Uncomplicated urinary tract infections are very common and often recur. Cystitis is a common bacterial disease that usually affects women (they are about 8 times more likely to have it than men).
What is bacterial cystitis?
Cystitis of a bacterial nature is characterized by an inflammatory process of the bladder walls. It responds well to treatment and usually does not require hospitalization.
Due to the peculiarities of the structure of the genitourinary system, most complaints about this problem come from women, but sometimes men also experience it.
Reasons for development
Bacterial cystitis always occurs for one reason - as a result of pathogens entering the bladder.
The following factors can provoke the disease:
- non-compliance with hygiene rules;
- the presence of chronic infections;
- deferred installation of a urinary catheter;
- use of spermicidal contraceptives;
- frequent change of sexual partners;
- atrophic vaginitis in history.
In men, the most common factor in the development of the disease are STIs. The appearance of cystitis can be affected by prolonged exposure to cold, frequent stressful situations and taking certain medications, but all these factors are considered concomitant. By affecting the general immunity of the body, they increase the likelihood of reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms.
Pathogenic microorganisms can enter the bladder in contagious, lymphogenous and hematogenous ways. A necessary condition for the development of the disease is the invasion of bacteria in the walls of the bladder.
Symptoms
Bacterial cystitis in patients of both sexes begins with an acute phase.
It can be recognized by some specific features:
- the appearance of frequent urge to the toilet;
- pain, burning and discomfort during urination;
- excretion of a small amount of blood in the urine;
- false desire to go to the toilet, a decrease in the amount of urine excreted.
In addition to specific symptoms, the patient may experience the following signs of cystitis:
- pain during and after sexual intercourse;
- discomfort in the perineum and pelvis;
- increase in body temperature;
- drawing pain in the lower back.
A progressive disease leads to cloudy urine and the appearance of a specific smell. Urinary incontinence can also occur when you sneeze or cough. The chronic form of cystitis is characterized by the same symptoms as the acute one, but they become less pronounced and intense.
Distinctive features compared to other forms
Cystitis is a disease that has a large number of forms and manifestations. The most common bacterial, fungal and viral cystitis of an infectious nature. In some cases, the disease is provoked by a "reduced" kidney infection.
In addition to those listed, there is a wide group of non-infectious cystitis. They can develop as a result of non-biological damage to the mucosa.
There are several types of cystitis:
- Traumatic or foreign body cystitis. It develops with prolonged use of a urinary catheter, which leads to tissue damage.
- Interstitial or autoimmune.A chronic form of the disease, which is difficult to diagnose and treat, since the exact causes of development have not yet been determined by specialists. More often, this form of cystitis can be recognized by severe pain when filling the bladder, as well as by the very frequent urge to urinate - in some cases, their number can reach up to 100 times a day.
- Ray.It occurs in cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy. Radiation negatively affects the bladder mucosa, causing pain, frequent urge to urinate, blood in the urine.
- Allergic.It occurs as a reaction to allergens that have entered the body.
- Chemo-toxic. This form of the disease can occur when using spermicidal gel, hygiene spray or chlorine that enters the urethra when visiting the pool.
Diagnosing
Even in the presence of specific symptoms, cystitis can only be diagnosed with the help of a urine laboratory test. The analysis allows you to identify the presence of proteins in it, an excessive percentage of leukocytes and hematuria (the presence of red blood cells). In addition, a bacterial culture is performed, thanks to which the doctor can identify the causative agent of the disease and choose the most effective drugs.
In men, the prostate gland is additionally examined and tests are performed to rule out a number of genital infections that may be hidden and asymptomatic. Women should be examined by a gynecologist and take a test to evaluate the microflora.
Methods for the treatment of bacterial cystitis
Bacterial cystitis requires medical treatment with antibacterial drugs. The doctor chooses the appropriate means after studying the results of laboratory tests. The disease in the chronic phase requires therapy for 7-10 days. In many cases, an integrated approach to the treatment of cystitis is effective.
Etiological treatment
Since the cause of the inflammatory process in the bladder is usually an infection, most often patients are prescribed antibacterial drugs. The most common cause of cystitis is Escherichia coli, this uropathogenic microorganism is detected in 75-90% of cases.
In 5-10% of patients, the disease is caused by Staphylococcus saprophyticus, other enterobacteria are less common.
Pathogenetic treatment
Antibacterial therapy in women can remove bacteria in the bladder, but does not affect bacteria in the gut. They again fall on the surface of the perineum, into the urethra and then into the bladder. The membrane of the bladder, designed to protect it from the penetration of bacteria, is broken during cystitis, which causes a high probability of the disease returning.
In world practice, the treatment of the chronic form of cystitis with the introduction of sodium hyaluronan into the bladder is widespread. There are oral agents, but most often the most effective is their combination.
Such drugs allow:
- protect the walls of the bladder from the penetration of bacteria;
- restore the damaged protective layer of the mucous membrane;
- protect the urothelium from the influence of toxic components contained in urine;
- significantly reduce the intensity of the inflammatory process occurring in the bladder.
This technique is effective in cases of relapses, resistance to antibacterial drugs and lack of results from other types of therapy. Another of its advantages is reducing the likelihood of relapse and the ability to get rid of cystitis for a long time, even in advanced cases.
Symptomatic treatment that reduces disease manifestations
Bacterial cystitis in women causes discomfort and pain, which can be quite severe. Symptomatic treatment allows you to deal with this, the main purpose of which is to alleviate the general condition of the patient.
