It is an unpleasant disease that women are more likely to suffer from. Cystitis appears due to inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bladder, which occurs against the background of a bacterial infection.
A urological disease can become chronic without treatment and lead to changes in the bladder tissue, causing the development of serious diseases.
Causes of cystitis
The causes of cystitis can also be a decrease in general immunity, chronic stress, the onset of sexual activity, narrowing of the urethra, hypothermia, stagnation of urine in the bladder (thehabit to last to the end), unbalanced diet, hormonal disorders , pregnancy, childbirth, operations on the organs of the urinary system.
Another reason is medication. The causes of cystitis can also be a decrease in general immunity, chronic stress, the onset of sexual activity, narrowing of the urethra, hypothermia, stagnation of urine in the bladder (thehabit to last to the end), unbalanced diet, hormonal disorders , pregnancy, childbirth, operations on the organs of the urinary system.
Inflammation of the bladder 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 sexual structure. The urethra is 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 the process of urination, pain and burning in the urethra, as well as a feeling of incomplete emptying of the intestine, may appear.
- pain in the lower abdomen - there is a feeling of overcrowding of the bladder. And also 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 diseases and complications.
- the appearance in the urine of pathological impurities (mucus, blood, pus) - the color of urine can range from pale pink to brick. The presence of impurities indicates the presence of a virus in the human body. With the development of cystitis, sharp pain in the urethra may appear.
How does cystitis manifest during pregnancy?
During the period of pregnancy, the protective functions of the immune system decrease in a woman. Therefore, getting into the body, a pathological organism causes a much faster inflammatory process.
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 the 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 - they are difficult to confuse with other pathologies. A woman may experience frequent and painful urination, blood in the urine, and fever.
First of all, a woman should consult a urologist. He will prescribe the necessary tests, examinations and 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, thrush.
How to treat cystitis in pregnant women? Diet, immunity and hormonal status are corrected, blood circulation is improved. Then it is necessary to begin the fight against pathogens (E. coli, Candida fungi, STIs, viruses), restore the damaged structure of the bladder.
Cystitis in children
Given the basic 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 varied. There are pains during urination, in the urethral canal, in the lower abdomen or on the side. Also, the number of urinations may increase, as well as urinary incontinence and leaks that have not been observed before.
Children show whims, which increase during urination, bowel movements. At the same time, the appetite is disturbed, anxiety appears if it is necessary to sit on the potty because of the fear of pain, burning, pain. Intoxication of the body occurs, which is manifested by an increase in body temperature, chills.
The clinical manifestations vary with the age of the child. In young children, general symptoms predominate. In addition, young children are not always able to indicate what worries them. In older children, signs of intoxication are no longer observed, here urination disorders and pain syndrome are highlighted.
Types of cystitis
There are several classifications of pathology: according to the evolution, the type of inflammation, the causes. We will dwell in more detail on the classification according to the course of the disease.
- 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 progression. If acute cystitis is not treated or the wrong treatment is used, there is a high probability of developing a chronic form.
- Subacute cystitishas a hazy clinical picture. Symptoms are mild or absent. It can only be accompanied by pain and disturbances in urination, while the symptoms of intoxication of the body (fever, body aches, chills) are not observed.
- Chronic cystitisoccurs due to untreated acute cystitis. It is characterized by a slow course, the symptoms are inexpressible and sometimes completely asymptomatic. That is, the factor provoking inflammation in the bladder persists without revealing itself, but at some point there is a strong exacerbation with all the ensuing consequences: frequent and painful urination, burning, itching, cloudy urine, malaise, etc.
Pathology diagnosis
A urologist deals with the diagnosis and treatment of cystitis. Only a specialist knows how to properly treat this disease in order to avoid chronic inflammation and not harm health.
You can undergo an examination and diagnosis at the nearest clinic. However, this takes time, as you have to wait 2-3 weeks for an appointment with a doctor. But in the presence of acute or subacute cystitis, time is the most precious resource. Therefore, the best option is to contact a specialized medical clinic. Here you can register for an examination and see a professional doctor in the near future.
The urologist will determine your general state of health, ask you about past illnesses, frequency of urination and medications taken. Then the specialist probes the region of the abdomen and kidneys, the lower back.
Cystitis in men - look through and feel the genitals. Examine the prostate - rectally.
Cystitis in women - assesses the condition of the mucous membrane, female genital organs, probing the bladder and ureters.
The following tests may be needed 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 diagnosis, the specialist will prescribe an individual treatment program, which includes medication for cystitis. It depends on the disease itself and the degree of its course.
In the treatment of cystitis, the following principles should 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, that is, the daily diet of the patient should be dominated by dairy products, vegetables and fruits. 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 first prescribed 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 susceptible.
- pain therapy. With severe pain in the bladder, patients are prescribed painkillers and antispasmodics.
- physiotherapy treatment (electrophoresis, phonophoresis, inductothermy, UHF and others).
We recommend that you do not self-medicate in any case, but consult a urologist in such a delicate matter. Make an appointment with a urologist and be sure that your problems will stay outside the walls of the clinic.