Bladder Wall Infection

A bladder wall infection is more commonly referred to as a urinary tract infection because the bacteria tends to affect more than the just the wall of the bladder. This condition can come on suddenly and can be very painful. It can even disrupt your life, since the urge to urinate often becomes unbearable. That being said, there are treatments available for bladder infections that get rid of the most uncomfortable symptoms fast.

Definition

• A bladder or urinary tract infection is quite simply an infection of any part of the urinary tract. Often called a UTI, this infection occurs when bacteria enters the urethra and causes a multitude of unpleasant symptoms from burning urination to bloody and foul-smelling urine. Women are more prone to UTIs than men due to a shorter urethra. If left untreated, a urinary tract infection can travel to the kidneys, causing more severe symptoms, which can be very serious.

Symptoms

• Some people who develop a UTI suffer from no symptoms at all, however, most people will endure some signs of the infection, whether mild or severe. The most common symptom is pain upon urination. It may burn to urinate and be very painful, so much so that you dread going to the bathroom. Urgency to urinate is also common as is the need to urinate more often, even if only a few drops are expelled. The lower abdomen may hurt and carry with it feelings of pressure. The urine may be cloudy, have blood in it or smell bad. If the infection has spread to the kidneys, you may develop a fever, chills and pain in the back and sides.

Causes

• A urinary tract infection can be caused by a variety of things. The most common involves bacteria from the anus making its way into the urethra. This can happen during sex, from wiping from back to front after a bowel movement, from wearing dirty clothes or what have you. Viruses and fungi can also cause an infection if they come into contact with the urethra. Not drinking enough water, holding urine for too long and failing to void the bladder completely can also contribute to the development of a bladder infection.

Diagnosis

• Diagnosing a UTI is fairly simple. Once you develop symptoms, a urine test will be conducted to determine whether bacteria are present. The test itself will look for the type of bacteria that has taken root so the right type of antibiotics can be prescribed.

Treatment

• The most common form of treatment for a UTI is antibiotics. Several types are used depending on the kind of bacteria present, your reaction to antibiotics and whether you've had UTIs in the past. Some common types of antibiotics used for this purpose include Bactrim, Cotrim, Septra, amoxicillin, Cipro, Noroxin, Trovan and ampicillin. Drinking plenty of water and cranberry juice can also speed healing and prevent the recurrence of the infection.