Cystitis is a disease accompanied by damage to the mucous membrane and walls of the urinary bladder. This disease leads to a gradual disruption of organ functions. According to statistics, women are more susceptible to this pathology than male patients. According to official data, cystitis is diagnosed in 0. 8% of men who have crossed the forty-year mark.
The relatively low prevalence of cystitis in male patients is due to the structural characteristics of the urethra. In men it is longer than in women. Therefore, it is much more difficult for the infection to enter the bladder.
In most cases, the pathology develops against the background of bladder outlet obstruction. It involves subvesical compression of the bladder, which becomes an obstacle to the free passage of urine.
Causes of cystitis
To reduce the risk of cystitis in men under the age of 40, you must carefully follow the rules of intimate hygiene. After reaching this age, the urinary system of the stronger sex is more susceptible to the development of various pathologies that can lead to damage to the walls and mucosa of the bladder.
Cystitis in men is the result of an inflammatory process in the area of the prostate, testicles and urethra. There are other causes of this disease:
Urological problems that cause retention of urine in the body (too narrow urethra).
Prostate adenoma.
Diverticular disease.
Infectious diseases that are transmitted through intimate intimacy. These include gonorrhea and chlamydia.
Prostatitis, inflammation of the urethra, vesiculitis. The mentioned diseases can cause pathological changes in the functioning of the bladder.
The presence of a mechanical barrier (especially stone formation).
Performed urological operations in the recent past.
Malignant neoplasm in the urethra or prostate.
Infections localized in the upper respiratory tract. If the patient gets sick from ARVI or tonsillitis, bacteria can penetrate through the systemic blood flow into the organs of the genitourinary system. Thus, cystitis can be the result of any infection (regardless of location).
In some cases, the disease develops due to pyelonephritis or kidney tuberculosis. The latter usually occurs without pronounced symptoms and is accompanied by fatigue, weakness and a slight increase in body temperature.
About 90% of the world's population are carriers of the infection. Many people have reduced immunity due to frequent drinking of alcohol, long-term stress, consumption of unhealthy food and long-term smoking. Due to the mentioned factors, there is a transition from the latent phase of bacterial activity to the active phase. As a result, damage occurs not only to the lungs, but also to other organs:
prostate;
testicles;
kidneys
In some situations, when cultured with Koch's bacillus, a false negative result is obtained. An infectious disease is disguised as another (no less serious) pathology. This leads to missing the timely prescription of appropriate treatment.
There are other factors that cause a decrease in immunity: increased blood sugar, hypothermia, chronic lack of sleep, injuries of the spinal column.
Signs of cystitis in men
In the acute phase of the disease, a man should empty his bladder often. In this case, when going to the toilet, a very small amount of urine can be released.
Sharp pain may occur when emptying the bladder. As a rule, pain occurs at the beginning and end of urination. Their expression may vary. The sensation of pain can be tolerable or intense. In the intervals between trips to the toilet, men feel discomfort in the penis, pubic area and groin.
With cystitis, the body temperature often rises. General signs of intoxication may occur. The man feels a constant lack of strength and complains of headaches. If such symptoms occur, hospital treatment is recommended.
Sometimes the disease is severe, and gangrenous and hemorrhagic cystitis can occur. The urine produced is cloudy. You can see mucous or bloody inclusions in it, and it has a putrid, unpleasant smell. At the same time, the amount of liquid secreted by the body during the day decreases to 0. 3 liters.
As the disease becomes chronic, the pain becomes less intense. There are no more bloody impurities in the urine, but mucous inclusions may still be present. In addition, the transition of chronic cystitis to the acute stage is possible at any time.
The causes of the disease can be:
non-infectious;
contagious.
There are several ways to get a bladder infection:
Rising.In this case, the infection penetrates from the external environment into the bladder.
Descending.The infection enters the bladder from other organs (especially the kidneys).
Lymphogenic.In this case, an infection of the bladder is observed through the lymphatic vessels.
Hematogenous.If there is a purulent focus in the body, the infection can spread from this problem area through the bloodstream. After that, it enters the bladder.
It is worth mentioning non-infectious causes of pathology:
an allergic reaction that leads to an inflammatory process in the lining of the bladder;
deterioration of nervous or immune system functions;
chemical burn – due to a medical worker's mistake, the patient may receive the wrong medicine prescribed by the doctor;
attend radiation therapy sessions that involve exposure to the pubic area.
Disease diagnosis
If you detect at least a few symptoms of cystitis, do not delay visiting a urologist. After a detailed examination, the specialist will prescribe a comprehensive treatment.
In order to make an accurate diagnosis, a man is recommended to undergo the following diagnostic procedures:
Urogenital smear.This procedure is intended to diagnose hidden sexually transmitted infections.
Bacterial culture.This analysis is needed to determine the type of pathogen and determine its sensitivity to certain drugs.
Do a general urine test.In the presence of inflammation, an increased content of red blood cells and white blood cells will be detected. An acidic urine reaction indicates the presence of tuberculosis infection in the body.
Performing a cystoscopy.An informative diagnostic procedure can only be carried out in the absence of an acute phase of the disease. During cystoscopy, stones, tumors and other foreign bodies can be detected. If necessary, biomaterial is collected for further diagnostic procedures.
