. Often, a bladder infection will go away in a few days whether it’s treated or not. Nonetheless, if you have the symptoms mentioned above, you should talk to your physician because symptoms of a bladder infection are very much like the symptoms of a kidney infection. Once again, a kidney infection is a very serious medical disorder that can have long range and very negative consequences.

Neal Kennedy is a former TV and radio talk show host who often writes on subjects related to the causes of bladder infections and coping with bladder control problems. To read more of his articles, visit Maintaining Bladder Health at http://www.bladder-problems.info.