One of the unpleasant diseases that have become widespread in the modern world is inflammation of the bladder or cystitis. This disease can be independent and can be a complication of other pathologies. Cystitis is a disease of the urinary system, which consists of inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bladder. It occurs in men, women and children. The female sex is more prone to this disease due to the peculiarities of its body anatomy: the female urethra is short and wide, which is very convenient for infection to enter the body. Many people think of cystitis as a woman's disease. This begs the question: do men have cystitis? Answer: Of course it does, just less often. In percentage terms, the incidence of cystitis in women is about 25%, and in men - 0. 5%.
The main cause of the development of an infectious inflammatory process of the bladder is Escherichia coli, but chlamydia, ureaplasma and Candida fungi are also dangerous. The development of cystitis is facilitated by a sedentary lifestyle that causes circulatory disorders of the pelvic organs and bladder, reduced immunity, metabolic disorders, menopause, consumption of spicy foods and diabetes mellitus. Cystitis occurs in two forms: acute and chronic. In acute cystitis the patient has frequent and painful urination with possible bleeding. Symptoms of chronic cystitis are similar, but not as severe. Chronic cystitis in the absence of the necessary treatment can turn into interstitial.
All forms can make serious changes in the usual way of life, reduce efficiency and introduce psychological suffering, therefore, at the first symptoms, appropriate treatment must be initiated by a specialist. Cystitis is treated by urologists and gynecologists. These specialists determine how to deal with inflammation of the bladder, prescribe treatment, which, as a rule, includes pills to increase immunity, relieve inflammation and antibiotics. Cystitis is a disease of many kinds. An example of cystitis is trigonitis. This means that the inflammation has spread to the cystic triangle. If only the lower part of the triangle is affected, we will talk about bladder neck inflammation. Cervical cystitis owes its name to the localization of inflammation in the neck area of the bladder. Its treatment is a complex process that requires the patient to observe bed rest, a strict diet and drink plenty of water.
Speaking of female cystitis, it is important to mention that this disease tends to worsen before menstruation. Cystitis during menstruation is a fairly common phenomenon. During this period, due to the anatomical and biological characteristics of the female body, the penetration of bacteria, protozoa and viruses into the genital tract and urethra becomes faster and more dangerous. In addition, during menstruation, the immunity of a woman or a girl is very vulnerable, and if hygiene is not observed, the spilled blood can become an excellent source of food for uninvited guests. In addition, fungi of the genus Candida are found in the vagina, capable of causing cystitis themselves with a decrease in immunity.
Childhood cystitis is also more common in girls than boys. This is due to the proximity of the short, wide urinary tract and the anus. Also, inflammation of the cyst in children can be caused by hypothermia, weakened immune system and hereditary factor. Cystitis in babies is facilitated by the constant use of diapers, which is so common today, and the presence of stones in the urinary organs.
Bladder inflammation in men is typical for representatives of mature age. Male symptoms of this disease are identical to female symptoms. Almost always, the cause of the development of cystitis in men lies in the penetration of infection through the blood from neighboring inflamed organs.
In addition to the traditional understanding of the causes of cystitis, psychosomatic challenges are also possible. The psychosomatic cystitis has a place to be, because this disease manifests itself during a period of life changes. Bladder inflammation is often seen in people who tend to hold back or repress their emotions.
Types of cystitis
As noted above, acute and chronic cystitis are distinguished. Acute inflammation of the bladder means cystitis that first appeared in the patient, which did not turn into a chronic disease. If exacerbations of cystitis occur 2 or more times within 6 months or 3 or more times within a year, then such cystitis is called recurrent. Exacerbation of cystitis and acute form of cystitis are not synonymous. Exacerbations indicate complications of the disease. In the absence of effective and comprehensive treatment, acute cystitis becomes chronic. The development of acute cystitis is unexpected. Symptoms of acute cystitis are more severe than chronic. Exacerbations of the disease occur mainly in spring and autumn. In most cases, gram-negative enterobacteria and coagulase-negative types of staphylococci become the cause of the development of infectious cystitis. Cystitis is varied in its types. Doctors distinguish the following types: hemorrhagic, interstitial, radiation, sexual, metasynthesis, cervical, hypercalcic, chemical, allergic and parasitic cystitis. Let's take a closer look:
- Hemorrhagic cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder caused by infection. It is characterized by the excretion of urine with an unpleasant odor and bloody discharge.
- with interstitial cystitis, the inflammatory process develops due to a non-infectious nature. This type is characterized by pain when filling the bladder and a decrease in its volume. With interstitial cystitis, not only the mucous membrane is inflamed, but also the submucosa.
