Occurrence of cystitis: characteristics of the disease and methods of its treatment

No person is immune to cystitis, and gender and age category do not matter in the least.However, due to anatomical features, cystitis develops much more often in women than in the stronger sex.What are we talking about when doctors make such a diagnosis?Cystitis refers to inflammatory processes that occur in the genitourinary system and primarily affect the bladder and urinary canals.The disease is accompanied by pain and increased frequency of urinary processes.

Important.In the absence of timely, competent treatment, the disease threatens to become chronic, which is fraught with annual exacerbations accompanied by unpleasant manifestations.

Therefore, when the first symptoms indicating the onset of cystitis appear, it is necessary to contact a specialist who will confirm the diagnosis and develop a therapeutic regimen.

How are inflammatory processes classified?

When determining the diagnosis, doctors take into account classifications divided by morphology, symptoms, provoking causes and other numerous factors.In accordance with the stages of development of the pathology, the following are distinguished:

• Acute cystitis.In this case, inflammatory processes appear suddenly, quite a short time after the patient is affected by the etiological factor in the onset of the disease.In this case, the symptoms that appear are very vivid, which is why the victim can accurately name the day when the pathology began.Women whose age is in the range of 20-40 years are most sensitive to the effects of acute cystitis.According to statistics, the number of thirty-year-old representatives of the fairer sex who have suffered from this disease reaches 30%.In men, according to statistical data, only seven out of 10,000 people suffer from an acute form of cystitis.Usually, the development of this form is caused by various bacterial pathogens.
• Chronic cystitis.In this form, inflammatory processes in the mucous layer of the bladder are constantly present, periods of exacerbations alternate with remissions.In most cases, they arise against the background of an acute inflammatory process.Chronic cystitis in women, and even in men, is diagnosed quite often, because many patients do not go to medical institutions in time.

In turn, there are several types of chronic cystitis, which depend on the clinical course of the disease:

• Latent form.It is characterized by an asymptomatic course for a long time, exacerbations are observed often or are quite rare and can occur twice a year.Typically, latent pathology does not cause any particular problems for the patient;consequently, it is discovered entirely by chance during screening for other problems.
• Interstitial form.Problems with this form primarily affect the urinary system.Despite the fact that the origin of the disease is not bacterial, it is very difficult to treat.
• Persistent form.Pathology arises as a result of an advanced infectious process and on the basis of cystitis that occurs in an acute form.

Due to the constantly present inflammation, the mucous layer changes in its structure, and accordingly other forms of the disease develop - ulcerative, polypous, incrusted, cystic and necrotic.In addition, there are differences in the course of pathology;accordingly, cystitis can be:

• Primary- develops as an independent disease, the appearance of which is caused by bacterial agents that penetrate the mucous layer of the organ and other reasons.
• Secondary- its formation occurs in parallel with the main pathology and cystitis in this case should be understood as a complication.

Secondary cystitis is divided into two more large groups - one includes the extravesical form of pathology, the other is the secondary cystic type of the disease.Cystic cystitis occurs due to the presence of tumors, stones in the bladder, anomalies in its formation, injuries and consequences of surgery.The appearance of extravesical pathology is provoked by other pathological and other conditions related to the functionality of the bladder, including pregnancy, the presence of prostate adenoma and damage to other systems or organs.

Reasons for the emergence of a pathological process

The reasons that contribute to the onset of the inflammatory process are classified according to the etiology of the phenomenon.Cystitis can be:

• Contagious.It is caused by viruses, bacteria or fungi that penetrate the urethral canal in an ascending or descending path and penetrate the mucous layer of the urinary bladder, subsequently exerting a pathogenic effect on organs and systems.This type of pathology is diagnosed in 80%.
• Traumatic.It usually develops against the background of organ damage, which is accompanied by an infectious infection.
• Postoperatively.Pathology may develop due to the need to use a urinary catheter after surgery.However, it is not able to completely prevent the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the urethral canal.
• A diabetic.It occurs as a secondary pathology in patients with diabetes mellitus.
• Allergic.The pathological phenomenon is provoked by various means to support intimate hygiene, which can cause an allergic response in the patient.
• Dyshormonal.It is very often observed in menopausal women due to changes in the hormonal system, due to which the functionality of other organs changes.

