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 this condition is called a urinary tract infection (UTI). Inflammation of the bladder is usually accompanied by severe pain and a feeling of irritation, burning during or after urination, and this can become a serious problem if the infection spreads to the kidneys.

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

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

Symptoms of a bladder infection often include:

• Strong, constant urge to urinate;
• burning when urinating;
• pain when urinating;
• Small portions of urine;
• blood in the urine (hematuria);
• The appearance of cloudy or strong-smelling urine;
• discomfort in the lower abdomen;
• feeling of pressure in the lower abdomen;
• Increase in body temperature to 37. 0 - 37. 5 °C.

When to the doctor

See a doctor right away if you have any of the signs and symptoms listed above, especially if you have:

• back pain,
• fever over 37. 5 C and chills,
• nausea and vomiting.

If you have frequent or painful urination that lasts for hours or more, or if you notice blood in your urine, call your doctor right away. If you have been diagnosed with a UTI in the past and you have symptoms similar to a previous UTI, see your doctor as well.

It is also worth seeing a urologist if symptoms of cystitis return after stopping a course of antibiotics. You may need a different type of treatment.

Cystitis most commonly affects women. In healthy men, cystitis is rare, but the appearance of signs of cystitis should alarm. In this case, it may be the result of a more serious medical condition, such asB. a prostate adenoma, the presence of stones in the bladder, narrowing of the urethra, etc.

Causes of exacerbation 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 type of bacteria called Escherichia coli (E. coli).

Bladder infections can occur in women as a result of sexual intercourse. But even sexually inactive girls and women are prone to lower urinary tract infections, since the female urethra is hidden in the pelvic cavity, is wider and shorter than the male (the length of the female urethra is 3-5 cm). is presented in the form of a straight tube located in front of the vagina and opening outward at the vestibule of the vagina, and 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 this chronic bladder infection, also known as painful bladder syndrome, is unclear. Most cases are diagnosed in women. The condition is difficult to diagnose and treat.
• medical cystitis.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 area 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 an epicystostomy, can lead to tissue damage, the addition of a bacterial infection and the development of an inflammatory process.
• Chemical cystitis.Some people may be hypersensitive to chemicals found in certain products, such as bath foam, feminine hygiene sprays, or spermicides, and using them can cause an allergic reaction in the bladder, causing inflammation.
• Cystitis associated with other diseases.Cystitis can sometimes occur as a complication of other conditions, such as diabetes, kidney stones, an enlarged prostate, or a spinal cord injury.

Risk factors for cystitis

Some people are more likely to develop bladder infections or recurrent UTIs. Women are one such group. The main reason is anatomy. Women have a shorter urethra, which shortens the path for bacteria to travel to the bladder.

Women at highest risk for UTIs include those who:

• Are sexually active. Frequent and intense sexual contact can allow bacteria to enter the urethra and bladder.
• Promiscuous sexual relationships.
• Inflammatory processes in the vagina, uterus.
• Use of certain types of birth control. Women who use diaphragms have an increased risk of developing a urinary tract infection. Diaphragms that contain spermicide further increase the risk of bladder infection.
• Pregnancy. Hormonal changes during pregnancy can increase the risk of bladder infections.
• Menopause. Changes in hormone levels in postmenopausal women are often associated with the development of cystitis.
• Emphasize.
• Failure to observe personal hygiene.

Other risk factors in both men and women include:

• residual urine. This can occur when there is a bladder stone or when men have an enlarged prostate.
• changes in the immune system. Reduced immunity can occur against the background of such diseases as diabetes mellitus, HIV infection or the use of chemotherapeutic drugs in the treatment of cancer. Immunosuppression increases the risk of bacterial and, in some cases, viral bladder infections.
• Prolonged use of urinary catheters. These "tubes" may be needed by people with chronic illnesses or the elderly. Prolonged use can lead to increased susceptibility to bacterial infections and damage to bladder tissue.

In men without predisposing health problems, cystitis is extremely rare.

