Effective treatment of cystitis

Cystitis is the medical term for inflammation of the bladder. In most cases, the inflammation is caused by a bacterial infection, and the condition is called a urinary tract infection (UTI). Cystitis is often accompanied by severe pain and an irritated, burning sensation during or after urinating, and this can become a serious problem if the infection spreads to the kidneys.

Less commonly, cystitis can occur as a reaction to certain medications, radiation therapy, or potential irritants such as cleaning sprays, spermicides, or long-term use of a urinary catheter. . Cystitis can also occur as a complication of another disease, such as diabetes mellitus, etc. v.

The usual treatment for bacterial cystitis is antibiotics. Treatment for other types of cystitis depends on the underlying cause.

Symptoms of cystitis often include:

• A strong, constant urge to urinate;
• Burning when urinating;
• Pain when urinating;
• Small portion of urine;
• blood in the urine (hematuria);
• Presence of cloudy or strong-smelling urine;
• Discomfort in the lower abdomen;
• Feeling of pressure in the lower abdomen;
• Body temperature rises to 37. 0 - 37. 5 °C.

When to see a doctor?

Seek immediate medical attention if you have any of the signs and symptoms listed above, especially if you have:

• Backache,
• Fever over 37. 5 degrees Celsius and chills,
• Nausea and vomiting.

If you experience frequent or painful urination that lasts several hours or longer, or if you notice blood in your urine, contact your doctor immediately. If you've been diagnosed with a UTI in the past and have symptoms that resemble a previous UTI, see your doctor.

You should also see a urologist if your cystitis symptoms return after you finish a course of antibiotics. You may need a different type of treatment.

Cystitis usually affects women. Cystitis is rare in healthy men, but the appearance of signs of cystitis should be alarming, in this case it could be the result of a more serious disease, such as an adenoma. prostate, bladder stones, urethral stricture. , et cetera.

Causes of exacerbations of cystitis

Bacterial cystitis

Acute cystitis usually occurs when bacteria enter the bladder through the urethra and begin to multiply. Most cases of cystitis are caused by a bacteria called Escherichia coli (E. coli).

Bladder infections can occur in women as a result of sexual intercourse. But even girls and women who are not sexually active are susceptible to lower urinary tract infections, because a woman's urethra is hidden in the pelvic cavity, which is wider and shorter than a man's (the length of the urinary tract). female vagina is 3-5 cm), this is presented as a straight tube that lies in front of the vagina and opens outwards in the vestibule of the vagina, the female genital area contains bacteria that can cause cystitis.

Non-infectious cystitis

Although bacterial infections are the most common cause of cystitis, a number of non-infectious factors can also cause cystitis. Other forms of cystitis:

• Interstitial cystitis.The cause of chronic cystitis, also known as painful bladder syndrome, is not clear. Most cases are diagnosed in women. This condition is difficult to diagnose and treat.
• cystitis medicine.Some drugs, especially chemotherapy drugs, can cause cystitis, because some of the broken down drug components are excreted in the urine.
• Radiation cystitisorRadiation cystitis.Ionizing radiation directed at the pelvic region can cause inflammatory changes in the bladder wall.
• Foreign body cystitis.The long-term presence of a catheter in the bladder, inserted through the urethra or installed in the form of a circumcision, can lead to tissue damage, bacterial infection, and process development. inflammation.
• Chemical cystitis.Some people may be hypersensitive to the chemicals found in certain products, such as bath foams, feminine hygiene sprays or spermicides, and their use may cause allergic-type reactions. grow in the bladder, causing inflammation.
• Cystitis associated with other conditions.Cystitis can sometimes occur as a complication of other disorders such as diabetes, kidney stones, an enlarged prostate, or spinal cord damage.

Risk factors for cystitis

Some people are more likely to have bladder infections or recurrent urinary tract infections. Women are one such group. The main reason is anatomy. Women have a shorter urethra, which shortens the passage of bacteria to the bladder.

Women at highest risk for UTIs include those who:

• Being sexually active. Frequent and intense sex can allow bacteria to enter the urethra and bladder.
• Promiscuous sex.
• Inflammatory process in the vagina and uterus.
• Use some type of birth control. Women who use diaphragms have a higher risk of UTIs. The diaphragm contains spermicide which further increases the risk of cystitis.
• Pregnancy. Hormonal changes during pregnancy can increase the risk of bladder infections.
• Menopause period. Changes in hormone levels in postmenopausal women are often associated with the development of an infection in the bladder.
• Stress.
• Failure to observe personal hygiene.

Other risk factors in both men and women include:

• Excess urine. This can happen when there are bladder stones or when a man has an enlarged prostate.
• Changes in the immune system. Reduced immunity can occur with diseases such as diabetes, HIV infection, or chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancer. Immunosuppression increases the risk of bacterial and, in some cases, bladder infections.
• Use an extended bladder catheter. People with chronic illnesses or the elderly may need these "tubes". Prolonged use can lead to an increased likelihood of bacterial infections as well as damage to bladder tissues.

In men without any predisposed health problems, cystitis is extremely rare.

