Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, are commonly-occurring infections of the bladder, kidneys, urethra and ureters. Anatomical differences between women and men, including a shorter urethra, result in a higher incidence of UTIs among women than among men. According to 2005 information from National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, UTIs are the second most frequent infections in the human body. These infections can occur in people of all ages, and are responsible for over a million visits to pediatricians every year. Although some people may not experience any symptoms with a bladder infection, others may develop symptoms quite rapidly after initial infection.
Pain
Painful urination often accompanies a bladder infection. A person may experience a burning sensation while urinating, and these painful urination symptoms may appear quite suddenly, according to the Merck Manual. Often this pain is felt just as the person begins to urinate. Children too young to speak may cry during urination; older children may complain about pain when they pass water. Bladder infection symptoms may include lower abdominal pain, pressure, or cramps, usually in the middle of the abdomen. Some people experience discomfort or pain in the lower back, and some feel pain in the pelvic area. Sometimes a woman with a bladder infection will experience pain while having sexual intercourse.
Fever
Fever or chills may accompany a bladder infection. Fever might be the only symptom of a bladder infection in young children, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center. Sometimes the child may experience vomiting and nausea along with fever.
Frequent Urination and Changes to Urine
A bladder infection may cause a frequent urge to urinate. A person may feel that he has to urinate again soon after he has emptied his bladder. He may become incontinent and lose the ability to hold his urine. This symptom, called urge incontinence, may affect the elderly in particular, notes the Merck Manual. Nocturia, a frequent urge to urinate during the night, is another symptom that could indicate a bladder infection.
The urine may appear cloudy, pinkish, red, or brown, notes PDRHealth, a consumer health information website from the publishers of "The Physician's Desk Reference." In 30 percent of those with bladder infections, blood will be visible in the urine. Sometimes a person may experience pneumaturia, which is the passage or air in the urine. This can occur when an abnormal connection exists between the bladder and the vagina or intestine.
References
- Medline Plus: Urinary Tract Infection --Adults
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Urinary Tract Infection in Women
- Merck Manuals: Bacterial Urinary Tract Infections
- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Urinary Tract Infections in Children
- KidsHealth: Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections and Related Conditions
