Bladder Infection Versus Urinary Tract Infection

Summary Uti Vs Bladder Infection

As explained above, both urinary tract infections and bladder infections occur due to the action of microbes in the urinary tract. UTI can affect both upper and lower urinary tracts since it involves infections in the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. Bladder infections only affect the bladder and are a subtype of UTI. This is the difference between UTI and bladder infection.

Treatment From A Gp For Utis That Keep Coming Back

If your UTI comes back after treatment, you may have a urine test and be prescribed different antibiotics.

Your doctor or nurse will also offer advice on how to prevent UTIs.

If you keep getting UTIs and regularly need treatment, a GP may give you a repeat prescription for antibiotics.

If you have been through the menopause, you may be offered a vaginal cream containing oestrogen.

Who Is Most Susceptible To A Bladder Infection

UTIs are more common in women than men. This is partly due to their anatomy in women, the urethra is shorter, which makes it easier for bacteria to travel to the bladder and cause an infection.

Other risk factors for bladder infection include:

• Any medical condition or injury that prevents you from emptying your bladder completely

• Any medical condition that weakens your immune system

• Being a woman in or after menopause

• Having a UTI in the past

• Needing to have a bladder catheter

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent UTIs. These include the following:

• Drink plenty of water.

• Empty your bladder immediately after sex.

• Dont hold it when you feel the need to go.

• Think about switching to a different method of birth control if you currently use one with spermicide.

• Consider vaginal estrogen if youve gone through menopause.

Some people may benefit from cranberry supplements or antibiotics, especially if recurrent UTIs are a problem. You can learn more here about preventing UTIs.

Don’t Miss: How Do You Get An E Coli Urinary Tract Infection

How Can You Tell If Your Uti Is A Kidney Infection Or A Bladder Infection

UTIs can cause the following symptoms:

• Pain or burning when you pee

• Pain, cramping, or discomfort in your lower pelvic area

• Needing to pee more often than usual

• Feeling like you need to go suddenly

• Cloudy or foul-smelling urine

Sometimes the infection can travel to your kidneys, which causes additional symptoms. The following signs and symptoms may mean you have a kidney infection:

• Fever

• Vomiting

• Pain in your back or side

Urine testing can help confirm the diagnosis. If you have any of the symptoms of UTI or kidney infection listed above, contact your healthcare provider as soon as you can. They can help you determine whats going on and what treatment is best for you.

What Is The Prognosis For A Person With A Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary tract infections typically respond very well to treatment. A UTI can be uncomfortable before you start treatment, but once your healthcare provider identifies the type of bacteria and prescribes the right antibiotic medication, your symptoms should improve quickly. Its important to keep taking your medication for the entire amount of time your healthcare provider prescribed. If you have frequent UTIs or if your symptoms arent improving, your provider may test to see if its an antibiotic-resistant infection. These are more complicated infections to treat and may require intravenous antibiotics or alternative treatments.

You May Like: Does Azo Get Rid Of Urinary Tract Infection

Causes And Risk Factors Of Urinary Tract Infections

UTIs are caused by bacteria entering the urinary tract, which consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. While any of these parts can become infected, most UTIs involve the lower urinary tract, which includes the bladder and the urethra . A UTI that infects the bladder is called cystitis one that infects the urethra is called urethritis.

The majority of UTIs that affect the bladder and the urethra are caused by E. coli or other bacteria that are normally found in the digestive tract, which can travel from the anus to the urethra. UTIs that affect the urethra are also caused by sexually transmitted infections, including herpes, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and mycoplasma. Most of the time, urinating flushes out lingering bacteria in the urethra before it causes problems, though your body isnt always able to do this.

Less often, UTIs involve the upper urinary tract, which includes the kidneys and the ureters . A UTI infection in the kidneys, called pyelonephritis or a kidney infection, most often begins in the bladder and moves up through the ureters to one or both kidneys. In certain cases, a kidney infection can lead to serious health problems.

Children And Urinary Tract Infections

Symptoms in children are different from symptoms in adults. Urinary tract infections are quite common in children. While UTIs in very young children are often associated with an anatomic abnormality, for others the infection is related to introducing bacteria into the urinary tract. UTIs in children generally peak in infancy and then again between ages 2 and 4, coinciding with potty training.

In newborns, signs of urinary tract infection include poor feeding, lethargy, diarrhea, vomiting, mild jaundice, and fever. For babies younger than 2, foul-smelling urine may also be a sign. For older children, the more classic UTI signs, such as urgency, incontinence, and pain while urinating occur.

