One of the unpleasant diseases that has become widespread in the modern world is inflammation of the bladder, or cystitis. This disease can be independent, and may be a complication of other pathologies. Cystitis is a disease of the urinary tract, which consists of inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bladder. It occurs in men, women and children. The female sex is more susceptible to this disease due to the peculiarities of the anatomy of their body: the female urethra is short and wide, which is very convenient for the infection to enter the body. Many people consider cystitis to be a female disease. Here the question arises: do men have cystitis? Answer: Of course it happens, 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, Candida fungi are also dangerous. The development of cystitis is facilitated by a sedentary lifestyle that leads to circulatory disorders of the pelvic organs and the bladder, decreased immunity, metabolic disorders, menopause, consumption of spicy foods, and diabetes mellitus. Cystitis comes in two forms: acute and chronic. In acute cystitis, the patient has frequent and painful urination with possible bleeding. The symptoms of chronic cystitis are similar, but not as pronounced. Chronic cystitis in the absence of the necessary treatment can become interstitial.
All forms can make serious changes to the usual way of life, reduce efficiency and introduce psychological discomfort, therefore, at the first symptoms, competent treatment should be initiated by a specialist. Cystitis is treated by urologists and gynecologists. These specialists determine how to treat bladder inflammation, prescribe treatment, which, as a rule, includes pills to increase immunity, relieve inflammation, and antibiotics. Cystitis is a disease of multiple species. 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 cervical inflammation of the bladder. Cervical cystitis owes its name to the location of the inflammation in the region of the neck of the bladder. Its treatment is a complex process that requires the patient to comply with 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 occurrence. During this period, due to the anatomical and biological features of the female body, the penetration of bacteria, protozoa and viruses into the genital tract and urethra becomes faster and more dangerous. Also, during menstruation, the immunity of a woman or girl is very vulnerable, and if hygiene is not observed, spilled blood can become an excellent source of food for uninvited guests. Also, fungi of the genus Candida are found in the vagina, capable of provoking cystitis by themselves with a decrease in immunity.
Infantile cystitis is also more common in girls than in boys. This is due to the proximity of the short and wide urinary system and the anus. Also, bladder inflammation in children can be caused by hypothermia, a weakened immune system, and a hereditary factor. Cystitis in babies is facilitated by the constant use of diapers, so common today, and the presence of stones in the urinary organs.
Inflammation of the bladder in men is typical for representatives of mature age. The male symptoms of this disease are identical to the female ones. Almost always, the cause of the development of cystitis in men lies in the penetration of the infection through the blood of neighboring inflamed organs.
In addition to the traditional perception of the causes of cystitis, psychosomatic provocations are also possible. Cystitis psychosomatics 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 restrict or repress their emotions.
types of cystitis
As noted above, acute and chronic cystitis are distinguished. Acute inflammation of the bladder is understood as cystitis that appeared for the first time in the patient, which did not become a chronic disease. If flare-ups of cystitis occur 2 or more times in 6 months or 3 or more times in a year, the cystitis is called recurrent. The exacerbation of cystitis and the acute form of cystitis are not synonymous. Exacerbations indicate complications of the disease. In the absence of effective and comprehensive treatment, cystitis from an acute form becomes chronic. The development of acute cystitis is unexpected. Symptoms of acute cystitis are more pronounced than chronic ones. Exacerbations of the disease occur mainly in the spring and autumn periods. In most cases, gram-negative enterobacteria and coagulase-negative types of staphylococci become a provocateur for the development of infectious cystitis. Cystitis is diverse in its types. Doctors distinguish the following types: hemorrhagic, interstitial, radiation, sexual, postcoital, cervical, hypercalceuric, chemical, allergic and parasitic cystitis. Let's take a closer look:
- Hemorrhagic cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder caused by an infection. It is characterized by the excretion of urine with an unpleasant smell and bloody discharge;
- with interstitial cystitis, the inflammatory process develops due to a non-infectious nature. This species 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 submucosal layer;
- 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 depending on the sex, sexual cystitis develops. Its subspecies is venereological cystitis, caused by sexually transmitted diseases;
- when the infection penetrates the urethra and bladder, postcoital cystitis develops. Its main pathogens are Escherichia coli, mycoplasmas and other infections;
- cervical cystitis - inflammation of the neck of the bladder. This species can present with urinary incontinence;
- in case of metabolic disorders, hypercalceuric cystitis may develop, in particular, when the kidneys begin to secrete calcium salt crystals;
- with bladder poisoning, 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 include antibacterial drugs, bed rest, dry heat, herbal decoctions, and sufficient fluid intake.
