What is a Bladder Infection?
Bladder infection or Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is a bacterial infection that affects every part of the urinary system. Normal urine contains salts, waste, and liquids but does not contain bacteria. UTI is caused by bacteria that enters into the bladder and then multiplies. These bacteria are usually found in the intestines and often times on the skin surrounding the rectal and vaginal areas. Around 85 percent of UTI cases are caused by the so-called E. coli or Escherichia coli. When this bacterium passes into the urethra it may easily enter the bladder and cause an infection.
Cystitis, also known as inflammation of the bladder, is an infection that covers a wide range of infections and includes irritations on the lower part of the urinary system. Intestinal bacteria are the most common cause of this infection. The bladder wall may get irritated even scarred. A pinpoint bleeding that is caused by recurrent irritation, also called glomerulations, appears on the bladder wall. It is also possible that a person with a worse case of cystitis urinates of up to 60 times per day. People with this kind of infection often experience painful sexual intercourse.
The most common symptoms of this kind of infection are a burning sensation when urinating, strong or persistent urge for urination, passing frequent small amounts of urine, hematuria or blood in the urine, passing cloudy or strong foul smelling urine, a feeling of pressure in the lower abdomen, bladder spasm and low-grade fever. In elderly people, the symptoms can also be weakness, falls, confusion, or fever confusions and also changes in mental state. In cases of young children, UTI is exhibited by enuresis or bed-wetting.
In women, 20 to 40 percent experienced the symptoms of weakness, irritability, reduced appetite, vomiting and diarrhea. This infection occurs mostly in women who have very short urethra. Likewise, women often get worse symptoms during menstruation. In men, a chronic prostate problem increases the risk of bladder infection. Men have the same symptoms as women. There are some cases where symptoms of cystitis vanish without any reason or treatment. Even though these symptoms disappear, they can return after days, weeks, even months or years later.
As of today, scientists have not found any cure for cystitis and are unable to predict which treatment is best for curing the bladder infection. The only good advice is that people should drink sufficient water so that the bladder is completely flushed. The bladder should be thoroughly emptied during urination. Likewise wearing warm clothing on lower parts of the body also stops cystitis. It may also be helpful to drink cranberry juice daily to prevent this infection. Immediate urination after sexual intercourse flushes out bacteria from the urethra. And also it is advised to urinate once every three hours. Most women who pass on urinating for a long period are prone to suffer more infections in their urinary system.
Kathryn Whittaker has an interest in Health topics. To access more articles on bladder infections or for additional information and resources visit this bladder related website. |
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