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Understanding Bladder Infections -- Symptoms

What Are the Symptoms of a Bladder Infection?

Symptoms of bladder infections may include:

  • A burning sensation when urinating. This is the most common sign of a bladder infection.
  • Frequent urge to urinate
  • Passing only small amounts of urine at a time despite the urge to urinate
  • Urine that is cloudy or bloody with a strong, foul odor
  • Bladder spasm
  • In the elderly: lethargy and/or mental confusion may be a sign of a more serious urinary tract infection.
  • A fever or chills may mean the infection has gone into the kidneys

 

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Call Your Doctor a Bladder Infection If:

  • You have symptoms of a bladder infection.
  • Symptoms return after you have finished treatment.
  • Painful urination is accompanied by vomiting, fever, chills, bloody urine, or abdominal or back pain. This may mean potentially life-threatening kidney disease, a prostate infection, a bladder or kidney tumor, or a urinary tract stone. Seek medical help immediately.
  • The burning is accompanied by a discharge from the vagina or penis. This may be a sign of a sexually transmitted disease, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), or other serious infections. See your doctor without delay.
  • You experience any persistent pain or difficulty with urination. This may also be a sign of a sexually transmitted disease, a vaginal infection, a kidney stone, enlargement of the prostate, or a bladder or prostate tumor. See your doctor right away.

 

WebMD Medical Reference

Reviewed by Melinda Ratini, DO, MS on March 20, 2012

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