How To Diagnose Bladder Infection

Urinary Symptoms And Treatment

However, biologically it happens because microorganisms are bacteria that enter the bladder and urethra and cause inflammation which ultimately leads to infection.

UTI is most commonly found in the urethra and the bladder region however there are also chances that the bacteria can travel up the body and the uterus as well as kidneys. There are various treatment options that are discussed below.

What Are Treatments Available For Utis

Though UTIs are usually not serious or a sign of concern, they can cause severe pain and discomfort. If not treated, some UTIs can lead to more serious conditions that may have life-changing effects.

To alleviate this pain and discomfort, here are some tips!

Consult your doctor and he might prescribe some antibiotic medications which you will have to take either once or twice a day for 5-7 or more days.

We recommend drinking adequate fluids to stay hydrated and urinate often while taking your antibiotics. Many people prefer drinking cranberry juice to prevent UTIs but there is no strong evidence that supports this home remedy.

Do I Need A Test To Be Diagnosed With A Uti

No, a test is not always needed to diagnose a UTI.

In non-pregnant, healthy women, a UTI can be diagnosed and treated based on having the typical UTI symptoms. Some women who have recurrent UTIs defined as three or more UTIs in 12 months, or two or more in 6 months can accurately tell when a UTI is starting and begin treatment on their own.

Even though a test may not be needed to diagnose a UTI, you should let your healthcare provider know if you develop any symptoms. This is especially true since there are other conditions that can cause similar symptoms to a UTI. Its best to work with your healthcare provider to come up with the most appropriate plan for you.

Recommended Reading: How Can I Heal My Bladder Naturally

What Are The Symptoms Of Bladder Infections In Men

Bladder infections are a common problem in men that is highly misunderstood. There are many varieties of bladder infections, and each one has a different cause and effect. The most common variety is due to acute bacterial infection which occurs when there is an imbalance of bacteria in the urinary tract. Once the balance of healthy bacteria is disturbed, it allows for the multiplication of the infection-causing bacteria. Below are some of the common symptoms of bladder infections:

• Frequent urination.
• Cloudy urine with a strong odor.
• Blood in the urine .
• Trouble urinating, especially if you have a problem with your prostate.

How To Recognize The Symptoms Of A Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary tract infection is a UTI. It is caused by germs getting into the urinary tract. The urinary tract is made up of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. The urethra is a tube at the bottom of the bladder. Urine flows out of this tube. The germs enter the urethra and then spread in the bladder. Urinary tract infections are much more common in women.

Read Also: How Long Can A Bladder Infection Last

Diagnosing Urinary Tract Infections In Adults

Urinary tract infection is the second most common type of infection, leading to millions of doctor visits per year in the United States. Doctors at NYU Langone are skilled in diagnosing and treating UTI in both men and women.

The urinary tract consists of the kidneys, which filter waste from the blood and produce urine the ureters, which carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder the bladder, which stores it and the urethra, which carries urine out of the body. A UTI can occur at any point along this tract.

Women are more prone to UTIs than men because a womans urethra is shorter and closer to the anus. This makes it easier for bacteria from the bowel to enter the bladder.

UTIs are also common in children, accounting for up to 1 million pediatrician visits each year, and in older adults.

UTIs are typically caused by bacteria around the urethra, in the vagina, or in the bowel. Sexual activity can cause bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, or E. coli, to enter the urethral opening, particularly in women. UTIs can also be caused by certain bacteria that are present in the urethra and the reproductive system.

To diagnose a UTI, your NYU Langone doctor asks about your medical history, performs a physical exam, and may recommend one or more tests.

How To Feel Better

If your healthcare professional prescribes you antibiotics:

• Take antibiotics exactly as your healthcare professional tells you.
• Do not share your antibiotics with others.
• Do not save antibiotics for later. Talk to your healthcare professional about safely discarding leftover antibiotics.

Drink plenty of water or other fluids. Your healthcare professional might also recommend medicine to help lessen the pain or discomfort. Talk with your healthcare professional if you have any questions about your antibiotics.

You May Like: Metastasized Bladder Cancer Survival Rates

What Are The Causes Of Bladder Infections In Men

A bladder infection is also called a UTI or urinary tract infection. This infection occurs due to the retention of urine in the urethral tract which causes irritation and the formation of a narrow track. This blockage leads to an infection.

The cause of Bladder infection is the obstruction of the urinary tract, which can be caused due to various reasons like enlarged prostate gland, injury, or a stone in the kidney.

Some other causes of bladder infections include:

• Frequent sexual intercourse with same or new partners.
• Not urinating immediately after sexual intercourse.
• Chronic diabetes.
• Changes in the urinary system.
• Diagnosed with bladder or kidney infection within the past year.

The problems associated with bladder infection are irritation in the urethra, which leads to painful urination, frequent urge to urinate, nausea, and vomiting.