In most cases, doctors prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, recommend giving up tea, coffee and alcoholic beverages. To ease the pain, you can take warm baths and use a heating pad. During the treatment of cystitis, it is important to drink enough water.
Remedies for the treatment of bacterial cystitis in women
Therapy for cystitis in women includes oral medication. To cope with the disease in a short time allows an integrated approach that takes into account the individual characteristics of the patient's body.
Antibiotics
The basis of cystitis treatment is the use of drugs that can selectively inhibit or destroy pathogens. For the treatment of inflammatory processes occurring in the urogenital system of the body, uroseptics are used, which are excreted through the kidneys and in this way ensure an effective concentration of the drug in the area of inflammation.
| antibiotic | Description |
|---|---|
| Phosphonic acid derivative | Water soluble powder with citrus flavor. This drug is considered one of the most used antibiotics in the treatment of cystitis. It acts for about 2 hours, is completely excreted from the body after 2 days. |
| Semi-synthetic antibiotic from the second generation macrolide group | White tablets. It is prescribed for patients who have experienced cystitis as a result of a sexual infection. |
| Antibiotic from the II generation group of fluoroquinolones | Orange tablets. 1 tablet is enough for 12 hours, the drug is completely excreted from the body within 1 day. |
| Antibiotic from the group of quinolones of the first generation | It affects a wide range of viruses. Available in the form of hard capsules, the active substance is nalidixic acid. |
| Antibiotic from the group of quinolones of the first generation | Available in the form of capsules, the active substance is pipemidic acid. It begins to act within the first 1. 5 hours after ingestion. Up to 85% of the active substance is excreted within 1 day. |
| Semi-synthetic antibiotic from the group of III generation cephalosporins | Orange tablets with berry flavor. The action of the drug is to suppress the synthesis of pathological microorganisms. |
Painkillers
For cystitis, doctors usually prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of tablets or rectal suppositories.
Patients who experience a relapse of the disease often need to take drugs such as the main ones. The same approach is used in cases where the use of antibiotics for one reason or another is not possible. As a complex therapy, a specialist can prescribe antispasmodic drugs that block painful spasms of the bladder wall.
In the acute phase of the disease, the bladder can shrink, which prevents normal emptying. Muscle relaxation solves this problem and has an analgesic effect, improves blood circulation and restores the normal functioning of the organ.
It is important to consider that antispasmodics affect systemic blood circulation and the functioning of internal organs, so they are not used for problems with hematopoiesis, kidney and liver failure, acute diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and some other health problems. Therefore, their intake and dosage should be agreed with the doctor.
Diuretics
Diuretics are prescribed to restore normal urination, which is an important factor in the treatment of cystitis. The most economical are herbal diuretics or herbal medicines, which are intended for adjunctive therapy.
Among them are:
- A preparation in the form of a paste, consisting of herbs and essential extracts. A small amount of this medicine is diluted with water and taken orally.
- Herbal tablets or solutions containing centaury herb, lavage root and rosemary leaf. It has a diuretic and antimicrobial effect on the body.
- Plant collections. The composition of such herbal medicines includes herbs that stimulate urine production and have anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and relaxing effects. As part of the fees you can find oak bark, St. John's wort, chamomile and flax. Such means are effective in various forms of cystitis and are used even in advanced cases.
The way of drinking
Drinking a sufficient amount of fluids can reduce the concentration of urine and the irritation of the inflamed bladder walls, as well as increase the desire to urinate and accelerate the removal of pathogenic bacteria. Doctors recommend drinking at least 2-3 liters of water per day, based on the patient's body weight. With cystitis, bed rest is necessary, which allows you to speed up the treatment and recovery process.
prevention
The bacterial form of cystitis lends itself well to prevention, with which you can avoid this disease and protect yourself from possible relapses after treatment.
Most experts recommend taking preventive measures:
- Hygiene. It is necessary to wash at least 1 time a day, while the direction should be from front to back. Thus, it is possible to avoid the entry of pathogens from the anus into the area of the vagina and urethra (this is the mechanism that most often leads to the development of cystitis in women).
- Drinking enough fluids.
- Use of barrier contraceptives.
- Protection from hypothermia and long stay in wet swimwear.
- Rejection of synthetic underwear in favor of underwear made from natural fabrics.
It is also recommended that women urinate after every sexual intercourse to get rid of bacteria that may have entered the urethra. It is equally important to empty the bladder regularly, as stagnant urine is a useful environment for the reproduction of pathogens.
If symptoms return within 14 days after the end of therapy, it is necessary to urinate for bacterial culture. Treatment failure may be due to low sensitivity of the microorganism to the selected drug.
Possible complications and chronicity of the disease
Untreated cystitis can develop into a chronic form, which becomes much more difficult to get rid of and the therapy of which is more expensive. You can avoid this consequence if you go to the specialist doctor at the time when the first signs of the disease appear. A fairly common complication is vesicoureteral reflux. It occurs when urine enters the ureter from the bladder, that is, in the opposite direction.
This process, if not given proper attention, can lead to inflammation of the uterus, peritoneum or inflammation of the peritoneum. The inflammatory process in the walls of the bladder sometimes causes abscesses and wounds, resulting in a reduction in the amount of urine it can hold. In this case, the patient faces frequent and painful urination.
In men, prolonged cystitis can lead to leakage of urine into the prostate gland, an inflammatory process in the prostate and epididymitis. Women may have reproductive problems. Cystitis, which is bacterial in nature, in acute form can lead to miscarriage in pregnant women. Therefore, the treatment, which in most cases lasts about a week, cannot be delayed.