Bladder infection or Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is a
bacterial infection that affects every part of the urinary
system. Normal urine contains salts, waste, and liquids but does
not contain bacteria. UTI is caused by bacteria that enters into
the bladder and then multiplies. These bacteria are usually
found in the intestines and often times on the skin surrounding
the rectal and vaginal areas. Around 85 percent of UTI cases are
caused by the so-called E. coli or Escherichia coli. When this
bacterium passes into the urethra it may easily enter the
bladder and cause an infection.

Cystitis, also known as inflammation of the bladder, is an
infection that covers a wide range of infections and includes
irritations on the lower part of the urinary system. Intestinal
bacteria are the most common cause of this infection. The
bladder wall may get irritated even scarred. A pinpoint bleeding
that is caused by recurrent irritation, also called
glomerulations, appears on the bladder wall. It is also possible
that a person with a worse case of cystitis urinates of up to 60
times per day. People with this kind of infection often
experience painful sexual intercourse.

The most common symptoms of this kind of infection are a burning
sensation when urinating, strong or persistent urge for
urination, passing frequent small amounts of urine, hematuria or
blood in the urine, passing cloudy or strong foul smelling
urine, a feeling of pressure in the lower abdomen, bladder spasm
and low-grade fever. In elderly people, the symptoms can also be
weakness, falls, confusion, or fever confusions and also changes
in mental state. In cases of young children, UTI is exhibited by
enuresis or bed-wetting.

In women, 20 to 40 percent experienced the symptoms of weakness,
irritability, reduced appetite, vomiting and diarrhea. This
infection occurs mostly in women who have very short urethra.
Likewise, women often get worse symptoms during menstruation. In
men, a chronic prostate problem increases the risk of bladder
infection. Men have the same symptoms as women. There are some
cases where symptoms of cystitis vanish without any reason or
treatment. Even though these symptoms disappear, they can return
after days, weeks, even months or years later.

As of today, scientists have not found any cure for cystitis and
are unable to predict which treatment is best for curing the
bladder infection. The only good advice is that people should
drink sufficient water so that the bladder is completely
flushed. The bladder should be thoroughly emptied during
urination. Likewise wearing warm clothing on lower parts of the
body also stops cystitis. It may also be helpful to drink
cranberry juice daily to prevent this infection. Immediate
urination after sexual intercourse flushes out bacteria from the
urethra. And also it is advised to urinate once every three
hours. Most women who pass on urinating for a long period are
prone to suffer more infections in their urinary system.