- one of the consequences of radiation therapy is radiation cystitis. This happens due to damage to the lining of the bladder.
- due to changes in the microflora based on gender, sexual cystitis develops. Its subspecies is venereal cystitis, caused by sexually transmitted diseases.
- when the infection enters the urethra and bladder, postconjunctival cystitis develops. Its main pathogens are Escherichia coli, mycoplasmas and other infections.
- cervical cystitis - inflammation of the neck of the bladder. This species can cause urinary incontinence.
- in case of metabolic disorders, hypercalcic cystitis may develop, especially when the kidneys begin to excrete calcium salt crystals.
- with poisoning of the bladder, chemical cystitis develops, but it is not very common.
- allergens that have entered the human body (in the form of food, drugs, cosmetics and household chemicals) can cause allergic cystitis.
- helminthic invasions are often capable of causing a parasitic form of cystitis
Regardless of the type of cystitis, treatment will likely include antibacterial medications, bed rest, dry heat, herbal teas, and adequate fluid intake.
Symptoms of cystitis
The symptoms of cystitis in women, men and children are basically the same. As a rule, cystitis causes frequency in small portions, bringing a feeling of pain and burning. The urine becomes cloudy and acquires a strong unpleasant odor. It is not unusual for a small amount of blood to pass through the urine. With cystitis, weakness and pain in the lumbar region may be observed.
Cystitis symptoms in children and the elderly are not as severe and can manifest in the form of temperature changes, gastralgia and nausea. In old age, cystitis may be asymptomatic. Another symptom of cystitis is urinary incontinence.
The first manifestation of the disease is the frequent urge to urinate. The urge to go to the toilet can occur during the day and at night every few minutes. Sometimes women lose control of this process and urination occurs spontaneously.
As the inflammatory process develops, the clinical picture is complemented by the following symptoms:
- severe itching and burning in the vulva.
- suprapubic pain radiating to lower back;
- slight increase in body temperature.
- feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder.
- color change, urine smell.
In severe cases, cystitis attacks are accompanied by high fever, nausea, vomiting, blood in the urine.
Female symptoms of cystitis are dysuria and nocturia. Characteristic of such situations is the application of efforts to urinate (the need to push), involuntary urinary incontinence, pain at the beginning and at the end of the urination process. In acute inflammation of the bladder, there is an increase in body temperature and a weakened state of health.
The symptoms of cystitis in men are similar to those in women: frequent urination, especially at night, cramps and pain in the pubic area and perineum, presence of mucus and blood in the urine.
Cystitis in children is not always identified immediately, because it is more difficult for a child to explain his condition and the nature of the pain, and newborns will not be able to explain anything at all. In children there is usually a state of weakness, discomfort in the lower abdomen, pain and burning, as in adults. The color of the urine becomes dark yellow. The child becomes lethargic and there is a temperature of up to 38 ° C. Cystitis in boys is less common than in girls.
Causes of cystitis
The most common cause of cystitis is the penetration of bacteria into the bladder through the urethra, especially Escherichia coli. Cystitis after intercourse develops due to prolonged friction of the urethra. As a rule, the first symptoms of cystitis after sexual intercourse are observed after 12 hours. The cause of the development of cystitis can be an allergy to familiar cosmetics. In children, the cause of cystitis can be the pathology of the urinary organs, when the flow of urine is disturbed and can fall back into the ureter. Elderly people often find it difficult to move around and lead a sedentary lifestyle. This leads to incomplete emptying of the bladder and infrequent urination, which can lead to the development of cystitis. Cystitis affects people who frequently refrain from urinating for various reasons. The presence of a tumor can be one of the causes of cystitis, but this phenomenon is rare.
The causes of cystitis in women are related to a violation of the microflora of the vagina. Most often, women manifest infectious and allergic inflammations. Gonorrhea with no less success can cause cystitis. Hypothermia is considered a major risk for women. So let's highlight the most common causes of cystitis in women:
- non-compliance with personal hygiene;
- hypothermia (sitting in the cold).
- urinary stasis;
- weak immunity;
- pregnancy;
- genital surgery and infection.
The causes of cystitis in men are the presence of diseases of the urinary system, in which inflammation of the bladder is a complication. In general, the causes are similar to those in women: urinary stasis, hypothermia, E. coli, and gonorrhea (and other STDs) also cause the disease. Cystitis in men may be associated with tuberculosis of the genitourinary system. In the presence of infectious and viral diseases, cystitis may develop due to the hematogenous route. The development of cystitis is promoted by diabetes mellitus, abdominal trauma, stress and surgical operations on the genitourinary system.
