A patient has urinary frequency, dysuria, and fever. A positive urine culture confirms which condition?

• A. Acute cystitis
• B. Pyelonephritis
• C. Urethritis
• D. Glomerulonephritis

Answer: (A)

When a patient has urinary frequency and dysuria, this points to an infection of the lower urinary tract (the bladder). A positive urine culture confirms that bacteria are present and causing infection. Fever can occur with cystitis, but it doesn’t by itself distinguish upper from lower tract infection. Pyelonephritis typically brings additional signs such as flank pain or costovertebral angle tenderness and more systemic symptoms. Urethritis mainly causes dysuria with discharge rather than the urinary frequency pattern, and glomerulonephritis presents with edema, hematuria, and proteinuria rather than primarily irritative voiding symptoms. Given the symptom pattern plus a positive culture, acute cystitis is the best fit.