Cystitis (Urinary Tract Infection) in Adults Information

What is the urinary tract? — The urinary tract is the group of organs in the body that handle urine. The urinary tract includes the:

• Kidneys, 2 bean-shaped organs that filter the blood to make urine
• Bladder, a balloon-shaped organ that stores urine
• Ureters, 2 tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder
• Urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body

What are urinary tract infections? — Urinary tract infections, also called "UTIs," are infections that affect either the bladder or the kidneys. Bladder infections are more common than kidney infections. Bladder infections happen when bacteria get into the urethra and travel up into the bladder. Kidney infections happen when the bacteria travel even higher, up into the kidneys. Both bladder and kidney infections are more common in women than men.

What are the symptoms of a bladder infection? — The symptoms include:

• Pain or a burning feeling when you urinate
• The need to urinate often
• The need to urinate suddenly or in a hurry
• Blood in the urine

What are the symptoms of a kidney infection? — The symptoms of a kidney infection can include the symptoms of a bladder infection, but kidney infections can also cause:

• Fever
• Back pain
• Nausea or vomiting

How do I find out if I have a urinary tract infection? — See your doctor or nurse. He or she will probably be able to tell if you have a urinary tract infection just by learning about your symptoms and doing a simple urine test. If your doctor or nurse thinks you might have a kidney infection or is unsure what you have, he or she might also do a more involved urine test to check for bacteria.

How are urinary tract infections treated? — Most urinary tract infections are treated with antibiotic pills. These pills work by killing the germs that cause the infection.

If you have a bladder infection, you will probably need to take antibiotics for 3 to 7 days. If you have a kidney infection, you will probably need to take antibiotics for longer – maybe for up to 2 weeks. If you have a kidney infection, it's also possible you will need to be treated in the hospital.

Your symptoms should begin to improve within a day of starting antibiotics. But you should finish all the antibiotic pills you get. Otherwise your infection might come back.

If needed, you can also take a medicine to numb your bladder. This medicine eases the pain caused by urinary tract infections. It also reduces the need to urinate.

What if I get bladder infections a lot? — First, check with your doctor or nurse to make sure that you are really having bladder infections. The symptoms of bladder infection can be caused by other things. Your doctor or nurse will want to see if those problems might be causing your symptoms.

• But if you are really dealing with repeated infections, there are things you can do to keep from getting more infections. You can:
• Find a new method of birth control, if you use spermicides (sperm-killing creams). Using spermicides – especially with a diaphragm – seems to promote bladder infections in some women.
• Drink more fluid. There is no proof that this helps, but many doctors suggest doing it. It might help flush out germs, and it does no harm.
• Urinate right after sex. Some doctors think this helps, because it helps flush out germs that might get into the bladder during sex. There is no proof it works, but it also cannot hurt.
• Ask your doctor or nurse about vaginal estrogen, if you are a woman who has been through menopause. Vaginal estrogen comes in a cream or a flexible ring that you put into your vagina. It can help prevent bladder infections.

Can cranberry juice or other cranberry products prevent bladder infections? — The studies suggesting that cranberry products prevent bladder infections are not very good. Other studies suggest that cranberry products do not prevent bladder infections. But if you want to try cranberry products for this purpose, there is probably not much harm in doing so.

Cystitis (Urinary Tract Infection) in Adults

What is the urinary tract? — The urinary tract is the system of organs that makes, stores, and carries urine out of the body (figure 1). The organs in the urinary tract are the:

• Kidneys – The kidneys make urine.
• Ureters – The ureters are thin tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder.
• Bladder – The bladder stores urine.
• Urethra – The urethra is the tube that carries urine out of the body.

What causes a urinary tract infection? — A urinary tract infection (or "UTI") is usually caused by bacteria. Normally, bacteria are not in the urinary tract. But if they travel up the urethra and get into the bladder or kidneys, they can cause a UTI.

Children can have a higher chance of getting a UTI if:

• Their urinary system didn't form normally before birth.
• Their bladder doesn't work normally.
• They are boys and are not circumcised. Boys who are circumcised have had surgery to remove the skin that covers the tip of the penis.

What are the symptoms of a UTI? — Symptoms depend on the child's age and ability to talk.

Children younger than 2 years old, and children who cannot talk, can have one or more of the following:

• Fever – This might be a child's only symptom.
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Acting fussy
• Not feeding well

Children age 2 years and older who are able to complain can have:

• Pain or a burning feeling when they urinate
• A need to urinate more often than usual
• Pain in the lower belly or on the sides of the back (figure 2)
• Fever

Is there a test for a UTI? — Yes. To check for a UTI, the doctor or nurse will do tests on your child's urine. To give a urine sample, your child will need to urinate into a container at the doctor's office.

If your child is not toilet trained, the doctor or nurse can get a sample of urine from your child's bladder. One way to do this is for the doctor or nurse to put a thin tube in your child's urethra and up into the bladder to drain a sample of urine. Then he or she will remove the tube and test the urine.

How are UTIs treated? — UTIs are treated with antibiotic medicines. These medicines kill the bacteria causing the infection.

Your child's symptoms should begin to improve within 1 to 2 days of starting the medicine. It is important to have your child take the medicine exactly as directed. If he or she doesn't, the infection could come back.

When should I call the doctor or nurse? — Call the doctor or nurse if your child's symptoms don't get better or get worse, or if your child is not able to take the medicine.

You should also call if your child gets symptoms of another UTI in the future.

What if my child gets UTIs a lot? — If your child gets UTIs a lot, your child's doctor might recommend that your child take an antibiotic every day. This can help prevent him or her from getting more UTIs.