There are other reasons that can cause cystitis.Thus, inflammatory processes can be caused by taking certain pharmaceutical drugs that cause the production of acrolein.This substance irritates the mucous layer of the bladder.The risk of cystitis increases if the following factors are present:

• Wearing synthetic underwear, especially when it fits tightly around the body.At the same time, the active proliferation of bacteria in the genitals begins.
• Promiscuous sexual contacts with untested partners will inevitably become the cause of sexually transmitted infectious pathology at some point.And any such disease can cause cystitis.
• The presence of intestinal diseases and constipation, which results in the active proliferation of opportunistic microorganisms that can penetrate the urinary tract.
• Some kidney diseases can develop in the bladder.
• An insufficiently strong immune system is unable to resist pathogenic microorganisms that enter the urethral canal.

Despite the fact that the causes of cystitis in women and men are mostly similar, there are certain differences.So, in most cases, representatives of the fairer sex suffer because of the structure of the urethra.Its opening is located next to the anus, and the canal itself is large in width and short in length.This anatomical feature greatly simplifies the penetration of bacteria and E. coli into the canal.

Causes of cystitis in women also include hormonal changes during pregnancy;such changes can significantly undermine local immunity.We must not forget about menopause, when the production of estrogen in the female body noticeably decreases.But this hormone directly affects the bladder membrane.The structure of the female reproductive system is also important - it includes many organs that are characterized by the development of inflammatory processes that are subsequently transferred to the urinary system.

Men suffer from cystitis many times less than women, however, they have their own specific factors, the presence of which causes the development of pathology:

• Stagnation of urine in the presence of mechanical obstacles - stones, neoplasms, diverticula, foreign objects that interfere with the outflow of fluid.
• Phimosis, characterized by a narrowing of the foreskin.
• Inflammatory processes can be triggered by infection that spreads from the urethral canal, prostate, seminal vesicles, testicles and appendages.

Important.There are other factors that have nothing to do with the genitourinary system, but contribute to the occurrence of cystitis in the stronger sex - diabetes, stressful situations, abuse of spicy food and alcoholic beverages.

Spinal injuries, hypothermia and transurethral surgery can have a negative impact.

How does cystitis manifest itself?

The symptoms accompanying inflammatory processes can be different and depend on the form of the pathology.It should be remembered that the symptoms and treatment of cystitis in women, men and children are closely related.Acute and chronic cystitis manifest differently;in the first case, a sudden onset is characteristic:

• Too frequent urination processes, reaching 8-15 trips to the toilet, while individual amounts of urine are small.
• At the end of emptying the bladder, there is pain and pain in the urethra.
• Pulling pain occurs in the lower abdomen, above the pubis, in the lower back and in the pelvis.
• Chills occur during urination.
• After the process of urinating, the feeling of an incompletely emptied bladder remains.
• The temperature may rise slightly, but more often it stays within the normal range.
• There is a general feeling of malaise.
• The excreted urine is not transparent enough;bloody inclusions can be observed in the cloudy liquid, which are released in small quantities in the last moments of urination.

If the treatment of the acute form is timely and adequate, the negative symptoms disappear after three to five days.As for the chronic form of the pathology, such a diagnosis is made when exacerbations are observed at least twice a year, or negative symptoms are constantly present, but not clearly expressed.During exacerbations, signs of pathology are characteristic of the acute form, and during remission, symptoms may be completely absent.In that case, the analyzes will not have any deviations.The most characteristic signs of chronic cystitis are:

• Frequent - up to 9-12 times - urination, during which moderate pain and burning occasionally appear.During the day, painful and normal processes alternate.
• Even slightly cooling the body or violating the principles of a healthy diet leads to discomfort when passing urine.Often the discomfort develops into aggravation, and the clinical picture becomes vivid.
• The pain in the lumbar region, in the area above the pubis, in the pelvis becomes constant, although weak.
• From time to time, the patient is disturbed by an imperative desire to urinate;they become more noticeable during the cold period.
• The secreted liquid not only becomes cloudy, but also begins to have an unpleasant smell.
• The urge to urinate appears at night, which is typical for prostate pathologies, often accompanied by chronic cystitis.
• The changes also affect the psycho-emotional state, the patient becomes depressed.

Separately, the signs of cystitis in women who give birth should be considered.As practice shows, they are more susceptible to pathology than other patients.This phenomenon is a consequence of changes in hormonal levels;under the influence of estrogen and progesterone, cystitis can develop in the initial stages of pregnancy.At the same time, it is quite difficult to distinguish it from ordinary frequent urination, which is natural in such a condition.However, the absence of pain and burning is indicative, the urine remains clear, there is no shivering, and when examining the urine, there are no traces of inflammation, which usually accompanies cystitis.

