Bladder infections are a form of urinary tract infection (UTI), but not all UTIs are bladder infections. … A UTI is an infection in one or more parts of the urinary tract, which includes the ureters, kidneys, urethra, and bladder.
Bladder infections are a form of urinary tract infection (UTI), but not all UTIs are bladder infections.
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), bladder infections are the most common type of UTI. Doctors may also call them cystitis.
A UTI is an infection in one or more parts of the urinary tract, which includes the ureters, kidneys, urethra, and bladder. While each UTI type shares common symptoms, the location of the infection can cause some different symptoms as well.
How can you tell which type of UTI you have?
When you have a UTI, bacteria can build up in the urinary tract, irritating the lining. Bladder infections tend to cause symptoms that include the following:
BLADDER INFECTION SYMPTOMS
- burning when urinating (dysuria)
- feeling like you have to pee frequently, but very little urine comes out
- pelvic pain or pain just above the pubic bone
Because most UTIs are bladder infections, these are the symptoms most people experience when they have a UTI.
People with urethritis — an infection of the urethra, or the tubes that connect the bladder to the opening of the body — may also experience itching or irritation at the end of the urethra where the pee comes out.
These symptoms can be slightly different from a kidney infection, a more serious UTI type. A kidney infection usually affects one kidney. The symptoms of a kidney infection can include:
UTI SYMPTOMS
- chills
- fever
- having pee that smells bad or is cloudy
- lower back pain that’s more severe than a bladder infection
- nausea
- pink- or red-tinged urine, a sign of bleeding in the urinary tract
- vomiting
- burning when urinating (dysuria)
- feeling like you have to pee frequently, but very little urine comes out
- pelvic pain or pain just above the pubic bone
Doctors will consider a person’s symptoms when determining what UTI type a person likely has. Usually, kidney infection symptoms are worse than those of a bladder infection.
Which infections are worse?
Most doctors regard kidney infections as the worst type of UTI, according to the NIDDK. A kidney infection is usually caused by a bladder or urethra infection where the bacteria multiply and travel upward toward the kidneys.
Kidney infections can be extremely serious and painful, sometimes leading to hospitalization to receive intravenous antibiotics. If left untreated, kidney infections due to UTIs can cause infections in the bloodstream. This can be life-threatening.