Bladder Infections
A bladder infection or urinary tract infection (UTI) is a bacterial infection that affects any part of the urinary tract. When bacteria get into the bladder and multiply in the urine, it causes a UTI.
The most common type of UTI is a bladder infection, which is also often called cystitis. Cystitis literally means an inflammation of the bladder. The other kind of UTI is a kidney infection, which is also known as pyelonephritis. This kind of infection can be serious, but if treated quickly, the kidney is not usually damaged permanently.
Although they cause discomfort, UTIs are quickly and easily treated. However, it's important that they are treated promptly. You cannot get a UTI from someone else, although females who are just becoming sexually active often get them. Sometimes chlamydia can also cause a UTI.
Nearly 85 percent of UTIs are caused by the bacteria Escherichia coli, or E. coli. When the bacteria pass through the urethra, they can get inside the bladder and cause an infection.
There are several ways bacteria can get into the urethra. During sexual intercourse, the bacteria in the vaginal area can be pushed into the urethra, which causes irritation in the bladder. In fact, any time the vaginal area is rubbed, bacteria can be pushed into the urethra. You can get a bladder infection from oral sex, too.
Symptoms
There are a number of symptoms associated with UTIs. Bladder infections are characterized by an urgent desire to empty the bladder. Symptoms include frequent urination, burning or pain during urination (dysuria), bladder spasms and the feeling of having to urinate even though little or no urine actually comes out. In some cases, cloudy, bloody or foul-smelling urine, and maybe a mild fever can accompany a UTI.
A kidney infection may involve more serious symptoms, including fever, chills, and nausea. There may also be cloudy or bloody urine, abdominal pain and frequent urination. Most people with kidney infections also experience back pain just above the waist.
Ask Meadowbrook Urgent Care
If you have any symptoms of a urinary tract infection, you'll need to go to Meadowbrook Urgent Care right away. The symptoms won't go away if you ignore them--they'll only become worse. The quicker you begin treatment, the less uncomfortable you will be.
Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain is pain and discomfort that occurs in your abdomen. Your abdomen is the section of your torso between your chest and your pelvis. Other terms used to describe the abdomen are stomach, tummy, gut and belly.
Everyone experiences abdominal pain from time to time. Abdominal pain can be mild or severe. And abdominal pain can be short-lived (acute) or occur over weeks and months (chronic).
Most cases of abdominal pain aren't emergencies. But call your doctor right away if you have abdominal pain so severe that you can't move without causing more pain or you can't sit still or find a comfortable position. Also seek immediate medical help if pain is accompanied by other worrisome signs and symptoms, such as bloody diarrhea or chest pain.
When to get help
Call 911 or emergency medical assistance
Seek help if your abdominal pain is severe and is associated with:
- Trauma, such as an accident or injury
- Pressure or pain in your chest
Seek immediate medical attention
Have someone drive you to Meadowbrook Urgent Care if:
- Pain is so severe that you can't sit still or need to curl into a ball to find relief
- Pain is accompanied by bloody stools, persistent nausea and vomiting, skin that appears yellow, severe tenderness when you touch your abdomen or swelling of the abdomen
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