Cystitis

Alternative names:

bladder infection; urinary tract infection; UTI

Symptoms:

• pressure in the lower pelvis
• urination, painful (dysuria)
• frequent need to urinate (frequency)
• urgent need to urinate (urgency)
• need to urinate at night
• abnormal urine color (cloudy urine)
• blood in the urine (hematuria)
• foul or strong urine odor

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• sexual intercourse, painful
• penis pain
• flank pain
• fatigue
• fever
• chills
• vomitting
• mental changes or confusion *

* Often in the elderly person, mental changes or confusion are the only signs of a possible urinary tract infection.

Signs and tests:

• A urinalysis commonly reveals white blood cells (WBC) or red blood cells (see also RBC; urine).
• A urine culture (clean catch) or catheterized urine specimen maybe performed to determine type of bacteria in the urine and the appropriate antibiotic for treatment.