What Is The Urinary Tract

The urinary tract makes and stores urine, one of the body’s liquid waste products. The urinary tract includes the following parts:

• Kidneys: These small organs are located on back of your body, just above the hips. They are the filters of your body removing waste and water from your blood. This waste becomes urine.
• Ureters: The ureters are thin tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to your bladder.
• Bladder: A sac-like container, the bladder stores your urine before it leaves the body.
• Urethra: This tube carries the urine from your bladder to the outside of the body.

Also Check: Things To Avoid When You Have A Bladder Infection

How Are Utis Diagnosed

To diagnose a UTI, health care providers ask questions about what’s going on, do an exam, and take a sample of pee for testing.

How a sample is taken depends on a child’s age. Older kids might simply need to pee into a sterile cup. For younger children in diapers, a catheter is usually preferred. This is when a thin tube is inserted into the urethra up to the bladder to get a “clean” urine sample.

The sample may be used for a urinalysis or a urine culture . Knowing what bacteria are causing the infection can help your doctor choose the best treatment.

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

Don’t Miss: How To Prevent Bladder Leakage

Finding The Cause Of Cystitis

It is important for doctors to find the cause of cystitis in several different groups. The cause should be found in

• Children

• Analgesics as needed

• Sometimes surgery

Cystitis is usually treated with antibiotics. Before prescribing antibiotics, the doctor determines whether the person has a condition that would make cystitis more severe, such as diabetes or a weakened immune system , or more difficult to eliminate, such as a structural abnormality. Such conditions may require more potent antibiotics taken for a longer period of time, particularly because the infection is likely to return as soon as the person stops taking antibiotics. People with such conditions may also have infections caused by fungi or unusual bacteria and may thus require something other than the most commonly used antibiotics.

For women, taking an antibiotic by mouth for 3 days is usually effective if the infection has not led to any complications, although some doctors prefer to give a single dose. For more stubborn infections, an antibiotic is usually taken for 7 to 10 days. For men, cystitis usually is caused by prostatitis Prostatitis Prostatitis is pain and swelling, inflammation, or both of the prostate gland. The cause is sometimes a bacterial infection. Pain can occur in the area between the scrotum and anus or in the… read more , and antibiotic treatment is usually required for weeks.

Bladder Infection Risk Factors

Due to anatomical differences in the length of the urethra and its proximity to the anus, bladder infections are far more common in women than men. In fact, sources estimate that more than 50% of women will experience a bladder infection at least once in their lifetime. Hormone changes around the times of menarche, pregnancy, and menopause also increase womens risk of developing UTIs.

Additional general medical conditions that increase the risk of a bladder infection include:

• Urinary tract abnormalities
• A recent urinary procedure involving medical instruments
• Advanced age

Recommended Reading: Unable To Empty Bladder Woman

What Is A Uti

A urinary tract infection occurs when bacteria or other microbes, usually fecal flora, enter the urinary tract and cause an infection. The urinary tract is the bodys system for collecting and eliminating urine and includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.

UTIs can affect several parts of the urinary tract. Most UTIs occur in the bladder , but they may also involve the kidneys , urethra , or prostate . UTIs are common, most frequently affecting women, resulting in more than 8.1 million visits to a doctor each year.

Specimen Collection Transportation And Processing

Specimen collection. Suprapubic aspiration is the best method to avoid contamination of specimens with bacteria in the distal urethra. This collection method is used infrequently because it is not indicated clinically , it is invasive and uncomfortable, and it requires too much time and too many resources to be practical. Collection of urine by use of a single catheter is the next-best technique for obtaining urine specimens with minimal contamination, but, again, it is not indicated clinically for most patients because it is too labor intensive and costly for routine use and it is invasive. It has added disadvantages, because the process of inserting a catheter through the urethra can introduce bacteria into the bladder , and rare complications have been reported.

As discussed below, correct processing and handling of urine specimens, as well as correct interpretation of test results, is dependent on the method used to collect the specimen. It is, therefore, of obvious importance for clinicians to specify the method of collection on the test requisition slip. Other information that should be included on the test requisition slip includes the date and time of specimen collection, patient demographic information, and any clinically relevant information .

Read Also: Can Weak Bladder Muscles Be Fixed

Causes Of Bladder Infection In Both Sexes

Cystitis usually causes a frequent, urgent need to urinate and a burning or painful sensation while urinating. These symptoms usually develop over several hours or a day. The urgent need to urinate may cause an uncontrollable loss of urine , especially in older people. Fever is rarely present. Pain is usually felt above the pubic bone and often in the lower back as well. Frequent urination during the night may be another symptom. The urine may be cloudy in severe infection. Uncommonly, when infection results from an abnormal connection between the bladder and the intestine or the vagina , air can be passed in the urine .

