Cystitis is one of the most frequently diagnosed diseases in the field of urology. This is the number one urological disorder that nearly every woman faces at least once in her lifetime. It is an inflammatory lesion of the bladder that occurs due to the entry of pathogenic microflora into the bladder. As a result, bacteria multiply in the bladder, causing many of the characteristic symptoms. In rare cases, the disease appears due to allergic or toxic effects.
important!
The information in this article should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. For proper diagnosis and treatment, you should always consult your doctor.
Mostly, cystitis occurs in women and is related to the structural features of the urinary system. According to statistics, more than 30 million cases of the disease are detected in my country every year. Additionally, more than half of annual urologist visits are related to acute or chronic bladder inflammation.
The treatment of cystitis is aimed at eliminating existing symptoms and normalizing the functioning of the entire genitourinary system. In this article, we will discuss the main causes of the pathology, the signs of its development, the characteristics of treatment and prevention.
Types of Cystitis
Depending on the characteristics of the development and course of the disease, several types of disease can be distinguished. Depending on the pathogenesis (i. e. the mechanism of development), the following types of cystitis can be distinguished:
- Beginner (easy). It occurs as a separate independent pathology and usually occurs in relatively healthy patients without urinary outflow disturbances.
- Minor (complex). It can be the result of a violation of urine outflow in many concomitant diseases: for example, urolithiasis or tumor formation in the pelvic organs.
Depending on the etiology (cause of development), the following types of cystitis can be distinguished:
- contagious. It becomes the result of bacteria acting on organ tissues.
- poisonous. It occurs due to the adverse effects of toxins, drugs, and radiation or chemotherapy.
- allergy. as a result of exposure to various allergens.
Diseases are classified separately, taking into account morphological changes:
- Catarrh cystitis. It is characterized by damage to the upper layer of the bladder mucosa. Swelling and hyperemia (a state of increased congestion of organs) ensues.
- hemorrhagic. It causes the blood vessels to become inflamed, which can cause blood to leak into the urine.
- Ulcerative fibers. It is characterized by the spread of inflammatory processes to the muscle tissue of the organ.
- gangrene. Associated with the development of necrotic changes in the bladder wall.
- Interstitial. The inflammatory process extends to the mucosa, submucosa, and muscle layers of the organ.
Another form of cystitis is often referred to as the postcoital variant ("honeymoon cystitis"). A variant of the disease occurs after defloration. This is due to the penetration of vaginal mucus into the urethra.
Furthermore, according to the stage of the disease course, acute and chronic (recurrent) cystitis are distinguished. The acute type is characterized by a simple course and distinct symptoms. If the disease has become chronic, the patient's characteristic symptoms appear only during exacerbations.
important!
The information in this article should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. For proper diagnosis and treatment, you should always consult your doctor.
symptoms of disease
Signs of cystitis can be very varied and often depend on the pathological form. If we talk about general symptom pictures, here are the most common:
- Frequent urination (usually urinating 6-10 times during the day).
- Discomfort in the bladder area with a feeling of fullness.
- Lower abdominal pain.
- Burns and cuts when urinating.
- Changes in the color of urine, presence of impurities (blood or mucus).
There are also general symptoms of poisoning. Women may experience chills, weakness, fatigue, fever, and profuse sweating. In severe cases, incontinence can occur due to damage to the muscular layer of the bladder.
Cystitis can be a manifestation of any urological disorder, so the clinical presentation is highly dependent on the nature of the underlying pathology. In addition, symptoms of the disease may include signs of inflammatory disease of reproductive organs. Unfortunately, in women, this combination is extremely common.
Causes of Cystitis
Pathology is one of multiple etiologies (i. e. multiple causes), so several factors contribute to its development. The main cause of occurrence is the entry of various microorganisms into the bladder. In almost 90% of cases, this is E. coli, which lives in the rectum, near the urinary organs. In addition, inflammatory processes are caused by other bacteria and microorganisms: Candida, Chlamydia, herpes viruses, etc.
