Effective treatment of cystitis

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

Less commonly, cystitis may be a reaction to certain medications, radiation therapy, or potential irritants such as hygiene sprays, spermicides, or prolonged use of a catheter. Cystitis can also be a complication of another disease, such as diabetes.

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, persistent urge to urinate;
• burning pain when urinating;
• pain when urinating;
• small amounts of urine;
• blood in the urine (hematuria);
• cloudy or strong-smelling urine;
• lower abdominal discomfort;
• pressure in the lower abdomen;
• Body temperature rises to 37. 0 - 37. 5 °C.

when to see a doctor

Get medical attention right away if you have any of the above signs and symptoms, especially if you have:

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

Contact your doctor right away if you have frequent or painful urination that persists for several hours or more, or if you notice blood in your urine. Also see your doctor if you have been diagnosed with a UTI in the past and your symptoms are similar to previous UTIs.

It's also worth seeing a urologist if symptoms of cystitis recur after you finish a course of antibiotics. You may need a different type of treatment.

Cystitis most commonly affects women. Cystitis is rare in healthy men, but the presence of signs of cystitis should be alarming, in which case it may be the result of a more dire disease such as prostate adenoma, presence of stones in the bladder, strictures of the urethra, ETC.

Causes of exacerbation of cystitis

bacterial cystitis

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

Women can develop bladder infections as a result of sexual intercourse. But even sexually inactive girls and women are prone to lower urinary tract infections because the female urethra is hidden in the pelvic cavity and is wider and shorter than the male urethra (the length of the female urethra is 3-5 cm), which is a straight tube, Located at the front of the vagina, opening outward in the vestibule of the vagina, the female genital area contains bacteria that can cause cystitis.

noninfectious cystitis

While bacterial infections are the most common cause of cystitis, many non-infectious factors can also contribute to bladder inflammation. Other forms of cystitis:

• Interstitial cystitis.The cause of this chronic inflammation of the bladder, also known as painful bladder syndrome, is unknown. Most cases are diagnosed in women. This condition is difficult to diagnose and treat.
• Drug-induced cystitis.Some drugs, especially chemotherapy drugs, can cause bladder inflammation 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.Long-standing catheters in the bladder, inserted through the urethra or installed in the form of cystostomy, can cause tissue damage, increase the development of bacterial infections and inflammatory processes.
• Chemical cystitis.Some people may be allergic to chemicals in certain products, such as body washes, feminine hygiene sprays, or spermicides, and their use can cause an allergic reaction in the bladder, which can cause inflammation.
• Cystitis associated with other diseases.Cystitis can sometimes be a complication of other conditions, such as diabetes, kidney stones, an enlarged prostate, or spinal cord injury.

Risk factors for cystitis

Some people are more prone to 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 enter the bladder.

Women at highest risk for UTIs include:

• Sexually active. Frequent and intense sexual contact can allow bacteria to enter the urethra and bladder.
• promiscuous sexual relations.
• Inflammatory processes of the vagina and uterus.
• Use some type of birth control. Women who use a diaphragm are at increased risk for UTIs. Diaphragms that contain spermicide further increase the risk of cystitis.
• Pregnant. 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 bladder infections.
• pressure.
• Not paying attention to personal hygiene.

Other risk factors for both men and women include:

• residual urine. This can happen when there are bladder stones or an enlarged prostate in men.
• Changes in the immune system. Decreased immunity can occur in the context of conditions such as diabetes, HIV infection, or the use of chemotherapy drugs in cancer treatment. Immunosuppression increases the risk of bacterial and, in some cases, viral bladder infections.
• Long-term use of bladder catheters. Chronically ill or elderly people may need these "tubes". Long-term use may lead to increased vulnerability to bacterial infections and damage to bladder tissue.

Cystitis is extremely rare in men without any predisposing health problems.

