What is the common term for a urinary tract infection?

The common term for a urinary tract infection (UTI) is cystitis. Cystitis specifically refers to inflammation of the bladder, which is often caused by a bacterial infection leading to a UTI. Symptoms of cystitis typically include frequent urination, urgency, and pain during urination, which are characteristic of a UTI.

While nephritis refers to inflammation of the kidneys and urethritis pertains to inflammation of the urethra, these terms describe specific conditions rather than the overall infection that can occur in any part of the urinary tract. Hydronephrosis, on the other hand, is a condition characterized by swelling of one or both kidneys due to a build-up of urine, which can occur as a result of complications from a UTI but is not synonymous with the infection itself.