A urinary tract infection is a broad term and can mean a bladder (lower urinary tract infection) or a kidney infection (pyelonephritis).
A bladder infection is the most common type of urinary tract infection (UTI).
UTIs are more common in females because they have a shorter urethra and it is easier for bacteria to reach the bladder from the outside world.
Ecoli is the most common bacteria for a UTI because this is the most common bacteria of the GI tract.
When the bacteria causing a bladder infection ascends (travels up the ureter to the kidney) this is called pyelonephritis.
Pyelonephritis is much more serious than a bladder infection and is associated with fever, flank pain and can require hospitalization.
When a patient tells the urologist that he or she has a “kidney” infection and the symptoms are that of the bladder ( burning, pressure, frequency and urgency)…it’s okay…we know what they are talking about.
The stone seen above is half in the ureter and half in the bladder. Much like a baby crowning before being delivered. Just before the ureter enters the bladder it travels about an inch between the layers of the bladder muscle. When a stone, such as you see above, is in this area of the ureter the patient will experience symptoms very similar to a bladder infection. Because the stone irritates the bladder the urine will have the look of a bladder infection as well, which further confuses the diagnosis.
Urologists often see females in consultation because of what is felt to be a recurrent or difficult to manage bladder infection when in fact on CT scan there is a stone in the intramural portion of the ureter. With treatment of the stone the symptoms very quickly go away.
A simple way to prevent stones is to always be well hydrated, limit salt and add lemon to the water you drink.
Northeast Georgia Urological Associates 