In the second half of the term, trips to the toilet become more frequent, because the enlarged uterus puts more and more pressure on the bladder.However, the phenomenon itself does not refer to the symptoms of cystitis.The uterus puts pressure on the ureters, so the outflow of urine from the kidneys worsens.The result is the expansion of the renal cavities, where urine stagnates, and pyelonephritis can develop, which is sometimes accompanied by cystitis.

Often, the situation is the opposite - a pregnant woman has no signs of cystitis, but when examining the urine, inflammatory changes are revealed.The diagnosis in this case sounds like "asymptomatic bacteriuria".If such conditions appear, there is no need for hospitalization, because they are quite easily eliminated by conservative treatment.

Another situation that requires separate consideration is chronic inflammation in women aged 50 or older.The formation of cystitis is associated with a decrease in the level of produced estrogen, which results in drying of the mucous membrane of the genitourinary system.As a result, cracks can form on the surface of the area near the lips and perineum through which the infection can penetrate.Pathological microorganisms, when found on the mucous membranes, easily pass into the bladder, especially since the tone of the lower urinary tract is significantly reduced in old age.The situation is often aggravated by urinary incontinence, which is typical for the older generation and develops against the background of weakened pelvic floor muscles.The combination of these factors causes cystitis.

Methods for diagnosing cystitis

Correct diagnosis is a guarantee that the specialist will develop the most effective therapeutic regimen for each patient.However, the techniques used in the presence of acute and chronic forms may be different.In case of acute cystitis, the following should be prescribed:

• General examination of urine.When examining the fluid, leukocytes can be found in large quantities, which indicates the presence of inflammatory processes.Traces of epithelium in the urine sample indicate that the inflammation is localized from the renal pelvis to the bladder.The presence of red blood cells indicates damaged capillaries.
• An ultrasound examination of the entire urinary system and especially the bladder is prescribed.This method allows you to identify indirect signs of inflammatory processes that occur in the lining of organs.Ultrasound helps to detect stones and sand, which by moving can injure the mucosa and other layers, often causing secondary inflammation and further damage to blood vessels.
• The study of the flora under a microscope is carried out in order to identify the cause of the pathology and confirm the fact that it caused the emergence of inflammatory processes.
• In parallel with checking the microflora, it is recommended to carry out an antibiogram, which makes it possible to determine which drugs the pathogen is resistant to and which will be the most effective.

When diagnosing chronic cystitis, the doctor prescribes a general examination of urine, ultrasound, swab samples for flora and the same antibiogram.These studies can be supplemented by a fluid test to determine the content of leukocytes, red blood cells and casts in 1 ml of urine, together with a three-cup sample.These types of analyzes will allow you to distinguish other diseases that develop in the genitourinary system.

Traditional treatment using medicines

Let's consider the treatment of cystitis in women.To begin with, in case of worsening of the disease, the patient needs rest and temporary cessation of sexual intercourse - he will have to give up intimacy for at least 10 days.The doctor prescribes a series of drugs that will relieve inflammation and remove negative symptoms.In order to achieve the greatest effect, the treatment must be comprehensive and based on the type of pathology and the stage of its development.When treating cystitis in women, drugs must include antimicrobial agents, which can belong to different groups:

• Fluoroquinolones.
• Tetracyclines.
• Cephalosporins.
• Macrolides.
• Aminoglycosides.
• Penicillin derivatives.
• Fosfomycins.

In cases where uncomplicated pathology is treated, antimicrobial tablets for cystitis in women are taken for three to seven days.In addition to antibiotics, the following are also prescribed:

• Short courses of antispasmodics.
• Anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Diuretics based on plants - these can be teas for the kidneys, preparations based on extracts.
• Immunomodulators, including the juice of the plant Echinacea purpurea, ginseng root and other similar agents.
• Food supplements.

In addition, instillations of the bladder can be prescribed - the organ is washed with antiseptic solutions, followed by the administration of drugs.Usually, this technique is indicated for radiation treatment, chronic cystitis, in case of intolerance to antimicrobial agents, and in some cases for women who are carrying a child.

Cystitis in women at home can be alleviated by applying a warm heating pad - it should be placed on the stomach or between the legs, but only if the form of the disease is not hemorrhagic.Physiotherapy can be used when magnetic therapy is applied to the bladder compartment.You should also adjust your drinking regimen by drinking at least one and a half liters of purified water in a 24-hour period.