Pathogenic microorganisms can enter the urinary system in several ways. There are several types of penetration:
- rise. It occurs most often when pathogenic bacteria pass through the urethra into the bladder.
- decline. In this case, microorganisms penetrate from the kidneys (eg, in the presence of pyelonephritis).
- lymphatic. Associated with lymph flow, by which organisms enter the bladder from other organs in the small pelvis, in the presence of inflammation in them.
- bloody. Infection occurs from distant inflammatory foci due to blood flow.
Cystitis is more common in women than men for several reasons. These include:
- Special structure of the reproductive system that facilitates the spread and infection of bacteria in the urinary system.
- A shorter urethra, near the anus (where various bacteria gather).
- Frequent fluctuations in hormones can weaken the body's immunity.
risk factor
Certain factors can increase the risk of developing bladder inflammation. These include:
- Pelvic organ hypothermia.
- decrease in immunity.
- Working overtime often and stressful.
- Violation of privacy hygiene rules.
- prone to constipation.
- Abuse of spicy and spicy food.
- Pelvic organ stasis.
- Chronic lesions of the genitourinary system.
- Abuse of alcohol.
- Congenital lesions of the urinary organs.
Another factor in the development of this infection is pregnancy. According to statistics, every 10 pregnant girls will experience bladder inflammation symptoms. This condition can lead to a general decline in immunity, changes in hormonal levels, an enlarged uterus and a deterioration of the blood supply to the bladder.
Furthermore, the disease is often diagnosed in menopausal patients. Between the ages of 50-55, estrogen levels drop, which usually causes the lining of the bladder to weaken.
In many patients, acute or chronic cystitis manifests during menstruation. This is due to the bacteria entering the urethra along with the menstrual blood. The following factors can trigger this during menstruation:
- Thrush or other infectious disease.
- Inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs.
- General immunity decline.
- Sexually Transmitted Infections.
- Allergic reaction to pads or tampons.
- Non-compliance with hygiene regulations.
Treatment characteristics
The diagnosis of "cystitis" is made on the basis of the patient's chief complaint and examination by a urologist or gynecologist, some examinations and instrumental examinations are also mandatory.
The doctor prescribed medicine to the woman:
- General urinalysis;
- clinical blood tests;
- Urine culture, bacteriology (if complicated cystitis is suspected).
With repeated episodes of the disease, smear and seeding of vaginal secretions, analysis of antibodies to herpes virus, scraping of the urethra and cervical canal may be prescribed. These procedures help identify factors that cause relapse.
Instrumental technology is also important in pathological diagnosis. in:
- Ultrasonography of pelvic organs and bladder.
- MRI of the genitourinary system.
- Cystoscopy with biopsy (complex or recurrent).
This diagnostic procedure allows you to determine the presence of pathology and why it occurs. Based on the data obtained, specialists can develop a treatment plan for cystitis. The therapy is based on an integrative approach and aims to achieve the following goals:
- Carry out antibacterial and symptomatic treatment to eliminate existing symptoms.
- Prevent possible complications.
- Prevention of pathological recurrence.
Antibacterial and symptomatic treatment involves taking various drugs. These can be pain relievers, antibacterials, anti-inflammatories, antispasmodics, etc. They are administered to relieve symptoms and eliminate existing inflammatory processes. Additionally, doctors may prescribe immunomodulators or multivitamin complexes. Phage-based preparations are usually used if cystitis recurs.
In addition, various physical therapy methods can be prescribed. in:
- electrophoresis. Helps relieve inflammation and reduce spasms.
- Magnetic therapy. Eliminates bacteria and viruses from inflamed organs.
- induction therapy. Helps normalize blood flow and normalize the urinary system.
Additionally, patients are advised to follow a few rules:
- Exclude spicy, spicy and salty foods, carbonated beverages, coffee, alcohol and sweets from the diet.
- Refusing sexual intercourse during treatment.
- Drink enough water (sour fruit drinks and urinary charges are also recommended).