Don’t Miss: Urinary Tract Infection Home Test Walgreens

Treating Utis And Bladder Infections

UTIs and bladder infections are typically treated with antibiotics prescribed by a doctor. In order for the infection to go away completely, you need to take the full course of antibiotics, which lasts 3-7 days in most instances but can last longer.

It takes a bit of time for the inflammation to clear up every once the antibiotic begins working, though most people note significant improvement within 48 hours of being on the right antibiotic.

If antibiotics bother your stomach , consider taking probiotics to repopulate your good gut bacteria. This may also help you stay healthy and boost your bodys infection-fighting potential.

In the meantime, drink plenty of water so the flow of urine can help you flush out your system. You might also want to avoid sexual activity while youre recovering because its probably not going to feel great while your urinary tract is inflamed.

Related Conditions And Causes Of Uti

There are a number of health conditions that share some symptoms with urinary tract infections, including:

The following conditions may make you more susceptible to developing a UTI and increase the severity of symptoms:

Type 2 diabetes

And having a UTI can increase a man’s risk for benign prostatic hyperplasia .

Read Also: How Can You Treat Urinary Tract Infection

Types Of Urinary Tract Conditions

A urinary tract infection refers to an infection in any area of the urinary tract. Conditions that can occur in the urinary tract or with the potential to lead to complicated infections include:

• Urethritis: An inflammation of the urethra, usually caused by an infection for example, a sexually transmitted disease such as chlamydia
• Cystitis: An infection in the bladder that has often moved up from the urethra, also one of the most common UTIs
• Nephritis: Any type of kidney inflammation
• Pyelonephritis: An infection in one or both kidneys

How Is Urinary Tract Infection Diagnosed

In order to ensure a clean urine sample, a physician will likely have you clean your genital area with a special wipe beforehand, and ask that you do a midstream catch of the urine.

If a UTI is diagnosed, youll be treated with antibiotics. Its important to note that false negative results do occur and that almost all women who experience typical UTI symptoms and a negative urine culture actually do have a UTI. 30209-4/fulltext” rel=”nofollow”> 11)

If youve had a prior UTI, your healthcare provider will look at prior cultures to see which bacteria were found, if any, and which antibiotics were used this often guides therapy in recurrent UTIs.

Recommended Reading: Cll And Urinary Tract Infections

Other Ways To Prevent Recurring Utis

If you have more than 3 UTIs in 1 year, or 2 UTIs in 6 months, there are other things that may help prevent UTIs.

There is some evidence that women under 65 years old who keep getting UTIs may find it helpful to take:

• a supplement called D-mannose this is not recommended for pregnant women
• cranberry products, such as juice or tablets

Speak to your doctor before taking any of these during pregnancy.

Be aware that D-mannose and cranberry products can contain a lot of sugar.

Page last reviewed: 18 November 2020 Next review due: 18 November 2023

Chronic Urinary Tract Conditions: Different Names For The Same Family Of Problems

If you do a little research, you will quickly find there are also sub-categories within these conditions, with varying symptoms and levels of injury to the urinary tract.

It is not our intention here to imply these chronic urinary tract conditions are the same, or that they affect people in the same ways. But they do have an important thing in common in the majority of cases, no cause has been identified, and the condition is therefore not curable. Treatment focuses on reducing symptoms rather than resolving the underlying issue.

So why do we mention these chronic urinary tract conditions?

Let us explain

You May Like: How To Heal Urinary Tract Infection Naturally

What Is Bacterial Vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis can be termed as a bacterial infection. So, it is an infection that is more common than you think. It happens when the healthy bacteria are replaced by the bad bacteria in your vagina.

Dr Gaikwad says, It is seen due to different types of healthy bacteria in the vagina that tend to get out of balance and grow too much. BV is mostly seen due to Gardnerella vaginalis, the most common type of bacteria in ones vagina.

If left untreated, this infection can be dangerous because it can cause multiple complications including infertility. If we talk about it causes douching, using vaginal deodorants and other irritating products down there can be the reasons behind the occurrence of BV. Along with this, if youre sexually active and pregnant youre at a high risk of getting BV.

Ok Got It But Then What Is A Kidney Infection

A kidney infection is, in essence, a UTI that has spread into the kidneys. While this type of infection is rare, its also very dangerous and if youre experiencing any of the following signs of a kidney infection, you should see a doctor immediately:

• Upper back or side pain

• Fever, shaking or chills

• Feeling nauseous

• Vomiting

While most kidney infections can be treated simply with an antibiotic, if left untreated, a kidney infection can cause damage to your kidneys, leading to chronic kidney disease. The bacteria could even spread to your bloodstream creating a life-threatening situation.

