This is an unpleasant disease that women are more likely to suffer from. Cystitis occurs due to inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bladder, which occurs against a background of bacterial infection.
A urological disease without treatment can become chronic and lead to changes in the tissues of the bladder, provoking the development of serious diseases.
Causes of cystitis
Also, the causes of cystitis can be a decrease in general immunity, chronic stress, the beginning of sexual activity, narrowing of the urethra, hypothermia, stagnation of urine in the bladder (the habit of holding out to the last), unbalanced nutrition, hormonal disorders , pregnancy, childbirth, operations on the organs of the urinary system.
Another reason is medication. Also, the causes of cystitis can be a decrease in general immunity, chronic stress, the beginning of sexual activity, narrowing of the urethra, hypothermia, stagnation of urine in the bladder (the habit of holding out to the last), unbalanced nutrition, hormonal disorders , pregnancy, childbirth, operations on the organs of the urinary system.
A bladder infection can also cause the body to react to certain allergens. In women, cystitis is most common. This is due to the physiological characteristics of the female sex structure. The urethra is located near the entrance to the vagina and anus. Therefore, it is very important to constantly monitor the quality of intimate hygiene.
Symptoms of cystitis
- frequent urge to urinate - during urination there may be pain and burning in the urethra, as well as a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bowel.
- pain in the lower abdomen - there is a feeling of overflow of the bladder. And also a sign of a bladder infection is itching and burning in the perineum. In some cases, patients do not attach importance to pain and discomfort unless it is excessive. This can lead to chronic diseases and complications.
- the appearance of pathological impurities (mucus, blood, pus) in the urine - the color of urine can be from pale pink to brick-red. The presence of impurities indicates the presence of a virus in the human body. With the development of cystitis, severe pain in the urethra may appear.
How does a bladder infection manifest itself during pregnancy?
During the period of childbirth, the protective functions of the immune system in a woman decrease. Therefore, entering the body, a pathological organism causes an inflammatory process much faster.
The development of cystitis is facilitated by the peculiarities of female physiology. The shorter and wider shape of the urethra, its proximity to the vagina and intestines contribute to the rapid transmission of infections from neighboring organs.
With this disease, the walls of the bladder become inflamed, which leads to a violation of its functions. The symptoms of cystitis are quite specific - they are difficult to confuse with other pathologies. A woman may experience frequent, painful urination, blood in the urine, and fever.
First of all, a woman should visit a urologist. He will prescribe the necessary tests and examinations and will advise you to undergo an additional consultation with a gynecologist. This allows you to exclude the presence of infections in the genital area, which can lead to bacterial vaginosis, colpitis and thrush.
How to treat cystitis in pregnant women? Nutrition, immunity and hormonal status are corrected, blood circulation is improved. Then it is necessary to start the fight against pathogens (E. coli, Candida fungi, STIs, viruses) and restore the damaged structure of the bladder.
Bladder infection in children
Given the fundamental anatomical differences between the sexes, cystitis occurs in girls almost 4-10 times more often than in children of the opposite sex.
Signs of pathology in children are diverse. There is pain when urinating, in the urethral canal, in the lower abdomen or in the side. In addition, the number of urinations may increase, as well as urinary incontinence and urinary leakage that have not been observed before.
Children exhibit moodiness, which increases with urination and defecation. At the same time, appetite is disturbed, anxiety appears when you have to sit on the potty for fear of pain, burning and pain. There is intoxication of the body, which is manifested by increased body temperature, chills.
The clinical manifestations vary with the age of the child. In young children, general symptoms predominate. In addition, children at a young age cannot always state what worries them. Symptoms of poisoning are no longer observed in older children; here, micturition disorders and pain syndromes come to the fore.
types of cystitis
There are several classifications of pathology: by course, type of inflammation, causes. The classification according to the course of the disease will be discussed in more detail.
- Acute cystitisappears a few hours after exposure to the body of a harmful factor. It has pronounced symptoms of the inflammatory process with a tendency to progress. If an acute bladder infection is not treated or treated incorrectly, there is a high probability that it will develop into a chronic form.
- Subacute cystitishas a blurred clinical picture. Symptoms are mild or absent. It can only be accompanied by pain and disturbances in urination, while symptoms of intoxication of the body (fever, pain, chills) are not observed.
- Chronic cystitisoccurs due to untreated acute cystitis. It is characterized by a sluggish course, the symptoms are unexpressed, and sometimes completely asymptomatic. That is, the inflammatory factor in the bladder remains without giving itself away, but at some point there is a sharp aggravation with all the consequences: frequent and painful urination, burning, itching, cloudy urine, malaise, etc.
diagnosis of pathology
A urologist deals with the diagnosis and treatment of a bladder infection. Only a specialist knows how to properly treat this disease in order to avoid chronic inflammation and not harm health.
You can be examined and diagnosed at the nearest clinic. However, this takes time because you have to wait 2-3 weeks for an appointment with the doctor. But with acute or subacute cystitis, time is the most valuable resource. Therefore, it is best to contact a specialized medical clinic. Here you can register for an examination and get to a professional doctor in the near future.
The urologist will determine your general health, ask about previous illnesses, how often you urinate, and any medications you are taking. Next, the specialist examines the abdominal and kidney area, the lower back.
Cystitis in men - sees through and feels the genitals. Examines the prostate - rectally.
Cystitis in women - evaluates the condition of the mucous membrane, female genital organs, examines the bladder and ureters.
The following tests may be required for diagnosis:
- general urinalysis
- Urinalysis according to Nechiporenko
- Bacteriological examination of urine
- cystoscopy
- Ultrasound of the bladder and abdominal organs, including the kidneys
How is cystitis treated?
After a repeated appointment with the urologist and a diagnosis, the specialist prescribes an individual treatment program, which includes medication for cystitis. It depends on the disease itself and the degree of its course.
When treating a bladder infection, the following principles should be observed:
- Bed rest or semi-bed rest throughout the duration of acute symptoms of the disease.
- medicinal food. Diet for cystitis should be lacto-vegetarian, that is, the daily diet of the patient should be dominated by dairy products, vegetables and fruits. Fried, spicy, salty and spicy foods and alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited.
- antibiotic therapy. Inflammatory processes can be treated with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs. Antibiotics for cystitis are prescribed first with a wide spectrum of action and after receiving the result of urine culture and antibiogram. An antimicrobial drug is used, to which the causative agent of cystitis is sensitive.
- pain therapy. With severe pain in the bladder, patients are prescribed painkillers and antispasmodics.
- Physiotherapeutic treatment (electrophoresis, phonophoresis, induction thermal, UHF and others).
We advise you in no case to self-medicate, but to consult a urologist in such a delicate matter. Make an appointment with a urologist and make sure your problems stay outside the walls of the clinic.