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Bladder Infections in Adults

Bladder infections in adults can be uncomfortable and inconvenient. With proper treatment, the infection usually clears up completely. Because there is a risk of potentially serious complications, bladder infections should not be ignored. Consulting a doctor for immediate treatment is the safest course of action.

  1. The Facts

    • Bladder infections in adults, also called cystitis, tend to occur in women more often then men. They occur most often in women between the ages of 20 and 50. When a bladder infection develops, the affected person's bladder and lower urinary tract become overwhelmed by bacteria. The tissue of the bladder and the urinary tract becomes inflamed. Bladder infections can be acute or chronic, recurring problem.

    Symptoms

    • Symptoms of a bladder infection in an adult include frequent urges to urinate, painful urination and foul-smelling, cloudy urine. As the infection advances, people may experience chills and fever, pain in the flanks and nausea. Some women feel pain during sexual intercourse.

    Causes

    • Urination ordinarily flushes bacteria from the urinary tract, but sometimes the bacteria proliferates faster than they can be carried away. The bacterium E. coli is usually the cause of bladder infections in adults. Some risk factors include using a catheter, having diabetes and not drinking enough fluids.

    Treatment

    • A bladder infection should be treated as soon as it is diagnosed. In adults, that usually means taking a course of oral antibiotics. The full course must be taken to make sure the infection is completely eradicated. A doctor can also prescribe phenazopyridine, a medication that will help stop the symptoms of frequent, painful urination. Drinking cranberry juice can help speed recovery from a bladder infection.

    Considerations

    • Bladder infections in adults should be treated quickly and follow up tests should be done to make sure that the infection has been cleared. Although a bladder infection itself is not an especially dangerous condition, it can lead to serious complications such as kidney infection, kidney failure or recurrent urinary tract infections. Chronic bladder infections can become a problem in older adults who are less able to resist them.

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