Also Check: Goat Urinary Tract Infection Treatment

Can I Prevent A Urinary Tract Infection

You can usually prevent a urinary tract infection with lifestyle changes. These tips can include:

In some post-menopausal women, a healthcare provider may suggest an estrogen-containing vaginal cream. This may reduce the risk of developing a UTI by changing the pH of the vagina. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have recurrent UTIs and have already gone through menopause.

Over-the-counter supplements are also available for UTIs. These are sometimes recommended for people who have frequent UTIs as another way to prevent them. Talk to your healthcare provider before starting any supplements and ask if these could be a good choice for you.

Key Difference Uti Vs Bladder Infection

Urinary tract infections are commonly seen in women, children and elderly men. The occurrence of UTI in men is fairly uncommon and a male getting recurrent UTIs is more likely to have an abnormal urinary tract. These infections in the urinary tract can give rise to acute complications like gram negative septicemia and acute renal failure. Clinically UTIs can be divided into two categories as upper UTI and lower UTI. Bladder infections are a type of lower urinary tract infections. Thus, the key difference between UTI and bladder infection is that UTI is an infection in any part of the urinary tract while bladder infection is an infection in the lower urinary tract. It is also important to note that bladder infection is a subset of UTI.

Recommended Reading: Upper Urinary Tract Infection Symptoms

Preventing Bladder Infections In Women

Check If It’s A Urinary Tract Infection

Symptoms of a UTI may include:

• pain or a burning sensation when peeing
• needing to pee more often than usual during the night
• pee that looks cloudy
• needing to pee suddenly or more urgently than usual
• needing to pee more often than usual
• lower tummy pain or pain in your back, just under the ribs
• a high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery
• a very low temperature below 36C

You May Like: Can Apple Cider Vinegar Help With Urinary Tract Infections

What Is A Uti Anyway

A UTI, or urinary tract infection, happens when bacteria enters into any part of your urinary system, which includes the urethra, the bladder, the kidneys or the uterus. If not flushed out of the system, the bacteria can lead to an infection, or a UTI.

If youve ever had a UTI , you probably havent forgotten the symptoms. UTIs are very unpleasant, to say the least, and are often accompanied with one or more of the following:

• A burning sensation when urinating

• A strong urge to urinate often, usually passing only small amounts of urine at a time.

• Cloudy and/or strong smelling urine

• Pelvic pain

Physical Changes Spur Urinary Tract Infections During Menopause

Frequent sexual intercourse is one of the biggest UTI risk factors for younger women. For menopausal women, however, physical changes such as the thinning of vaginal tissue, difficulty fully emptying the bladder, incontinence, and pelvic organ prolapse are the main culprits.

In addition, during menopause, the body produces less estrogen, a hormone that among other functions helps keep the bacteria levels in the lining of the bladder and urethra healthy. Vaginal estrogen creams may restore the normal bacterial balance of the vagina, thus helping to stave off recurrent UTIs.

Recommended Reading: Cranberry Juice And Urinary Tract

Differentiating Kidney Stones And Urinary Tract Infections

Kidney Stones Vs Urinary Tract Infection Differences In Symptoms Causes And Treatment

Written byDr. Victor MarchionePublished onJune 20, 2016

Although kidney stones are often described as one of the most painful occurrences a person may experience, in its early stages, the condition may often be confused with urinary tract infections which may delay treatment. Kidney stones and urinary tract infections share many similarities, but also have distinct differences that tell each condition apart.

The urinary system is comprised of the kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra. The kidneys main role is to cleanse the blood and allow for waste to be expelled through urine. Urine then travels down the ureters into the bladder where it remains until released.

Infections can occur anywhere along the urinary system, resulting in either bladder infection, kidney infection, urethritis, or urinary tract infection. Infections anywhere in the urinary system can be dangerous if left untreated, so its imperative to see your doctor soon after symptom onset in order to begin treatment as soon as possible to minimize complications.

Here we will focus on kidney stones and urinary tract infections, and discuss the differences in symptoms, causes, and treatment.

Don’t Miss: Best Probiotic For Urinary Tract Infection

Bladder Infections Vs Other Utis

It is possible to have a more serious type of urinary tract infection that affects your upper urinary tract, a.ka. your kidneys. This typically happens as a result of an untreated UTI in your bladder.

A kidney infection causes symptoms like fever, nausea or vomiting, and one-sided back pain. It is serious and requires immediate medical intervention to avoid complications like scarring of the kidney.