- Refusing physical activity (including swimming in pools and ponds).
important!Traditional medical methods have not been proven effective, therefore, they can only be used in combination with medicines. You cannot use folk remedies on your own - be sure to consult your doctor!
Treatment is performed on an outpatient basis, with some exceptions. Sometimes hospitalization of the patient is required, which may be:
- Severe disease course.
- Serious concomitant medical conditions (eg diabetes) are present.
- the occurrence of complications.
- Decompensated heart failure.
- Ongoing antibiotic therapy is ineffective.
Symptoms and Treatment of Acute Cystitis
The acute form develops rapidly in the context of a relatively healthy patient. The main symptom is frequent urination. Acute cystitis in women is also characterized by severe pain, burning pain with urination, poisoning, and fever.
Symptoms increased rapidly on the first day, and the frequency of urination increased. The urination interval can be shortened to 5-15 minutes. At the same time, the urges occur both day and night.
This condition may be accompanied by the appearance of bloody and purulent discharge in the urine. The acute form of the pathology lasts on average for up to 7-10 days, and without lack of proper treatment, the disease becomes a chronic exacerbation phase.
Symptoms and Treatment of Chronic Cystitis
This stage develops due to incorrect and / or untimely treatment of the inflammatory process. Often, pathology is the result of self-medication and uncontrolled medication.
In addition, the chronic form may be the result of other diseases of the genitourinary system. Cystitis is often diagnosed in patients with pyelonephritis, vulvovaginitis, and various reproductive and urinary tract infections.
The danger of chronic cystitis is that it occurs without obvious symptoms. Women may experience exacerbations followed by remission, with no problems urinating during this time. During exacerbations, however, symptoms similar to the acute form appear. Frequent urination is accompanied by pain and pain, and bloody or purulent discharge is often present in the urine.
In the treatment of chronic cystitis, it is important to eliminate the factors that continually lead to recurrence. For example, in menopause and in the presence of hormonal disorders, hormone replacement therapy is prescribed. In some cases, surgery may be needed to correct a birth defect of the urinary system.
possible complications
The key to successful treatment of cystitis is prompt medical attention. Usually, in this case, the duration of treatment is no more than 10-12 days. However, without medical care and not following the doctor's recommendations, patients can develop chronic diseases. In this case, complications are not excluded, including:
- pyelonephritis;
- paracystitis;
- abscess;
- urinary incontinence;
- Violation of the reproductive function of the body.
Prophylactic treatment is recommended for patients with frequent recurrent cystitis (more than 3 exacerbations per year) to prevent possible complications. It involves taking small doses of antibiotics, but this treatment should only be given under the direction of a doctor.
prevent disease
In most cases, simple preventive measures can help prevent cystitis from developing. Among them, it is necessary to:
- Proper hygiene of external reproductive organs.
- Observe hygiene during sexual activity.
- Drink enough clean water every day.
- Eliminate any irritants (stress, hypothermia, lots of spicy and spicy food).
- Seek immediate medical attention and do not treat pelvic organ disease on your own.
It is also important to remember that during cystitis, it is forbidden to take a bath/sauna or overheat the body in some way (including using a heating pad in the lower abdomen). In the presence of bacterial forms of the disease, the proliferation of pathogenic microbial communities can be stimulated. This increases the risk of developing an abscess. If the nature of the disease is different, then heating the tissue can accelerate blood microcirculation. This can cause blood to pass into the urine and increase pain.
Regular emptying of the bladder and bowel is important when preventing cystitis. Additionally, women are advised to lead an active lifestyle, including physical activity in their daily lives. This will remove congestion from the pelvic organs and normalize the urination process.
Cystitis is a very unpleasant disease because it has a rapid course and affects the quality of life. However, proper and reasonable treatment allows you to quickly eliminate all symptoms of the disease and avoid various complications. In this case, the most important thing is not to self-medicate and not to delay contacting your doctor.
important!
The information in this article should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. For proper diagnosis and treatment, you should always consult your doctor.