Symptoms of cystitis
The symptoms of cystitis in women, men and children are basically the same. As a rule, cystitis provokes frequent urination in small portions, which causes a sensation of pain and burning. The urine becomes cloudy and acquires a strong unpleasant odor. It is not uncommon for a small amount of blood to pass through the urine. With cystitis, weakness and pain in the lumbar region can be observed.
Symptoms of cystitis in children and the elderly are not so pronounced and can manifest themselves 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 need to urinate. The desire to go to the bathroom can appear during the day and at night every few minutes. Sometimes women lose control over this process and urination occurs spontaneously.
As the inflammatory process develops, the clinical picture is complemented by the following symptoms:
- severe itching and burning of the vulva;
- suprapubic pain radiating to lower back;
- a slight increase in body temperature;
- sensation of incomplete emptying of the bladder;
- color change, smell of urine.
In severe cases, attacks of cystitis are accompanied by high fever, nausea, vomiting, blood in the urine.
Female symptoms of cystitis are dysuria and nocturia. Characteristic of such states is the application of efforts to urinate (the urge 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 determined immediately, because it is more difficult for a child to explain the condition and the nature of the pain from it, 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 turns 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 entry of bacteria into the bladder through the urethra, particularly 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 may be an allergy to intimate cosmetics. In children, the cause of cystitis may be the pathology of the urinary organs, when the flow of urine is disturbed, and it can fall back into the ureter. Older people often have difficulty moving 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 often 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 associated with a violation of the microflora of the vagina. Most often, women manifest infectious and allergic types of inflammation. Gonorrhea with no less success can lead to cystitis. Hypothermia is considered a great 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;
- the pregnancy;
- surgical intervention on the genital organs and their infection.
The causes of cystitis in men are the presence of diseases of the urinary system, against which inflammation of the bladder is a complication. In general, the causes are similar to those in women: urine 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 can develop due to the hematogenous route. The development of cystitis is promoted by diabetes mellitus, abdominal trauma, stress and surgical interventions in 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 provoking factors. 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, the presence of pus in the urine, a feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder, a false need to urinate.
Severe forms of acute inflammation are accompanied by an increase in body temperature, severe intoxication. Painful sensations are localized not only in the region of the pubic bone, but also in the perineum and 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, sclerosis of the neck of the bladder, 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 proceeds with relapses and exacerbations. In chronic inflammation, damage to the kidneys, neck, lateral, posterior and anterior walls of the bladder is not excluded.
Diagnosis of cystitis
The basis of the diagnosis of cystitis is laboratory tests. To confirm or identify cystitis, the patient may be referred for the following tests:
- complete blood count - allows to identify the inflammatory process by increasing ESR and leukocytes;
- urinalysis - in the presence of cystitis shows protein. The results of microscopic examination of the sediment with cystitis will give an increase in leukocytes and erythrocytes. Urine with cystitis becomes cloudy and may turn pink in case of bleeding;
- urinalysis according to Nechiporenko - resort to it 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 stream of urine in the morning;
- Bacteriological diagnosis of urine allows you to establish 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 allow to detect infections in the urinary tract.
During menstruation, women should not urinate for the tests, as the results may be false.
Rules for passing a urine test for cystitis
Before you start collecting morning urine, you need to rinse 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 (affects acidic flora). You can also not take diuretics and laxatives.
Treatment of cystitis
Can cystitis be cured permanently? This is probably the main question that concerns people who have personally encountered this disease. This is possible if the right treatment is started at the right time. How and how to treat cystitis, determines the urologist. As a rule, the doctor chooses a complex therapy. In addition to drug treatment, compliance with feeding, bed and drinking regimens 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 involves the consumption of diuretic products and the rejection of alcohol, coffee, spicy, fried, smoked, salty, acidic, preserved and preservatives. . Compliance with these regimens is a general rule in the treatment of cystitis in women, men and children. Let us examine in more detail aspects of the treatment of cystitis.
