Sharp, painful sensations in the lower abdomen, urge to urinate – cystitis causes unpleasant symptoms, the first signs of the disease in women are just like that.This is an inflammatory process that occurs on the inner walls of the bladder.The causes and conditions for the development of the disease coincide much more often in women than in men.
What is cystitis?
The bladder is a muscular organ located in the pelvic cavity, its upper part, that collects urine before it exits through the urethra.This is how the end section of the urinary system is arranged in the male and female bodies.The bladder cavity gradually fills through two ureters, which serve as conduits for the filtered fluid from the kidneys.When the organ is filled to more than half its volume, the affected person feels the urge to urinate.This is an unconditional reflex.
The internal environment of the urinary system is sterile, just like the urine excreted in a healthy person.The ingestion of infectious agents that can multiply under these conditions, as well as chemical irritants and allergens, leads to the development of cystitis, the first symptoms of which immediately indicate disruptions in the described chain.
Inflammatory, allergic and chemical irritation of the bladder can have various causes.The way irritants penetrate inside is also different.
In women, the so-called ascending route is more typical, which means that the pathogen penetrates the cavity ascending from the outer urethra.
The same type of cystitis can occur in a small child, especially an infant, for whom there is no adequate home care or who has postpartum pathologies or organic disorders.
Causes of occurrence in women
It is necessary to clearly understand the difference between the causes and conditions that trigger the signs of cystitis in women.The causes are infectious pathogens and non-infectious factors.The first group includes:
- opportunistic microorganisms;
- pathogenic microorganisms;
- pathogens of sexually transmitted diseases.
Opportunistic microbes are so named because they exhibit their virulent properties when exposed to appropriate conditions.Typically, the causative agents of such diseases are representatives of the normal biocenosis of the vagina or intestinal flora.They are constantly present on the skin of the genital organs and act as a protective barrier.As soon as a girl is hypothermic and treated with antibiotics that suppress not only pathogenic but also normal flora, the number of representatives of microbiocenosis grows rapidly.When they reach a critical mass, they lose their barrier function, change the pH value of the mucous membranes and themselves become the cause of the development of inflammation.
In addition, microbes multiply and spread to areas unusual for them, such as the urethra and bladder.Pathogenic pathogens become a source of inflammatory reactions during the stay of patients in a hospital of any profile.However, most often you can get infected in maternity hospitals and in obstetric and gynecological departments.Microorganisms that cause nosocomial infections circulate in them.
These pathogens differ from ordinary ones in that they acquire new properties during repeated passage through weakened organisms, for example:
- Salmonella, which is spread by airborne droplets;
- resistance to a large number of antibiotics;
- immunity to broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs;
- the ability to use substances unusual for this species as a food substrate.
The clinical course of cystitis caused by pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms that have acquired new properties during development is characterized by painful manifestations.It is more difficult to fight such a cystitis because the choice of antibacterial drugs is limited.
Sexually transmitted diseases cannot occur in isolation from the urinary organs due to the peculiarities of their anatomical structure.The most common are gonorrhea, trichomonas urethritis and cystitis.Through the urethra, which is wider and shorter in women than in men, bacteria enter the bladder cavity and begin to multiply there.
Causes of non-infectious origin are divided into chemical and allergic factors.Chemical irritants can enter through the blood and be filtered by the kidneys.These can be medicines, pollutants of an industrial nature, food components.
Allergic pathogens indicate a profound suppression of the immune system, which reacts with hypersensitivity to common substances.
Other conditions that contribute to the development of inflammation include factors such as: hypothermia, wearing synthetic underwear, neglect of personal hygiene rules, acute and chronic gynecological diseases, childbirth, consumption of irritating foods, pregnancy.
First signs
Already the first signs of cystitis in women require treatment by a specialist and the patient's attention to her body.You can suspect the development of inflammation in the bladder by detecting a primary syndrome:
- constant itching in the external genital area;
- the appearance of discharge from the urethra;
- aching, stabbing pain after urination;
- pain along the urethra;
- increased urge to go to the toilet;
- Changes in color, clarity of urine, appearance of visible sediment.
If you do not pay proper attention and do not treat the disease, the initial symptoms will gradually worsen and the acute disease will become chronic.
Progressive pathology
The medical history of a patient with chronic cystitis can become very extensive if therapy is ignored or additional rules are not followed.Acute symptoms quickly lose their obvious character, subside and no longer cause any significant symptoms.
However, there are a number of signs of inflammation progression:
- the addition of a secondary infection in the kidneys;
- Attacks of exacerbation of infection are accompanied by fever;
- general condition worsens;
- the amount of urine excreted is small;
- The urine has a strong odor, is cloudy, and may be mixed with pus or blood.