Doctors can usually diagnose cystitis based on its typical symptoms. A midstream urine specimen Obtaining a Clean-Catch Urine Sample Urinalysis, the testing of urine, may be necessary in the evaluation of kidney and urinary tract disorders and can also help evaluate bodywide disorders such as diabetes or liver problems. A… read more is collected so that the urine is not contaminated with bacteria from the vagina or the tip of the penis. A strip of test paper is sometimes dipped into the urine to do two quick and simple tests for substances that are normally not found in the urine. The testing strip can detect nitrites that are released by bacteria. The testing strip can also detect leukocyte esterase , which may indicate that the body is trying to clear the urine of bacteria. In adult women, these may be the only tests necessary.

How Are You Tested And Screened For A Uti

If you are experiencing symptoms like painful urination or a frequent urge to use the bathroom, you might be headed toward a UTI diagnosis. To find out for sure, youll need to have a healthcare professional, like your general practitioner, test your urine for both bacteria and other components that could indicate a urinary tract infection. When diagnosing a UTI, a urine test should be standard protocol. That, however, is not always the case. In fact, less than one in five patients treated for a UTI actually has a laboratory urine test to diagnose their problem, according to 2019 study in the journal E Clinical Medicine.30120-8/fulltext” rel=”nofollow”> 2)

Don’t Miss: Bladder Cancer Foods To Avoid

Top Ways To Prevent A Uti

Several factors can encourage bacteria to grow and spread within the urinary tract. Though UTIs arent always preventable, some behaviors may help protect against bacterial spread and infection in both men and women:

• Practice safe sex:Condom use can help prevent bacterial infections that are transmitted through sexual contact.

• Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day will help encourage urination, which works to flush out bacteria from your urinary tract. If its hot out or if youve been exercising, be sure to drink even more water.

• Dont hold it in: Urinate when you feel the urge. Holding it in can lead to a collection of bacteria in the bladder or urinary tract.

• Use good hygiene: Wipe from front to back after bowel movements, and wash your hands thoroughly afterward.

Still Unsure Try An At Home Uti Test

At home tests are a great way to detect a UTI before going to see your doctor. Some, like AZO Test Strips®, are the same urinary tract infection tests used in many doctor’s offices. The most reliable, over-the-counter UTI home test available, AZO Test Strips® offer two UTI tests in one – including both Leukocyte and Nitrite tests. These tests performed together are more effective for detecting a UTI than testing for nitrite alone.

If you get a positive result, its time to call your doctor with the results. If your result is negative but you are experiencing symptoms, you should still call your doctor. A small number of people may not have detectable nitrites even though an infection is present.

Also Check: Does Oxybutynin Cure Overactive Bladder

What Are The Causes Of Utis In Men

Men are more likely to get UTIs than women. Not only this, men can suffer from a chronic form of UTI that can be particularly difficult to treat.

The lower the kidney function and urine output, the higher the risk of infections. If you have had a kidney transplant, it is important to avoid any medication that contains nitrates. The two main risk factors for men include:

1) Being uncircumcised

2) Having sex with multiple partners

Important Notes For Uti Treatment

To ensure your UTI is completely gone, its important to finish your course of antibioticseven if it doesnt burn when you pee anymore. If you dont, you risk developing an antibiotic-resistant UTI, which makes your UTI more complicated to treat.

If youve dealt with bladder infections or UTIs before, youve likely heard about home remediessuch as cranberry juice and drinking a lot of wateras antibiotic alternatives. Though home remedies may sound like an easier shortcut, there isnt any evidence that shows they will treat a bacterial infection thats already present. Though things like staying hydrated may be recommended alongside antibiotics as a part of your treatment plan, they dont substitute the effectiveness of antibiotics.

How to get help 24/7

The sooner you can get treated for your UTI, the better. If youre feeling the burning and the urgency, its time to start your visit. The longer you wait, the more chance the infection has of traveling to your kidneys. But dont let that scare you! You can start an online visit at Virtuwell 24/7yes, even in the middle of the night when your bladder wont let you sleepand UTIs are very treatable.

Recommended Reading: Anti Spasm Medication For Bladder

What Are The Risk Factors For Getting Bladder Infections And Other Uti Infections

A person is more likely to get a bladder infection if they dont urinate frequently enough. If they hold their urine in, the bacteria can collect in the bladder and lead to infection. Try to go to the bathroom at least every two to three hours to keep this from happening.

Not drinking enough water is another risk factor for bladder infections because your body doesnt move as much urine through the bladder as quickly.

Risk factors for urethritis include having a sexually transmitted infection or from trauma to the urethra, such as due to the insertion of a urinary catheter.

In addition to these specific risk factors for bladder infections, there are general risk factors for all UTI types. These include:

risk factors for uti

• being pregnant
• having diabetes, as a person experiences changes to their immune system that make them more prone to UTIs
• having an enlarged prostate
• having low levels of estrogen, such as when a woman is post-menopausal
• having a history of kidney stones, which can block the flow of urine through the urinary tract

Women are also more likely than men to get UTIs because their urethra is shorter. The bacteria have less distance to go to reach the bladder and can cause infections.