Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, are one of the most common types of urinary problems that people face. However, the term UTI is broad and could mean an infection in any part of the urinary process. This can be in the urethra, kidneys, bladder, and ureters. The most common form of a UTI is a bladder infection. Confusion between the two is common, and this is a quick rundown on a bladder infection vs UTI.
Urinary Tract Infection
A UTI, once again, is an umbrella term for any infection in the urinary system. UTIs are further classified as simple or complex depending on the symptoms presented. A simple UTI means that it can be treated with antibiotics and not much else. Complex UTIs are more severe and could end up requiring hospitalization. Usually, this is caused by pesky bacteria known as E. coli.
Symptoms of a UTI:
- Feeling a need to urinate frequently
- chills, fever
- lower back pain
- urine that is cloudy or smells bad
- burning feeling during urination
- pelvic pain
- nausea
Bladder Infection
A bladder infection is the most common form of UTI and involves having an infection in the bladder. This is usually caused when urine is held in the bladder for an extended amount of time or not drinking enough water. These are oftentimes less severe and can be treated with antibiotics and fluids. If however, left untreated, it can become severe and require IV antibiotics.
Symptoms of a bladder infection:
- burning feeling when urinating
- frequent urination with little urine coming out
- Pain in the pelvis
- blood in the urine
If you do feel like you have either, please make sure to see a medical professional. There are some home remedies available, but antibiotics are the best treatment. Without care, these can be life-threatening and require IV antibiotics or hospitalization.