Usually, acute cystitis can be eliminated within 3-5 days.However, if symptoms persist, the use of antimicrobials can be prolonged by changing the main drug, since the pathogen may not be sensitive to the previous drug.If the form of the pathology is chronic, the treatment is aimed at the absence of recurrence for a year or more and the elimination of symptoms.In some cases, surgical intervention is required, without which it is difficult to get rid of cystitis.

How to eat if you get cystitis

Proper nutrition is of great importance when cystitis occurs.The basis of the scheme is the elimination of the inflammatory process.Accordingly, the diet should contain easily digestible food and a well-chosen drinking regimen.As for the principles of therapeutic nutrition, they should be as follows:

• The food and drink you choose should have a diuretic effect.
• It is recommended to reduce salt consumption to a minimum.
• Spicy, fatty, fried food, canned food and smoked dishes were removed from the menu.
• It is best to process food by steaming or boiling.
• The protein content in food should be minimal.
• You will have to give up sugar and its substitutes.
• The products should not cause constipation.

During exacerbations, strict adherence to the diet is necessary;the choice of drink is of great importance.In addition to plain water, it is recommended to take mineral water with calcium chloride, you can cook fruit compote without sugar, and squeeze juices from vegetables.Pumpkin juice, which has an excellent diuretic effect, should be on the menu.Cranberry and cranberry fruit drinks will help eliminate inflammatory processes.It is useful to take herbal tea with the addition of a spoonful of natural honey once a day;it should be prepared from cranberry leaves and corn silk.

The menu should contain fresh fruits and vegetables;preference is given to cucumbers and zucchini, carrots, spinach and pumpkin, pears and pomegranates, watermelons.Dairy products should be consumed with caution because they contain fat and calcium.It is allowed to eat a small portion of natural fresh cheese or yogurt, unsalted cheese with a minimum percentage of fat, once a day.Meat and fish should be avoided during exacerbations, gradually introducing low-fat varieties after improvement.The basis of almost every diet is whole grain porridge;with cystitis, bran can be added to the menu.When preparing salads, you should use olive or sunflower oil as a dressing.It is permissible to eat one handful of cedar nuts within 24 hours.

There are also strict prohibitions that cannot be ignored.Diet for cystitis excludes the use of:

• Fruits with a high level of fruit acids, because they cause irritation of the mucous membrane and hinder the healing of the surface.The list includes apples, avocados, peaches and melons, citrus fruits and pineapples.
• The use of vinegar is prohibited.
• You cannot use sauces - mayonnaise, ketchup, soy seasonings.They are rich in fat and contain salt.
• Sugar and sweet desserts are not indicated, because this is a favorite dish of pathogenic microorganisms, which contributes to their active reproduction.
• Alcohol promotes fluid removal, which leads to dehydration and irritation of the damaged organ;coffee and strong brewed tea work in a similar way.
• Prohibited vegetables include asparagus, tomatoes and legumes, onions and garlic, radishes and radishes, horseradish.

Important.All those foods that cause and intensify irritation and inflammatory processes in the bladder should be completely removed from the diet.

Prognosis for the development of cystitis and preventive measures

It should be understood that one should not be afraid of cystitis as much as possible complications, including urinary circulation disorder, kidney damage that leads to the development of pyelonephritis and nephritis, a weakened sphincter, which contributes to urinary incontinence.There may be a decrease in organ size and loss of elasticity.Another terrible consequence is infertility, which is caused by constant inflammation.

However, in the acute form of the pathology, the prognosis is quite favorable, unless it is a case of the development of a gangrenous or necrotic type of the disease.If the acute form develops against the background of impaired urinary outflow, which is possible with vaginal prolapse, prostate adenoma, bladder diverticulum and others, the disease can become chronic, but the prognosis for recovery is unfavorable.Prevention of pathology can significantly reduce the risk of cystitis:

• It is necessary to avoid hypothermia and wetting of the legs.
• A competent diet and proper menu planning are important.
• Careful intimate hygiene is necessary.
• An annual gynecological examination for women and a regular prostate examination for men over the age of forty are important.
• It is necessary to strengthen the immune system.
• It is necessary to normalize the stool if there is constipation.

In addition, you should treat chronic kidney diseases and eliminate sexually acquired infections.In chronic forms of cystitis, herbal preparations and diuretics should be taken at intervals of three months to prevent exacerbations.