Bladder Infection Symptoms in Men

Bladder infection, also known as cystitis, is a type of urinary tract infection. Urinary tract infection can affect any part of the urinary tract including the bladder, urethra and the kidneys. When infection affects only the urethra, it is known as 'urethritis', while the infection of the kidneys is termed as 'pyelonephritis'. It is the most common type of urinary tract infection. Infection of the bladder is usually caused by bacteria.

Bladder and urinary tract infection are more common among women, as their urethra is much shorten than men, and is located closer to the vagina and the anus. This makes it easier for the infection causing bacteria to enter the urinary tract from the vagina or anus. However, men can also get bladder infection at times.

UTI in Men

Causes
Urine usually does not contain any bacteria and infectious agents. So, infection of the bladder is primarily caused by the bacteria that enter the urethra from the digestive tract and then spread to the bladder. The bacteria that is mainly responsible for causing this infection is Escherichia coli (E. coli). Microorganisms like, Chlamydia and Mycoplasma can also cause infection, but such infections usually affect the urethra and the organs of the reproductive system. In men, it usually develops from an infection of the urethra. Even bacterial infection of the prostate can spread to the bladder to cause cystitis. The most common causes are enlarged prostate or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), bladder and kidney stones and the use of urinary catheters.

Symptoms

• Frequent and intense urge to urinate
• Frequent urination
• Pain while urinating
• A burning or stinging sensation while passing urine
• Cloudy or dense urine with strong odor
• Presence of blood in urine or hematuria
• Lower abdominal discomfort or tenderness in the area of the bladder
• Pelvic pressure
• Low-grade fever

Treatment
It is diagnosed with a proper evaluation of the bladder infection symptoms in men, along with the analysis of a urine sample and urine culture. As far as treatment is concerned, you can find different types of antibiotics for its treatment. Usually, urine culture helps to identify the bacteria responsible for causing bladder infection, on the basis of which a particular antibiotic can be prescribed. If the pain is quite severe, then your physicians can also recommend medications to relieve the pain along with the antibiotics.

Some simple home remedies like, drinking lots of fluid or water and cranberry juice can help to flush out the infection causing bacteria from your body. The symptoms usually resolve within a few days. However, it is important to complete the entire course of antibiotics prescribed by your physicians even after the symptoms subside.

It is not a serious condition and it can be treated effectively within a short period. But, untreated bladder or urinary tract infection can sometimes lead to acute or chronic kidney infection. Therefore, it is important to identify these symptoms in men, to ensure the prompt treatment of the condition. To prevent this infection in the future, be sure to maintain good personal hygiene, especially to keep the genital area clean and dry.