Complications of acute cystitis

With prompt access to a urologist or urologist and proper treatment, bladder infections rarely lead to complications. But left untreated, they can lead to serious consequences. Complications may include:

• Kidney infection. Untreated cystitis can lead to a kidney infection known as pyelonephritis, a rather formidable illness that requires hospital treatment. Children and the elderly are most at risk.
• There is blood in the urine. In cystitis, red blood cells may appear in the urine that can only be seen with a microscope (microscopic hematuria) and usually disappear after treatment. Blood in the urine that is visible to the eye (global hematuria) is rare and a warning sign to seek medical attention.
• Transition to the chronic form of cystitis, leukoplakia of the bladder.

Disease prevention

Cranberry juice or pills containing proanthocyanidins are often recommended to reduce the risk of recurrent bladder infections in women. However, recent studies show that these drugs do not provide 100% protection against reinfection.

Although these precautions are not well understood, doctors sometimes recommend the following to prevent recurrent bladder infections:

• Drink lots of water, especially water. This reduces the concentration of bacteria in the bladder and can prevent infection.
• Rinse only with warm water, front to back. This prevents bacteria from spreading from the anal area to the vagina and urethra.
• Use the shower, not the bath. If you are prone to infections, showering instead of bathing can help prevent them.
• Empty the bladder as soon as possible after intercourse. Drink 250-300 ml of water to prevent a significant increase in the number of bacteria in the bladder.
• Avoid using deodorant sprays or other hygiene products around the genital area. These foods can irritate the urethra and bladder.

Diagnosis of cystitis

If you have symptoms of cystitis and have consulted with your doctor, in addition to discussing your symptoms and medical history, your doctor may recommend additional testing:

• Urine analysis.If a bladder infection is suspected, your doctor may recommend taking a urine sample to determine if there are bacteria, red blood cells, and white blood cells in the urine - these are laboratory indicators of inflammation. If there is inflammation in the bladder, you will need to perform a urine culture of bacteria on the flora and determine sensitivity to antibiotics.
• Lubrication on flora and Gnor microscopic examination of genital secretions shows inflammation of the vagina and cervical canal, which may be the cause of cystitis.
• Cystoscopy.It is not done under any circumstances in the middle of an acute process. Only after the normalization of laboratory parameters can the doctor recommend performing a cystoscopy - a visual examination of the bladder lining to assess its condition. In the case of chronic cystitis or suspected interstitial cystitis, the doctor will recommend performing a biopsy of the altered bladder lining to determine the depth and extent of the lesion.
• Bladder ultrasound. Usually testing is not required, but in some cases, especially when no signs of bacterial infection are found, it can be helpful. For example, an ultrasound can help detect other potential causes of bladder damage, such as a tumor or abnormal growth.

Treatment of cystitis

Cystitis caused by a bacterial infection is usually treated with antibiotics. Treatment for non-infectious cystitis depends on the underlying cause.

Treatment of bacterial cystitis

Antibiotics are the first line of treatment for bacterial cystitis. Which medicine is used and for how long depends on your general health and the type and concentration of bacteria found in your urine.

• Acute cystitis.A characteristic sign of acute cystitis is that the condition improves after initiating large amounts of fluids and thermal procedures, but the condition is deceptive and threatens with a new episode of illness with great health. greater strength. Therefore, it is necessary to contact a urologist or urologist to prescribe antibiotic treatment. You will likely need to take antibiotics for at least three days, depending on the severity of the infection.

  Regardless of the length of treatment, it is better to finish the course of antibiotics prescribed by your doctor, then to make sure that the infection is completely gone, a urinalysis should be performed. control - complete urinalysis and urinalysis for bacteria.

• Repetitive cystitisorChronic cystitis. If you have recurrent UTIs, your doctor may recommend longer treatment with systemic and topical bladder drops.

Postmenopausal women may be especially susceptible to cystitis. To aid in treatment, your doctor may recommend a vaginal cream that contains estrogen.

Treatment of interstitial cystitis

In interstitial cystitis, where the cause of the inflammation is unknown, therapies used to relieve symptoms of interstitial cystitis include:

• The drug is taken orally or injected directly into the bladder by instillation or injection under the bladder lining.
• Procedures aimed at relieving symptoms, such as distension of the bladder with fluid (bladder distention) or surgery (cystectomy, as a way to restore organ capacity).
• Tibial nerve conditioning, or electrical stimulation, uses electrical impulses to stimulate nerve endings to relieve pelvic pain and, in some cases, decrease the frequency of urination.

The main task in the treatment of interstitial cystitis is to eliminate the pain and return the capacity to the bladder, which is performed quite successfully by urologists with the latest achievements of science.

Treatment of other forms of non-infectious cystitis

If you are allergic and sensitive to certain chemicals, avoiding them can help relieve symptoms and prevent further episodes of cystitis.

Treatment of cystitis that develops as a complication of chemotherapy or radiation therapy focuses on pain relief, usually with systemic or topical medications.

If you have acute cystitis or have chronic cystitis or interstitial cystitis, your doctors know how to help.