Types of Bladder Infections

A bladder infection is a casual term for a urinary or urinary tract infection. It is the inflammation of the components of the urinary system. These infections are relatively harmless and quite simple to treat. There are several different types of bladder infections, named for the part of the urinary system that they affect.

Causes and Symptoms

• Even though there are different types of bladder infections, they have similar causes and symptoms. Most bladder infections are caused when bacteria normally found on the skin or in the intestinal tract are spread into the urinary system through the urethra. Some of the signs of a bladder infection are burning sensation while urinating, increased urination or cramping in the lower back. You also may notice that your urine is darker in color, cloudy or even bloody.

Urethritis

• The most common type of bladder infection is urethritis, an inflammation of the urethra. The urethra is the tube through which urine is expressed from the bladder to the outside of the body. The burning urination associated with most bladder infections is caused by urethritis. Urethritis can lead to infection further up the urinary system. Women are especially prone to urethritis because their urethras are located near the anus, a common source of urinary infection-causing bacteria.

Cystitis

• Although any type of urinary infection is commonly called a bladder infection, cystitis is the only type that is truly an infection or inflammation of the actual urinary bladder. The bladder's job is to store the urine made in the kidneys until it is ready to be excreted through the urethra. You can get cystitis if you already have urethritis and the bacteria make it way up the urethra into the bladder. It also can be caused if there is an obstruction keeping urine from being emptied from the bladder. The urine in the bladder stagnates and then attracts bacteria inside the bladder. This happens especially in pregnant women, whose enlarged uteruses press down on their bladders, preventing urine from being discharged.

Pyelonephritis

• A bladder infection that is affecting the kidneys is called pyelonephritis. The kidneys' function in the urinary system is to filter the blood of waste products and excess water while allowing proteins and nutrients to continue circulating. The kidneys then use the waste products and excess water to make urine. After that, the urine is sent through the ureters into the bladder for storage. Pyelonephritis, also called a kidney infection, can be caused by worsening urinary infections where the bacteria work its way up to kidneys.

Upper vs. Lower Infections

• A lower urinary infection is considered cystitis or urethritis, while an upper infection means infection of the kidney and ureters or pyelonephritis. As a rule of thumb, the further up your bladder infection has traveled, the worse it is for your medical health. Urethritis is common and easily treatable with antibiotics and lots of fluids. Kidney infections, on the other hand, often require hospital stays and can cause irreversible damage to your kidneys in some cases. Men, who have longer urethras than women, have some protection against urethritis developing into worse infections because the bacteria have to travel so far.