Complications of acute cystitis

Bladder infections rarely lead to complications with prompt consultation with a urologist or urogynecologist and appropriate treatment. But if left untreated, they can have serious consequences. Complications may include:

• Kidney infection. Untreated cystitis can lead to a kidney infection, also known as pyelonephritis, which is a pretty scary disease that requires treatment in the hospital. Children and the elderly are at greatest risk.
• Blood in the urine. In cystitis, red blood cells may appear in the urine, are only visible under a microscope (microscopic hematuria), and usually disappear after treatment. Blood in the urine visible to the eye (gross hematuria) is rare and is a warning sign that should prompt you to seek medical attention.
• Transition to chronic cystitis, leukoplakia.

prevent disease

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

Although these precautions are not fully understood, doctors sometimes recommend the following to prevent recurrence of bladder infections:

• Drink plenty of water, especially water. This reduces the concentration of bacteria in the bladder and can prevent infection.
• Rinse front to back only with lukewarm water. This prevents the spread of bacteria from the anal area to the vagina and urethra.
• Use a shower, not a bathtub. If you are prone to infections, showering instead of bathing can help prevent infection.
• Empty your bladder as soon as possible after sex. Drink 250-300ml of water to prevent a significant increase in the bacterial count in the bladder.
• Avoid using deodorant sprays or other hygiene products on the genital area. These foods can irritate the urethra and bladder.

Diagnosis of cystitis

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

• Urinalysis.If a bladder infection is suspected, a doctor may recommend a urine sample to determine whether the urine contains bacteria, red and white blood cells -- laboratory markers of inflammation. If the bladder is inflamed, a urine culture of the flora and determination of susceptibility to antibiotics is required.
• Microflora and Gn smearsOr microscopic examination of urogenital secretions reveals inflammation of the vagina and cervical canal, which in turn may be the cause of cystitis.
• Cystoscopy.Under no circumstances will it be performed during an acute procedure. Only after normalization of laboratory parameters can doctors recommend cystoscopy - a visual examination of the bladder mucosa to assess its condition. In cases of chronic cystitis or suspected interstitial cystitis, doctors may recommend a biopsy of the altered bladder mucosa to determine the depth and extent of the lesion.
• Bladder ultrasound. Testing is usually not required, but it may be useful in some cases, especially when no signs of bacterial infection are found. For example, ultrasound can help detect other potential causes of bladder damage, such as tumors or abnormal development.

Treatment of cystitis

Cystitis caused by a bacterial infection is usually treated with antibiotics. Treatment of noninfectious cystitis depends on the underlying cause.

Treatment of bacterial cystitis

Antibiotics are the first-line treatment for cystitis caused by bacteria. Which medication to use and for how long depends on your general health and the type and concentration of bacteria in your urine.

• Acute cystitis.A characteristic symptom of acute cystitis is improvement after the initiation of drinking large amounts of fluids and heat therapy, but this condition is deceptive and threatens new episodes of the disease with greater force. Therefore, it is necessary to contact a urologist or uro-gynecologist to make an appointment for antibiotic treatment. You may need to take antibiotics for at least three days, depending on the severity of the infection.

  Regardless of the length of treatment, it is best to drink the entire course of antibiotics prescribed by your doctor, and then to ensure that the infection is completely gone, a control urinalysis is necessary - a complete urinalysis and a urine culture for flora.

• recurrent cystitisorchronic cystitis. If you have recurrent urinary tract infections, your doctor may recommend longer treatment with systemic and topical intravesical irrigation.

Postmenopausal women may be especially susceptible to cystitis. As an adjunct to treatment, your doctor may recommend an estrogen vaginal cream.

Treatment of Interstitial Cystitis

In interstitial cystitis, the cause of inflammation is not known, and treatments used to relieve interstitial cystitis symptoms include:

• Drugs taken by mouth or injected directly into the bladder by drip or injection under the lining of the bladder.
• Procedures designed to relieve symptoms, such as expanding the bladder with fluid (hydrocystoid) or surgery (enlargement cystoplasty, as a way 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 the frequency of urination.

The main task of treating interstitial cystitis is to eliminate pain and restore bladder capacity, which urologists have done very successfully using the latest scientific findings.

To treat other forms of noninfectious cystitis

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

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

If you have acute cystitis or have chronic cystitis or interstitial cystitis, your doctor knows how to help you.