Causes of bladder infection
Bladder infections often occur when bacteria get into the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body, and then move into the bladder.
Once in the bladder, the bacteria can stick to the lining of the bladder, causing it to become inflamed, a condition known as cystitis. The bacteria can also move from the bladder into the kidneys, resulting in a kidney infection.
There are a number of factors that can increase the risk of getting a bladder infection, including:
- frequent sexual intercourse
- having sexual intercourse with a new partner
- using a diaphragm and a spermicide for birth control
- not urinating immediately after sexual intercourse
- having diabetes
- having a bladder or kidney infection within the past 12 months
- changes in the urinary system
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Symptoms of bladder infection
The symptoms of a bladder infection can include:
- pain or burning when urinating
- urgent and frequent need to urinate, often passing small quantities of urine
- discomfort in the lower abdomen
- offensive-smelling urine
- cloudy urine
- blood in the urine
People with kidney infections have similar symptoms, but they may also have:
- fever
- back pain or pain in the side or groin
- nausea or vomiting
A doctor can usually diagnose a bladder infection after discussing the symptoms a person is experiencing and doing a urinalysis. This is a urine test that looks for the presence of white blood cells in the urine, and signs of inflammation, which indicates an infection.
If a kidney infection is suspected, the doctor may recommend a urine culture. A urine culture is a laboratory test used to identify the different bacteria that may be present in a urine sample.
Urine cultures are often recommended if the person:
- experiences symptoms that are not typical of a bladder infection
- gets frequent bladder infections
- has “resistant” bladder infections that do not improve with antibiotics
- does not begin to feel better within 24-48 hours after starting antibiotics
- is pregnant