The term bladder infection is used frequently today but in reality, a bladder infection is another term for urinary tract infection or UTI. Put simply, it occurs when the urinary tract is affected by bacteria and is the most common form of UTI.

Bladder Infection Symptoms

If you have an increasing and frequent desire to urinate, it could be a sign of bladder infection. Pain associated with the urination process is another giveaway sign that a infection may be present. The pain may be in the manner of a burning sensation or it simply may be a case of having the urge to pass urine but there is none, or very little to pass. This is definitely the time you should be booking yourself in for a visit to your local physician.

Did You Know?

A urinary tract infection cannot be passed on from person to person. In the case of young females however, who are becoming sexually active for the first time, this is a time to be a little prudent about your sexual activities, and its a time when you are susceptible to UTI. The good news is that its quite easy to treat however, at the first sign, you really need to seek medical attention.

Male And Female Susceptibility

So who is more susceptible to bladder infection? Studies show females will be more likely to report UTI than men. This is a case of women having shorter urethras. This is the canal that carries urine from the bladder and because in men, its inside the penis, the canal is a lot longer.

There are a number of ways the urethra can be infected with bacteria but bottomline is, in women, anytime there is bacteria present and the vaginal area is rubbed, it could be a catalyst for bacteria to be pushed back up into the urethra. The old chestnut of women wearing tight pants, particularly jeans, causing bacteria to be pushed into the urethra causing irritation to the bladder, could actually be more than just an old wives tale. This is a point you should definitely talk to your doctor about.

Treatment

Treatment for bladder infection depends on the level of infection. Antibiotics will usually be prescribed following a test and will generally involve a course from 3 days up to two weeks. In the case of severe pain discomfort being associated with your condition then it may be necessary for your doctor to prescribe extra medication to help alleviate this. What ever you do, dont self test and organise your own self-treatment. This is extremely irresponsible and its a point on-going education with this type of infection continually conveys.

Another area to consider is when you have been prescribed a course of antibiotics, its vitally important to finish the course. There are many instances where people may begin to feel better within a short period of time and see this as a greenlight to stop taking there medication. Again, this is a big no-no. Why? Simply put, while they may feel better, the bacteria hasnt been completely eliminated. Stopping the antibiotic treatment means there is a very strong chance the bacteria will reappear within a short time.

Bladder infection can be prevented in most cases with proper maintenance and best health practice. Your doctor should be able to provide you with a routine list of dos and donts but in the end, just a little commonsense is all that is required to keep UTI at bay.