Complications of acute cystitis

With timely access to a urologist or urogynecologist and proper treatment, bladder infections rarely lead to complications. However, if left untreated, they can have serious consequences. Complications can include:

• kidney infection. Untreated cystitis can lead to kidney infection, also called pyelonephritis, a rather dangerous disease that requires hospital treatment. Children and the elderly are most at risk.
• blood in the urine. Bladder infections can cause red blood cells to appear in the urine that are only visible under a microscope (microscopic hematuria) and usually disappear after treatment. Blood in the urine that is visible to the eye (gross hematuria) is rare and is a warning sign that should prompt you to see a doctor.
• 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 offer 100 percent protection against reinfection.

Although these preventative measures aren't well understood, doctors sometimes recommend the following to help prevent recurring bladder infections:

• Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. This lowers the levels of bacteria in the bladder and can help prevent infections.
• Rinse with warm water from front to back only. This prevents bacteria from spreading from the anal area to the vagina and urethra.
• Use showers, not baths. If you're prone to infections, showering instead of bathing can help prevent them.
• Empty your 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 in the genital area. These foods can irritate the urethra and bladder.

diagnosis of cystitis

If you have symptoms of bladder infection and have consulted a doctor, in addition to discussing your symptoms and medical history, your doctor may recommend additional tests:

• Analysis of the urine.If a bladder infection is suspected, a doctor may recommend a urine test 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 need to conduct a bacterial culture of urine on the flora and determine sensitivity to antibiotics.
• Swab on Flora and Gnor microscopic examination of the discharge from the urogenital organs shows inflammation in the vagina and cervical canal, which in turn can be the cause of cystitis.
• cystoscopy.In no case should it be carried out in the middle of an acute process. Only after the normalization of laboratory parameters can the doctor recommend a cystoscopy - a visual examination of the mucous membrane of the bladder to assess its condition. For chronic cystitis or suspected interstitial cystitis, the doctor will suggest performing a biopsy of the altered bladder lining to determine the depth and extent of the lesion.
• Ultrasound of the Bladder.Testing is not usually necessary, but in some cases, especially when no signs of bacterial infection are found, it can be useful. For example, ultrasound can help identify other possible causes of bladder damage, such as a tumor or malformation.

treatment of cystitis

Bladder infections caused by a bacterial infection are usually treated with antibiotics. Treatment for noninfectious cystitis depends on the underlying cause.

Treatment of bacterial cystitis

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

• Acute cystitis.A characteristic sign of acute cystitis is an improvement in the condition after the start of drinking a large amount of liquid and thermal procedures, but this condition is deceptive and with even greater force threatens a new flare-up of the disease. Therefore, it is necessary to contact a urologist or urogynecologist to arrange antibiotic therapy. Depending on the severity of the infection, you'll likely need to take antibiotics for at least three days.

  Regardless of the duration of treatment, it is better to drink the entire course of antibiotics prescribed by your doctor. To make sure that the infection has completely disappeared, it is necessary to conduct a control urinalysis - a complete urine analysis and urine culture for the flora.

• Repeated cystitisorChronic cystitis. If you have a recurring UTI, your doctor may recommend prolonged treatment with systemic and topical bladder instillations.

Postmenopausal women can be particularly susceptible to bladder infections. As an adjunct to treatment, your doctor may recommend an estrogen vaginal cream.

Treatment of interstitial cystitis

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

• Medicines taken by mouth or injected directly into the bladder by instillation or injection under the lining of the bladder.
• Procedures aimed at reducing symptoms, such asB. filling the bladder with fluid (hydrodistension of the bladder) or surgery (augmentation cystoplasty to restore organ capacity).
• Tibial neuromodulation, or electrical stimulation, which uses electrical impulses to stimulate nerve endings to relieve pelvic pain and, in some cases, reduce frequency of urination.

The main task in the treatment of interstitial cystitis is the elimination of pain and the restoration of bladder capacity, which is quite successfully performed by urologists using the latest achievements of science.

Treatment of other forms of non-infectious cystitis

If you are allergic and susceptible to certain chemicals, avoiding them can help relieve symptoms and prevent further flare-ups.

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

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