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 to cope with unpleasant symptoms. During the period of treatment of cystitis, women will have to temporarily refuse sexual intercourse. The desired result of therapy is the normalization of the vaginal microflora. Women are prescribed mainly penicillin antibiotics to neutralize microbes, and preparations with beneficial bacteria to stabilize the microflora. Belladonna candles will help soothe inflammation. Subject 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 lead to complications in the form of kidney infection and premature delivery. 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. For the treatment of cystitis in pregnant women, analgesics and anticholinergics are used - drugs that relax the muscles of the bladder. Postpartum cystitis develops due to the tight position of the bladder and impaired blood circulation during labor, catheterization and cooling, and also due to postpartum weakening of the immune system. Cystitis, which appeared during lactation, is safer to treat with herbal preparations, but we must remember that, like any medicine, only a doctor can prescribe it.
To eliminate pain, the frequent urge to urinate, doctors prescribe antispasmodic and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The selection of drugs for cystitis in men depends on the current pathologies of the genitourinary system. Physiotherapy and sanatoriums will be good helpers in improving the condition after exacerbation and during remission.
As antibiotics for cystitis are used:
- fluoroquinolones
- nitrofurans
The treatment of cystitis in children must be prescribed and supervised exclusively by a doctor. Self-administration of antibiotics to children can lead to serious health problems later in life. 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, in particular, the dosage of drugs and the duration of their use. Chronic cystitis in children is mainly the result of phimosis, genital infections, urethritis, diverticula and other diseases. This suggests that, based on comorbidity, the treatment of chronic cystitis will be aligned.
To prevent cystitis in children and adults, it is useful to take preventive measures. Prevention of cystitis includes compliance with hygiene rules (daily soapy water procedures), wearing clean clothes, strengthening immunity, competent and healthy nutrition.
Medications for cystitis
Preparations for cystitis in women, men and children include antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and general tonics. Drugs of choice for cystitis with active ingredients: fosfomycin, nitrofurantoin, furazidine. Alternative antibacterial therapy for cystitis with active ingredients: ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin hydrochloride, levofloxacin hemihydrate. The first three drugs have been used to treat cystitis for many years and have not yet lost their relevance. Let us consider in more detail the features of remedies for cystitis.
Broad-spectrum antimicrobials. The course of therapy with these drugs varies from a week to 10 days. Its consumption is recommended after meals. These cystitis remedies are well suited as 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 for dissolution in water. This modern tool has a minimal list of side effects, which is definitely a plus when choosing a drug. The drug has rapid absorption and a point of action directed at the bacteria that cause the development of cystitis. Just one tablet from cystitis allows you to achieve a successful therapeutic effect. This is hard to believe, but a single dose of an antibiotic has been shown to help eliminate all the unpleasant symptoms of cystitis. But these are not all the advantages: the substance fosfomycin is effective and safe for the treatment of cystitis during pregnancy. It is recommended to take it at bedtime, after urinating. The effect of the antibiotic lasts 3 days.
Herbal remedies, 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 exacerbation, have also proven effective in the treatment of cystitis. For these purposes, a long-term intake of decoctions of various diuretic and antiseptic herbal preparations or official herbal drugs is indicated. Herbal treatment of cystitis is successfully combined with drug therapy. Studies have shown that the result of herbal medicine is seen within a couple of 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 differs depending on the age of the patient. So, for example, the daily dose of herbal tea for children under 1 year old is half a teaspoon, for children under 3 years old - 1 teaspoon, from 6 to 10 years old - 1 tablespoon, for adults - 2 tablespoons. 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 relapses. To prevent attacks of the disease and its recurrence, it is enough to follow a number of simple recommendations:
- Pay more attention to personal hygiene. Girls should be taught from an early age to keep their genitals especially clean, to wash themselves every day, and to change their underwear.
- When choosing underwear, women should pay attention to its composition. You can not use products made of synthetic fabrics and of inappropriate size.
- Drink plenty of pure, clean water. Maintaining a normal water balance in the body strengthens the immune system, and frequent urination accelerates the elimination of pathogenic microflora from the genitourinary system.
- Avoid hypothermia, wear clothes according to the season, do not wear short skirts and thin tights during the cold season.
- Not tolerating the urge to urinate.
Many women do not consider cystitis to be 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, you 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 concomitant pathologies.