Bladder Infection

Many people go through their lives with some sort of an infection or other. These infections can be treated if they are detected in the early stages. One of the more common infections that various people get is that of bladder infections.

Bladder infections can be uncomfortable for the infected person but they are completely treatable. Generally it is found to occur in women more than men. The other categories of sufferers can include elderly people, diabetes sufferers, young boys and girls.

A bladder infection is caused by the E. coli bacteria. This bacterium normally lives in our guts. However there is always a chance for the bacteria to reach the urethra of women and begin to breed there. The bacteria can generally be contracted in certain ways.

Many women will become infected after they have had sexual intercourse. Therefore many times bladder infection is called “honeymoon cystitis”. The other ways that bladder infections can occur is due to the use of the diaphragm. This devise which is used to prevent pregnancies, presses against the bladder and prevents the bladder from completely emptying.

The E. coli bacteria begin to breed in this stale environment causing bladder infection. Pregnant women can also become infected with bladder infection due to the unborn fetus pressing against their bladder.

In most case the bladder infection is uncomfortable and sometimes very serious. Treated bladder infections are harmless and they clear away very quickly. As it was stated earlier men very rarely contract bladder infections. Any man who does get a bladder infection should see their doctor as there could be another underlying cause for their bladder infection.

Bladder infections can be caused by the use of catheters that are being used in hospital and home use. Once the catheters have been removed you will need to treat the bladder infection with antibiotics to destroy the bacteria growth that has developed as a result of the catheters.

When you know that you do in fact have a bladder infection you should see your doctor to find out what are the various medications and treatments that you can use to prevent a recurrence of bladder infection. Generally you will be given a course of antibiotics to take.

These antibiotic courses must be fully completed for the growth of the bladder infection bacteria to be destroyed. Therefore even if you are feeling better don’t stop the treatment until the entire course is finished. By stopping this course of treatment halfway you have not destroyed all of the bacteria or their environment. This leaves an opening for the reoccurrence of bladder infection.