What Is the Difference Between a Bladder Infection and a UTI?

Symptoms of a bladder infection include:

• Pain or a burning on urination 
• Urinary urgency
• Urinary frequency
• Blood in the urine
• Lower abdominal discomfort

Symptoms of an infection of the urethra include:

• Pain or a burning on urination 
• Discharge

Symptoms of a kidney infection include the symptoms of a bladder infection and: 

• Pain in the flank (one or both sides of the lower back, where the kidneys are located)
• Fever
• Nausea 
• Vomiting

See a doctor right away if you have symptoms of a kidney infection, because delayed treatment can result in serious complications.

Bladder infections and other UTIs (urinary tract infections) are diagnosed with a urine test. 

• Urinalysis
• Urine culture

For recurrent bladder infections, additional testing may be performed to check for abnormalities in the kidneys, ureter, bladder, or urethra, or to look for kidney stones. Tests may include: 

• Computed tomography (CT) scan
• Ultrasound
• Cystoscopy

Most UTIs (urinary tract infections) are treated with antibiotics. 

Medications to treat bladder infections include: 

• Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim)
• Nitrofurantoin (Macrobid)
• Fosfomycin (Monurol)

Cranberry juice and cranberry extracts and supplements are often suggested as a home remedy for UTIs, but there are no reliable studies on the effectiveness of cranberry juice for treating a bladder infection and it is unlikely to be helpful. 

Medications to numb the bladder and urethra and reduce the burning pain of some UTIs include: 

• Phenazopyridine 
  • Pyridium, available by prescription
  • Uristat, available over-the-counter (OTC)

Medications to treat kidney infections include: 

• Antibiotics: the selection depends on the bacteria causing the infection and the severity of the infection
  • Amoxicillin (Amoxil, Trimox)
  • Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
  • Levofloxacin (Levaquin)
  • Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim)
• Medications for fever and pain
  • Acetaminophen (Tylenol) 
  • Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil)
• Hospital treatment: For high fever, severe pain, or when patients cannot keep down food or fluids, intravenous (IV) antibiotics and fluids may be given in a hospital