Bladder infection is a common condition that affects both men and women. These infections are caused by the presence of bacteria in the bladder. Several signs of bladder infection can indicate that an infection is present and needs to be treated. Because these signs can indicate the presence of more serious conditions, the presence of a bladder infection should be confirmed with a urinalysis.
Painful Intercourse
Painful sexual intercourse can be a sign of a bladder infection in a female. The friction of intercourse can cause irritation of inflamed and infected tissues. If a bladder infection exists, the pain should go away once treatment has been administered.
Burning or Pain
A bladder infection may cause the tissues of the bladder and urethra to become inflamed and sensitive. When urine moves past these tissues, it can cause irritation that leads to burning or pain.
Urinary Frequency
Bladder infections may cause more frequent urination. Someone who usually only goes to the bathroom a few times a day may find herself taking more frequent bathroom breaks and even waking up in the middle of the night to urinate.
Feeling of Incomplete Emptying
After urination, the bladder should feel empty. One of the signs of a bladder infection is a feeling that the bladder is still full after urination. This is called incomplete emptying. If a urinalysis does not indicate the presence of infection, other diagnostic tests may be done to determine the cause.
Low Fever
Low fever can accompany a bladder infection because the body's temperature increases when the immune system is fighting an infection. When the white blood cells begin attacking an infection, they fight infectious organisms as a group. The speed of their attack is what causes the body to heat up. As a result, someone who has a bladder infection may experience a low-grade fever.
Foul-Smelling Urine
Foul-smelling urine can indicate the presence of a bladder infection. This odor is caused by the bacteria that get into the urinary tract and cause infection. Once a bladder infection has been treated with antibiotics, the bacteria are killed and the odor should disappear from the urine.
Blood in Urine
Blood in the urine is a sign of a possible bladder infection. Gross hematuria is blood that can be seen in the urine without the use of a microscope. Blood is not always visible in the urine, so a urinalysis may be done to determine if microscopic specks of blood are present.