If you experience persistent urinary retention and intense acute pain, you should be careful when using painkillers. In this case, the representative of the stronger sex needs urgent hospitalization.
Basic recommendations for the treatment of cystitis
During the treatment of the disease, patients should adhere to the following recommendations:
Bed maintenance.Antipyretics are indicated for elevated temperatures. You also need to remember about the proper drinking regime. Moreover, patients should temporarily exclude sour and smoked foods from their diet and adhere to a strict diet. A minimum of spices and seasonings should be used when preparing food.
Use of herbal medicines.Doctors often prescribe herbal teas that have antibacterial and diuretic effects. Such products contain natural ingredients (horseradish, bearberry). In order to reduce the intense inflammatory process, preparations based on medicinal plants are used. Drink cranberry juice to boost your immunity. When using herbal medicines, it is impossible to achieve a quick effect. Such products require long-term use. Herbal remedies are not considered necessary. They are used only as part of the complex treatment of cystitis.
Performing PCR diagnostics.It is needed to detect sexually transmitted viruses. The treatment regimen is chosen by the doctor (taking into account the type of pathogen).
Medicines with analgesic properties.Antispasmodics are recommended to relieve pain. In some situations, the prescription of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is indicated.
Taking drugs with pronounced antibacterial action.Such drugs are prescribed after determining the sensitivity of the pathogen to the prescribed drugs. Cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones are actively used in the treatment of cystitis. Such drugs are used only after consultation with a doctor. However, the duration of their use should not exceed 1 week.
Help with an attack of acute cystitis
To alleviate the condition of the patient in the acute phase of cystitis, it is recommended to take large amounts of liquid. Activates the removal of pathogenic microorganisms. Consequently, the patient's well-being will gradually improve.
In advanced forms of the disease, the best option is to take antispasmodics. Such drugs help reduce the tone of the smooth muscles located in the bladder area. Analgesics are used to relieve pain.
Taking antibiotics without a urologist's prescription is strictly prohibited. This can lead to distortion of the results of diagnostic studies. As a result, identifying the cause of the disease will be much more difficult. If you try to treat yourself without consulting a doctor, you will only be able to temporarily remove the main symptoms of the pathology. In addition, there is a high risk of cystitis becoming chronic.
Existing risk factors
The risk of cystitis in men increases:
with irregular emptying of the bladder;
lack of vitamins;
maintaining a sedentary lifestyle;
unprotected sexual intercourse;
frequent change of sexual partners;
prolonged overwork;
the presence of a foreign body in the bladder area;
wearing uncomfortable underwear;
the presence of chronic diseases of the male genital organs;
reduced immunity.
Complications of the disease
You should not try to treat cystitis on your own. In the absence of appropriate therapy, the following consequences may occur:
Changes in the structure of the bladder.Against the background of epithelial degeneration, this organ gradually loses its elasticity and noticeably decreases in size. The consequence of cystitis is the loss of the ability to regenerate tissue. This can lead to bladder rupture.
Kidney damage.The most common complication of untreated cystitis is pyelonephritis. An even more serious consequence is the development of kidney failure. This happens against the background of severe intoxication of the kidney tissue with waste products of pathogenic microorganisms.
Weakening of the bladder sphincter, which leads to urinary incontinence.This complication is most often diagnosed in elderly patients.
Depression in the background of an illness that becomes chronic.Recurrence of cystitis can occur several times a month. At this moment, a man turns into a "hostage of the toilet", his mental state deteriorates significantly.
Note!In the absence of appropriate treatment, the risk of chronic disease is quite high. In this case, damage to the bladder and other organs of the genitourinary system is also observed.
How to avoid the development of the disease?
To reduce the risk of developing the disease, you must follow these recommendations:
Wash at least once a day. In this case, it is recommended to use a simple baby soap that does not contain dyes or other harmful synthetic components.
Give preference to clothes that match the weather. Against the background of hypothermia, not only cystitis can develop, but also more serious pathologies that become the cause of infertility.
It is good for both partners to wash with soap before and after sexual contact.
Use condoms during intimacy.
Take care of raising your own immunity. This is especially true if the representative of the stronger sex is susceptible to frequent ARVI. If the functions of the immune system are impaired, it is necessary to consult an immunologist.
Do not try to hold your urine. With prolonged retention of urine, the rapid development of an infection in the bladder is possible.
Change your underwear daily.
Drink enough fluids.
Avoid wearing underwear made of synthetic fabrics.
After bowel movements, wash from front to back. Otherwise, the bacteria will be transferred from the intestine to the external male genitalia. From there, pathogenic microorganisms easily penetrate into the urethra and then into the bladder.
Follow the recommendations for preventing constipation.
Do not take medicines without a doctor's prescription.
During an acute attack of cystitis, it is recommended to drink about 2 liters of fluid per day. Berry or fruit juices, currant juice and non-carbonated drinking water are ideal for this purpose. It is recommended that you forget about drinks containing alcohol and soda for a while.
Osteopathic techniques are sometimes used in the treatment of cystitis. This speeds up the patient's recovery process.
If indicated, the use of acupuncture methods is indicated. They include influence on special biological points. This technique has a minimal number of contraindications and side effects.