What symptom is commonly associated with a bladder infection?

Pain during urination, known medically as dysuria, is a hallmark symptom of a bladder infection, also referred to as a urinary tract infection (UTI). This pain occurs because the inflammation and irritation of the bladder wall and urethra lead to discomfort during urination. Patients often describe the sensation as burning or stinging, highlighting a clear association with bladder infections.

While options such as fever and chills can occur with a bladder infection, especially if it ascends to the kidneys, they are not as specific to bladder infections as pain during urination. Other symptoms like coughing, a runny nose, nausea, and vomiting can be indicative of various other conditions and are not direct symptoms of a bladder infection. Thus, dysuria is the most distinct and immediate symptom that suggests the presence of a bladder infection.