Bladder Infection - A Sensible Approach

A bladder infection is the result of bacteria being present in the urinary tract and is the most common form of urinary tract infection. So how do you know if you have bladder infection? There are several symptoms associated with it with difficulty passing urine being one of the most common. The urge to urinate on a very frequent basis but with very little to pass is another.

Bladder infection usually affects women more than men. In the case of women, the urethra is a lot shorter. The urethra is the canal which carries urine from the bladder with the shorter canal being the catalyst for bacteria having less distance to travel back up through the urethra. In men, the urethra canal is a lot longer and situated inside the penis.

What Treatment Is Available?

Bladder infection treatment depends on the level of infection. Antibiotics are usually prescribed following a test. Antibiotic treatment can range from anywhere between three days up to two weeks. If there is severe pain or discomfort associated with bladder infection, your physician will usually prescribe other medication to help alleviate this. One of the problems with bladder infection is that many patients are apt to self diagnose. This is frowned upon by the medical profession and is considered irresponsible. If you are suffering some of the symptoms associated with UTI you need to visit your doctor. While the symptoms may suggest a bladder infection is present, unless it is diagnosed correctly by a qualified physician, the chances of something other than UTI being present are always there. So the message is clear, do not attempt to treat yourself without proper medical supervision.

Another cause of concern with patients in this area is the propensity to not finish a prescribed course of antibiotics. While this has long been a bone of contention among medical experts it continually needs to be reinforced. There are many instances where patients may begin to feel better within a short period of time. Quite often, this is seen as a signal for them to stop taking their medication. Again, this is definitely not advised. Why? Simply put, while they may feel better, the chances that the bacteria hasn't been completely eliminated are high so stopping the antibiotic treatment means there is a very strong chance the bacteria will reappear within a short time.

Preventing Bladder Infection

The good news is that bladder infection can be kept at bay. Bladder infection is preventable simply through good and proper maintenance. Practicsing good hygiene techniques following a visit to the bathroom is one way to prevent bladder infection from occurring. Your doctor can usually provide you with a list of best practice methods or information relating to bladder infection. Remember though, if you are exhibiting symptoms of UTI, don't treat yourself; make an appointment and get yourself down to your local doctor's surgery right away.

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