How to Diagnose Bladder Infection

Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder. It is generally caused by bacteria reaching the bladder from another part of the body through the bloodstream. But bacteria can also enter the urinary tract from skin around the genital and anal area. It's generally curable in about 2 weeks with medical treatment, but the sooner it is diagnosed the less chance of complications developing. A bladder infection gone untreated could cause chronic urinary tract infections and lead to kidney failure.

Instructions

• 1

  Take note of burning and stinging when urinating. Though this could be a sign of another problem, it is a common symptom of a bladder infection.

• 2

  Keep track of how often you urinate. Frequent urination, especially at night is a common sign. Though the urge to urinate is frequent, the amount of urine passed may be small.

• 3

  Look to see if the urine is cloudy, bad smelling or contains any traces of blood. You may notice any or all of these signs if the bladder is infected.

• 4

  Check your temperature. A low grade fever is a sign of infection and coupled with any other of the previous mentioned symptoms could mean a bladder infection.

• 5

  Tell your doctor about any lower back pain you may be experiencing. Though this too could be related to other problems, an infected bladder sometimes develops spasms similar to what you feel when you have a muscle spasm in your back.