Classification of cystitis in women
Depending on the nature of the course, acute and chronic forms of the disease are distinguished. Acute cystitis usually develops spontaneously after exposure to causative agents. If the symptoms of the disease persist for more than 14 days, chronic inflammation occurs.
In acute cystitis, the inflammatory process does not go beyond the mucous membrane, the submucosal layer. The clinical picture is represented by frequent urination, pain in the bladder area, presence of pus in the urine, feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder, false desire to urinate.
Severe forms of acute inflammation are accompanied by an increase in body temperature, severe poisoning. Painful sensations are located not only in the area of the pubic bone, but also in the perineum, the genitals. In the urine there are many leukocytes, cells of the mucous membrane of the bladder, bacteria.
Chronic cystitis in women is accompanied by structural changes that affect the walls and muscles of the bladder. In this case, the disease does not develop independently, it is usually preceded by diseases of the kidneys, urethra, genital organs, hardening of the bladder neck, prostate adenoma, urolithiasis. Given the multifactorial etiology of chronic cystitis, in women, treatment is selected only after determining the causes of the development of the disease.
The disease often progresses with relapses and exacerbations. In chronic inflammation, damage to the kidneys, neck, sides, back and front walls of the bladder cannot be ruled out.
Diagnosis for cystitis
The basis of the diagnosis for cystitis is the laboratory tests. To confirm or identify cystitis, the patient may be referred for the following tests:
- complete blood test - makes it possible to identify the inflammatory process by increasing ESR and leukocytes.
- urinalysis - presence of cystitis shows protein. The results of microscopic examination of cystitis sediment will give an increase in leukocytes and erythrocytes. Urine with cystitis becomes cloudy and may turn pink if bleeding occurs.
- urinalysis according to Nechiporenko - they turn to him in cases of the presence of erythrocytes in the urine sediment and a large number of leukocytes. For this analysis, it is necessary to pass the average flow of urine in the morning.
- Bacteriological diagnosis of urine allows you to determine the culprit of cystitis. This is important for prescribing antibiotic therapy.
- special test strips for leukocytes allow you to calculate their high concentration in the urine.
- Nitrite test strips make it possible to identify a urinary tract infection.
During menstruation, women should not give urine for tests, as the results may be false.
Rules for conducting a urine test for cystitis
Before starting to collect morning urine, you need to wash the genitals with warm water or a disinfectant solution. Before a urine test, you should not eat foods that can affect the color of urine, it is better not to drink compotes, fruit drinks and kefir (it affects the acid flora). You can also not take diuretics and laxatives.
Treatment of cystitis
Can cystitis be permanently cured? This is perhaps the main question that worries people who have personally dealt with this disease. This is possible if the right treatment is started at the right time. How and how cystitis is treated, the urologist determines. As a rule, the doctor chooses complex treatment. In addition to drug therapy, compliance with food, sleep and drink patterns plays an important role. Let's clarify that the amount of daily water intake should be at least 2-2. 5 liters, and the diet implies the consumption of diuretic products and the rejection of alcohol, coffee, spicy, fried, smoked, salty, sour, canned food and preservatives. . Compliance with these schemes is a general rule in the treatment of cystitis in women, men and children. Let's consider aspects of the treatment of cystitis in more detail.
Treatment of cystitis in women does not require hospitalization and can be done at home. A heating pad applied to the lower abdomen and a warm bath will help you deal with the unpleasant symptoms. For the treatment period of cystitis, women should temporarily refuse sexual intercourse. The desired result of the treatment is the normalization of the vaginal microflora. Women are mostly prescribed antibioticspenicillin to neutralize microbes and preparations with beneficial bacteria to stabilize the microflora. Belladonna candles will help calm inflammation. According to the doctor's requirements, the treatment lasts less than a week. Important questions for women: how to treat cystitis during pregnancy and is it dangerous for the fetus? Cystitis is a disease that, if not treated properly during pregnancy, can cause complications in the form of kidney infection and premature birth. For the treatment of cystitis during pregnancy, doctors choose the safest drugs. Infectious cystitis causes difficulty, because its treatment requires antibiotics that are not recommended for the fetus. To treat cystitis in pregnant women, painkillers and anticholinergics, drugs to relax the muscles of the bladder, are used. Postpartum cystitis develops due to the tight position of the bladder and reduced blood circulation during childbirth, catheterization and cooling, as well as due to the weakening of the immune system after childbirth. Cystitis, which appeared during breastfeeding, is safer to treat with herbal preparations, but we must remember that, like any medicine, only a doctor can prescribe it.
