A bladder infection can affect women, men and even children. UTI's are usually caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses or some species of parasites. These bacteria and parasites find their way into the urethra, multiply, then cause an infection which can give you many uncomfortable symptoms.

A bladder infection could sometimes lead to dehydration and hospitalisation if your infection isn't caught and treated in the quickest amount of time. Some adults can misdiagnose a bladder infection thinking it is a vaginal yeast infection, and will start trying to cure themselves with an OTC yeast infection cream.

A doctors diagnosis for a bladder infection is very important. Any person who incorrectly diagnoses their bladder infection or doesn't treat it in time has the risk of the infection moving up to their kidneys (pyelonephritis), and it is then possible the infection can become life threatening.

A doctors diagnosis is needed as soon as possible which is as soon as any symptoms start to appear. Many fungal and bacterial infections of the genitals get incorrectly diagnosed as a yeast infection for the simple reason it's the easiest infection to purchase a cure for, and a yeast infection is the most common infection of the genitals.

Symptoms of a bladder infection include...

Cloudy, smelly urine
The frequency of urination will increase
The amount of urine will decrease
The urgency of urination increases
A burning sensation when urinating
Muscle pain and spasms in the genital area
Pain and/or pressure over the pubic bone

If you're bladder infection has caused an infection in your kidneys then other symptoms include...

Lower back pain
Flu like symptoms including fever and chills

UTI's in men

Although bladder infections are more common in women, men can also get them. Because the length of the urethra in men is longer they usually get a bladder infection because of some sort of blockage stopping the bladder from being completely emptied. This cause commonly only occurs in older men as the prostate enlarges with age. Another cause for a bladder infection in men is kidney stones.

Antibiotics

A UTI is commonly treated with antibiotics. Because antibiotics kill all the bacteria in your body this can lead to other infections such as a yeast infection. Your body needs its friendly bacteria that the antibiotics kill to fight of the fungi that cause these other infections, and antibiotics are now the main cause of chronic fungal and bacterial infections.

Antibiotics are not necessarily the answer in curing a bladder infection, and do not represent a long term cure for most people. Once a bladder infection becomes recurrent you get in the never ending cycle of taking more anti bacterial drugs that just aid the bacterial imbalance that is causing the recurrent infections. This is why more people are now treating themselves naturally with a home remedy.

A home cure doesn't cause a bacterial imbalance like drugs do, and in fact will help re-establish a normal bacterial balance. A natural cure doesn't have the possible side effects that anti fungal and bacterial drugs do either.

Cranberry juice

The most common home remedy for a bladder infection is cranberry juice, although this is best used as a preventative rather than just relying on it for a cure.