Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder, which most often has an infectious origin.Symptoms of the disease are painful and interfere with the normal quality of life.Moreover, this disease can pose a serious threat to kidney health.How to know the first symptoms of cystitis and, most importantly, how to prevent it?An immunologist answered this question.
The causes of inflammation
The urinary system includes: kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra.The main purpose of the system is to filter the blood and remove metabolic products and medicines from the body.Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder and the cause can descend from the kidneys, that is, it spreads along the descending pathway or, conversely, climbed by the urethra.
There are gender changes in the structure of the urinary system.Considering that women have a shorter and thicker ureter.Infections spread more easily and quickly to the bladder, so women are at risk.In clinical practice, it is customary to distinguish several types of cystitis.
- Bacterial cystitis most often occurs when bacteria enter the urinary tract through the urethra.Inflammation is caused by E. coli, which spreads from the anal area.Another possible way of transmission is through sexual intercourse.However, inflammation can be driven by your microbiomy.
There are also non -infectious cystitis, which has several types:
- Interstitial
The exact cause of chronic inflammation is unclear.But statistically it is most often recorded in women.However, diagnosis and treatment are difficult due to the specific figure, as well as the lack of understanding of the causes of inflammation.
- drug
Inflammation can be stirred by taking certain medicines.For example, chemotherapeutic agents, because the elimination of metabolic products occurs through the kidneys and bladder.
- beam
Radiation therapy in the pelvic organs, prescribed for the treatment of cancer pathologies, can provoke inflammation.Chemotherapy adds complications, which not only irritate the bladder walls but also reduces the functioning of the immune system.
- Foreign body cystitis
Long -term catheterization predisposes to the development of bacterial cystitis, as well as damage to traumatic tissue, which only complicate the situation.
- Allergic
Inflammation can be driven by the action of some cosmetics, for example, bubble baths, washing gel, as well as some contraceptives (spermicide creams).
- As a symptom of other illnesses
Sometimes cystitis can be a symptom or complication of other diseases, such as diabetes, urolithiasis, prostate and prostate adenoma.
Risk factors
Some people are more likely to develop bladder infections, such as women.But there are other risk factors:
- Sexual intercourse
Highly active sexual intercourse, or with a full bladder, increases the chance of developing cystitis.
- The use of certain types of contraceptives
The use of a diaphragm increases the chance of developing cystitis.Some types of barrier contraceptives containing spermicide agents increase the chance of developing cystitis.
- gestation
In this case, hormonal changes, decreased immune function and increasing uterus, which puts pressure on the bladder, predisposes to inflammation.
- Menopause
In this case, hormonal changes, as well as dried mucous membranes, predisposes to inflammation.
- Urine flow disorders
In men, cystitis develops due to violation of urine flow, which can occur with urolithiasis or enlargement of the prostate gland.It should be noted that in men without predisposing factors, cystitis rarely develops.
Symptoms of cystitis
The symptoms of cystitis vary, depending on the form and cause of inflammation.But it is still possible to identify a number of ordinary ones that form in any form of inflammation:
- Frequent urination
This is the first and early sign of the cystitis.Due to inflammation of the bladder walls, receptors are also irritated by small amounts of urine.Because of this, a frequent stimulus is formed to urinate, but a small amount of urine is released.
- The feeling of a bladder that is not completely emptied
This can be explained by the inflammatory process and irritation of the bladder walls.Along with frequent urination, it disrupts the normal quality of life, interferes with daily activities and can cause increased irritation and mood swings.
- The burning sensation when urinating
Gradually, a pronounced sensation of combustion occurs when urinating.Initially, at the bottom of the urethra, when urinating begins, but after ending, a burning sensation goes into a wave to the bladder.The severity of the burning sensation can change and depend on the severity of the disease.
- Pain
Along with the burning sensation, the pain occurs when urinating.Sometimes it is very difficult to distinguish between burning and pain;They join each other.Sometimes pain and discomfort in the pelvic area can continue in the pelvic organs.
- Temperature
With cystitis, body temperature rarely rises to high levels (up to 37.5º C), and often remains completely normal.
- Changes in the urine
Urine can have an unpleasant, special odor.In some cases, different impurities can be found in it: sediment or blood in the urine, due to which it changes color - it becomes dark.
Alarming symptoms
There are a number of symptoms that require urgent medical care.These include:
- Severe pain in the back and/or lateral, which can radiate to the groin.In combination with cystitis signs, this may indicate urolithiasis and other signs.
- A significant increase in body temperature - more than 38º C. An increase in temperature is a sign of serious inflammation.
- Nausea and vomiting.The appearance of such symptoms indicates serious intoxication because this is a protective reaction as the body tries to get rid of toxins.
- You should consult a doctor immediately if you experience frequent and painful urination that contains blood.You should be especially careful if the symptoms appear after taking antibiotics.
Potential complications
Complications develop only if there is no treatment or if the doctor's recommendations are not followed.Complications include kidney damage.The infection can rise from the bladder to the kidneys and cause pyelonephritis.And this is a very serious disease that can lead to irreversible kidney damage and metabolic disorders.Children and the elderly, as well as women during pregnancy, are at risk for developing such complications.
How to prevent cystitis
When the first symptoms appear, you should take active treatment measures under the supervision of a doctor.To determine the treatment tactics, you must pass an examination and determine the causes of inflammation.Collecting complaints, symptoms and suspected causes will help in this.
Considering that the cause of inflammation is most often bacteria, patients are prescribed antibiotics, as well as baths with anti-inflammatory solutions and other recommendations that will help to cope with inflammation quickly.
In the future, it is recommended to adhere to the following rules:
- Maintain drinking regime.
This is the main rule that must be followed especially strictly.
- Go to the toilet with the first stimulation.
If you feel the encouragement to urinate, you should go to the toilet right away;Strictly forbidden to endure it.By the way, this rule should be followed outside the cystitis.
- Observe personal hygiene rules.
When washing, the flow of water and hand movements should be directed by the pub to the anus.The same rule should be followed during all manipulations.During personal hygiene, it is not recommended to use strong brushes or rub the area around the vagina and anus very intensely.
- Take a shower.
Unlike a bath, the shower allows the water to dry and prevent the spread of infection.
- Decide your bladder.
You should visit the toilet and empty your bladder before and after sexual intercourse.A popular book described the situation: with a full bladder, the body is brighter and stronger.In fact, this is not true, the only desire is to visit the toilet faster, and the cystitis symptoms will not take much time to appear.