Visits to the bathroom are becoming more frequent, but less and less productive: only a little urine can be squeezed out, sometimes mixed with blood.There is pain during and after urinating.Sometimes there is a persistent pain above the pubis.These are all symptoms of cystitis, a disease that most often affects women.And although cystitis is not life-threatening, it is very capable of ruining several of your days.
The aim of this article is to inform you how you can treat cystitis at home and how to deal with this disease as quickly as possible.
What is cystitis?
Cysitis is an infectious disease.But its pathogens live in our own body.In 85-95% of cases, the cause of urinary tract infections is E. coli, a common inhabitant of the intestines.Another typical pathogen is Staphylococcus saprophyticus, a representative of the skin microflora.And they enter the bladder ascending: from the skin or from the rectum through the urethra.
How to prevent cystitis?
It is the anatomical characteristics (larger bladder volume and short urethra) that determine the prevalence of cystitis among women.
It is clear why women suffer from cystitis more often: it is all a matter of anatomy.The urethra in women is much shorter than in men and the bladder is larger, meaning it can be emptied less frequently.But a stream of urine quite effectively eliminates microorganisms that have penetrated the urinary canal.Hence the first rule for women: if you do not want to suffer from cystitis, go to the bathroom every 3-4 hours.
Another common cause of cystitis is microtrauma to the female urethra during sexual intercourse.The so-called defloration cystitis usually ruins the honeymoon.Tips for loving men: don't forget about intimate hygiene.Tip for smart women: Emptying your bladder before and after sex greatly reduces the risk of infection.
When should you see a doctor?
No woman is immune to isolated cases of cystitis.However, if dysuria returns, it is advisable to undergo a complete examination.
Pregnancy is a particularly dangerous time.The functioning of the immune system and hormonal levels change, the growing uterus displaces the bladder, disrupting the outflow of urine and, as a result, infection.Meanwhile, bacteriuria increases the risk of premature birth by 2 times, so cystitis during this period is not at all harmless.
If symptoms of the disease occur in a man, he should immediately and without fail consult a specialist;Cystitis in men is almost always secondary.And the fundamental cause may be prostate disease, diabetes or urolithiasis.In addition, cystitis-like symptoms may appear in non-gonococcal urethritis (its probable causative agents are chlamydia, mycoplasma, trichomonas) and tuberculosis of the bladder.
The doctor will perform urine and blood tests, microflora cultures, probably refer you for an ultrasound of the bladder, possibly a cystoscopy, and take swabs from the urethra.If the examination shows that cystitis is not complicated, chances are that you will be able to cope with your symptoms on your own.
What to do if you have cystitis?
- It is highly advisable to stay in bed during an exacerbation, under a warm blanket, with a heating pad on the lower abdomen (if the blood is not excreted in the urine, we cancel the heating pad).
- Drink as much as possible.Tea: only with milk, coffee and beer are excluded.Cranberry, lingonberry and cranberry fruit drinks are very welcome (the proantianides they contain prevent bacteria from adhering to the bladder wall), a good decoction of oats, bearberry, birch buds and, if blood appears, nettle.Herbal medicine is most effective in the form of preparations;The pharmacy will always offer ready-made products.
- The diet involves avoiding spices, preserves and marinades, but dairy products, fruits (especially watermelon) and vegetables will be beneficial.
- If you have cystitis, you should not go to a bath or sauna, but washing with warm water and special intimate hygiene products will help reduce discomfort after urinating.
- You can put suppositories with papaverine;this often relieves pain.
But in any case, antibacterial medications are needed to treat the infection.
If cystitis is recurrent, the patient is elderly or has diabetes mellitus, then treatment with uroseptics should be longer, at least one week.
Attention!Pregnant women are only prescribed antibiotics by their doctor after an examination;This is safer for the woman and child.
What should you be careful of?
If left untreated, a bladder infection through the ureters can spread to the kidneys and cause pyelonephritis.
If frequent and painful urination is accompanied by lower back pain and fever, then it is possible that the infection has spread to the kidneys, and here you cannot do without a doctor.
Which doctor should I contact?
At the first episode of cystitis, you can consult a therapist.If the disease has a recurrent or chronic course, you should consult a urologist and be sure to undergo cystoscopy.