This is an unpleasant disease that women suffer from more often. Cystitis occurs due to inflammation of the bladder mucosa, which occurs against the background of a bacterial infection.
Urological disease without treatment can become chronic and lead to changes in the bladder tissue, causing the development of serious diseases.
Causes of cystitis
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 until the last), unbalanced diet, hormonal disorders, pregnancy, childbirth, operations on the organs of the urinary system.
Another reason is medication. 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 until the last), unbalanced diet, hormonal disorders, pregnancy, childbirth, operations on the organs of the urinary system.
Bladder inflammation can also cause the body to react to certain allergens. Cystitis occurs most often in women. This is due to the physiological characteristics of the female sexual structure. The urethra is close to 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 - pain and burning in the urethra may appear during urination, as well as a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bowels.
- pain in the lower abdomen - there is a feeling of fullness of the bladder. And a sign of cystitis is itching and burning in the perineum. In some cases, patients do not attach importance to pain and discomfort if they are not too pronounced. This can lead to chronic disease and complications.
- the appearance of pathological impurities in the urine (mucus, blood, pus) - the color of the urine can be from pale pink to brick. The presence of impurities indicates the presence of viruses in the human body. With the development of cystitis, sharp pain in the urethra may appear.
How does cystitis manifest itself during pregnancy?
During the period of childbirth, the protective functions of the immune system decrease in women. Therefore, entering the body, the 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, the proximity of 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. Symptoms of cystitis are quite specific - it is difficult to confuse them with other pathologies. A woman may have frequent, painful urination, blood in the urine and a high temperature.
First of all, a woman should visit a urologist. He will prescribe the necessary tests and examinations and advise you to undergo an additional consultation with a gynecologist. This allows you to exclude the presence of infections of the genital area, which can lead to bacterial vaginosis, colpitis, 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), to restore the damaged structure of the bladder.
Cystitis 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 different. Pain occurs during urination, in the urethral canal, in the lower abdomen or on the side. Also, the frequency of urination can increase, as well as urinary incontinence and leakage of urine that were not observed before.
Children show capriciousness, which increases during urination, defecation. At the same time, the appetite is disturbed, there is anxiety if it is necessary to sit on the potty because of the fear of pain, burning, pain. Intoxication of the body occurs, which manifests itself in elevated body temperature and chills.
Clinical manifestations vary depending on the age of the child. In young children, general symptoms predominate. In addition, children at an early age are not always able to indicate what worries them. In older children, the signs of intoxication are no longer noticeable, this is where urination disorders and pain syndrome come to the fore.
Types of cystitis
There are several classifications of pathology: according to course, type of inflammation, causes. We will dwell in more detail on the classification according to the course of the disease.
- Acute cystitisappears several hours after exposure of the body to a harmful factor. It has pronounced symptoms of an inflammatory process with a tendency to progress. If acute cystitis is not treated or the wrong therapy is used, there is a high probability of developing a chronic form.
- Subacute cystitishas a blurred clinical picture. Symptoms are mild or absent. It can be accompanied only by pains and urination disorders, while the symptoms of intoxication of the body (fever, pains, chills) are not observed.
- Chronic cystitisis caused by untreated acute cystitis. It is characterized by a slow course, the symptoms are not pronounced, and sometimes it is completely asymptomatic. That is, the factor that causes inflammation in the bladder persists without being released, but at some point there is a sudden deterioration with all the consequences that arise from it: frequent and painful urination, burning, itching, cloudy urine, weakness, etc.
Diagnosis of pathology
A urologist deals with the diagnosis and treatment of cystitis. Only an expert knows how to properly treat this disease in order to avoid chronic inflammation and not harm health.
You can go to the nearest clinic for examination and diagnosis. However, it takes time, because you have to wait 2-3 weeks to see a doctor. But in the presence of acute or subacute cystitis, time is the most valuable resource. Therefore, the best option is to contact a specialized medical clinic. Here you can register for an examination and see a specialist doctor in the near future.
The urologist will determine your general state of health, ask about previous illnesses, frequency of urination and medications taken. Then, the specialist probes the abdomen and kidney area, lower back.
Cystitis in men - looks through and feels the genitals. Examines the prostate - rectally.
Cystitis in women - evaluates the condition of the mucous membrane, female genital organs, probes the bladder and ureters.
The following tests may be needed for diagnosis:
- general urinalysis
- urine analysis according to Nechiporenko
- bacteriological examination of urine
- cystoscopy
- Ultrasound of the bladder and abdominal organs, including the kidneys
How is cystitis treated?
After re-examination by a urologist and diagnosis, the specialist will prescribe an individual treatment program that includes drugs for cystitis. It depends on the disease itself and the degree of its course.
In the treatment of cystitis, the following principles must be observed:
- bed rest or semi-bed rest during the entire period of acute symptoms of the disease.
- medical food. Diet for cystitis should be lacto-vegetarian, i. e. dairy products, vegetables and fruits should dominate the daily diet of patients. Fried, spicy, salty and spicy dishes, as well as 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 results of urine culture and antibiogram. An antimicrobial drug to which the causative agent of cystitis is sensitive is used.
- pain therapy. With severe pain in the bladder, patients are prescribed painkillers and antispasmodics.
- physiotherapy treatment (electrophoresis, phonophoresis, inductothermy, UHF, etc. ).
We recommend that you do not engage in self-medication under any circumstances, but consult a urologist in such a delicate matter. Make an appointment with a urologist and be sure that your problems will remain outside the walls of the clinic.