To eliminate pain, frequent urge to urinate, doctors prescribe antispasmodic drugs and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The choice of drugs for cystitis in men depends on the current pathologies of the genitourinary system. Physiotherapy and sanatoriums will be good helpers to improve the condition after the exacerbation and during the remission.
Antibiotics for cystitis are used:
- fluoroquinolones
- nitrofurans
Treatment of cystitis in children should be prescribed and monitored exclusively by a doctor. Self-administration of antibiotics to children can lead to serious health problems in the future. Sick children, like sick adults, need rest, diet and warm sitz baths. In the acute form, uroseptic, analgesic and antibacterial drugs are usually prescribed. The main task of parents in the treatment of children is strict adherence to medical recommendations, especially the dosage of drugs and the duration of their use. Chronic cystitis in children is mainly the result of gagging, genital infections, urethritis, diverticulitis and other diseases. This suggests that, based on comorbidity, the treatment of chronic cystitis will be ranked.
To prevent cystitis in children and adults, it is useful to take preventive measures. The prevention of cystitis includes the observance of hygiene rules (soap water procedures every day), the use of clean linen, strengthening immunity, competent and healthy nutrition.
Medicines for cystitis
Formulations for cystitis in women, men and children include antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and general tonics. Drugs of choice for cystitis with active ingredients: fosfomycin, nitrofurantoin, furazidine. Alternative antibacterial treatment for cystitis with active ingredients: ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin hydrochloride, levofloxacin hemihydrate. The first three drugs have been used to treat cystitis for many years and still have not lost their importance. Let's consider in more detail the characteristics of drugs for cystitis.
Broad spectrum antimicrobials. The course of treatment with these drugs varies from one week to 10 days. It is recommended to consume them after meals. These cystitis drugs are suitable for first aid for exacerbations. The disadvantages of drugs include a large number of side effects.
The ideal antibiotic for cystitis with fosfomycin, so to speak. It is available in the form of tablets and powder to dissolve in water. This modern tool has a minimal list of side effects, which is a definite advantage when choosing a drug. The drug has a rapid absorption and a point of action directed at the bacteria that cause the development of cystitis. Only one tablet from cystitis allows you to achieve a successful therapeutic effect. This is hard to believe, but it has been proven that a single dose of an antibiotic helps to eliminate all the unpleasant symptoms of cystitis. But this is not all the advantages: the substance fosfomycin is effective and safe for the treatment of cystitis during pregnancy. It is recommended to take it before bed, after urination. The action of the antibiotic lasts for 3 days.
In the treatment of cystitis, herbal medicines have also shown their effectiveness, which can be used together with antibiotics to increase the effectiveness of treatment and after an acute episode for a long time to prevent the development of another flare-up. For these purposes, the long-term intake of decoctions of various diuretic and antiseptic herbal preparations or official herbal medicines is indicated. The treatment of cystitis with herbs is successfully combined with drug therapy. Studies have shown that the effect of herbal therapy is seen in a few weeks. The advantage of using herbal preparations is their naturalness. But plants are not always safe for our body, so it is very important to respect the doses. The dosage of the use of herbal preparations varies according to the age of the patient. So, for example, the daily dose of herbal tea for children under 1 year is half a teaspoon, for children under 3 years - 1 teaspoon, from 6 to 10 years - 1 tablespoon, for adults - 2tablespoons. Here is an example of a recipe for a collection of herbs for cystitis, which you can cook yourself at home.
Prevention of cystitis in women
In half of the cases, cystitis in women recurs. To prevent attacks of the disease and their recurrence, it is enough to follow some simple recommendations:
- Pay more attention to personal hygiene. Girls should be taught from an early age to keep their genitals particularly clean, to wash and change their underwear daily.
- When choosing underwear, women should pay attention to their composition. You can not wear products made of synthetic fabrics and inappropriate in size.
- Drink plenty of clean water. Maintaining a normal water balance in the body strengthens the immune system and frequency accelerates the removal of pathogenic microflora from the genitourinary system.
- Avoid hypothermia, wear clothes according to the season, do not wear short skirts and thin tights in the cold season.
- Do not tolerate the urge to urinate.
Many women do not consider cystitis a serious disease and try to cope with the pain on their own. The situation is especially dangerous when, on the advice of friends or acquaintances, they start taking antibiotics. At the first symptoms of pathology, it is necessary to consult a doctor and strictly follow all his recommendations. The treatment regimen is selected strictly individually based on the nature of the course of the disease, its form and the presence of accompanying pathologies.