Chronic cystitis does not occur in isolation;it is complicated by inflammatory processes in the kidneys and gynecological pathologies.
The body's resistance gradually decreases, infections of other organs lead to an exacerbation of cystitis and disappear with an increase in body temperature, symptoms of general intoxication, severe weakness and malaise.
The urge to urinate is frequent, but the amount of fluid excreted is small.This is because it over-irritates the bladder receptors due to altered pH balance and pathological contaminants.
Excreting urine is painful and cramp-like pain does not allow rest, even at night.
The suprapubic area is tense and palpation of the abdominal muscles in the lower abdomen is difficult.
Urine has an unpleasant, unusually pungent smell.When observing, you may notice sediment falling to the bottom.
Classic signs of acute and chronic cystitis
An acute process first occurs after contact with an infectious agent, chemical irritant or allergen.The symptoms are clear and obvious: stabbing pain when urinating, uncomfortable emptying of the bladder, pain in the lower abdomen, itching and burning at the exit of the urethra.You may experience a short-term increase in temperature, nausea or weakness, loss of appetite, and worsening of symptoms after consuming irritating foods or drinks.
Chronic pathology is characterized by the disappearance of symptoms, the presence of constant discomfort in the suprapubic area and excruciating pain.In the remission stage, the patient feels quite healthy.Exacerbation occurs after hypothermia, consumption of irritating foods or drinks, or repeated exposure to an allergen.
Types of cystitis in women
A bladder infection is classified according to various criteria.
The main types of bladder infections include:
- depending on the type of process: acute or chronic;
- due to occurrence: bacterial, chemical or allergic;
- by associated factors: postpartum, secondary, postoperative.
Postoperative cystitis occurs after abortion, cesarean delivery, and urine delivery through a catheter.It is this medical instrument that can become a source of infection.
Features of postpartum cystitis
The postpartum period requires special attention and monitoring of the woman after childbirth, especially at home.Compliance with the rules of careful hygiene and frequent urination will help avoid possible complications in the postpartum period and the addition of urinary tract infections.
Postpartum cystitis occurs like any other, but its treatment is difficult because not all medications can be taken by a nursing woman.In addition, this period is characterized by damage to the external genitals, which makes it difficult to urinate and use the usual toilet.
Severe forms of the disease rarely develop, since the treatment of cystitis does not cause significant difficulties.However, most often we are dealing with a chronic form that is difficult to correct with medication if the pathogen is a multi-resistant microorganism.
diagnosis
Usually, after a thorough history, urine test and examination of the patient, it does not cause any difficulties.The analysis results show deviations from the norm: reduced specific gravity, changed pH, the presence of pathological impurities of blood, leukocytes, sediment, urate and oxalate crystals.
If necessary, an ultrasound examination and an X-ray contrast image are prescribed to clarify the etiology of the disease.
Treatment
Comprehensive treatment of acute or chronic cystitis is mandatory.The simultaneous use of various therapy methods contributes to the patient's rapid recovery.
The most important therapeutic agents are:
- antimicrobial tablets;
- anti-inflammatory drugs;
- analgesics and antispasmodics;
- physiotherapy (in remission);
- Diet;
- traditional methods.
Medicines to treat cystitis are prescribed by a specialist.Anti-inflammatory drugs are preferably prescribed from the group of non-steroidal drugs;They have an antispasmodic and pain-relieving effect.
The diet excludes from the diet acidic, pickled and spicy foods that have an irritating effect.In this case, it is necessary to drink at least two liters of fluid daily to disinfect the bladder.
Folk recipes
Alternative medicine has extensive experience in the treatment of urological infections.The recipes have many positive reviews, which confirms the effectiveness of the methods.However, they can only be used in combination with drug treatment.
Good results are achieved by taking decoctions of parsley root, chamomile and tincture of lingonberry leaves.Drinking cranberry juice has an excellent disinfectant effect.The healing properties of “bear ears” and cranberries have long been known.You can prepare the following composition and take it three times a day after meals:
- Take equal parts dry herbs such as rosemary, lovage, centaury and rose hips;
- Pour boiling water for 30 minutes;
- Cook in a water bath for 20 minutes;
- Leave on for 30 minutes;
- Strain and drink as above.
It is contraindicated to drink alcohol, strong drinks or smoke during treatment.
prevention
Measures to prevent cystitis are simple but effective.It is necessary to carefully follow the rules of care and sexual culture, frequently change hygiene items and underwear, avoid hypothermia and consumption of irritating foods and drinks.