Cystitis is one of the most frequently diagnosed diseases in the field of urology. This is the number 1 urological disease that almost every woman faces at least once in her life. It is an inflammatory pathology of the bladder, which occurs due to the entry of pathogenic microflora into the bladder. As a result, bacteria multiply inside the bladder, causing a series of characteristic symptoms. In rare cases, the disease appears due to allergic or toxic effects.
Important!
The information in this article should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. For the correct diagnosis and treatment, you should always consult a doctor.
Most often, cystitis occurs in women, which is associated with structural features of the urinary system. According to statistics, each year more than 30 million cases of the disease are detected in our country. In addition, more than half of annual visits to the urologist are associated with acute or chronic bladder inflammation.
Treatment of cystitis is aimed at eliminating existing symptoms and normalizing the functioning of the entire genitourinary system. In the article we will talk about the main causes of the pathology, the signs of its development, the features of therapy and prevention.
types of cystitis
Depending on the features of development and course, several types of the disease are distinguished. According to the pathogenesis (that is, the mechanism of development), cystitis of the following type is distinguished:
- Primary (without complications). It occurs as a separate independent pathology, as a rule, it occurs in relatively healthy patients who do not have urinary outflow disorders.
- Secondary (complicated). It can be the result of a violation of the flow of urine in various concomitant diseases: for example, urolithiasis or tumor formations in the pelvic organs.
Depending on the etiology (developmental causes), the following types of cystitis can be distinguished:
- Infectious. It becomes the result of bacterial action on the tissues of the organ.
- Toxic. It occurs as a result of the adverse effects of toxins, drugs, as well as due to radiation or chemotherapy.
- Allergic. It becomes a consequence of exposure to various allergens.
A separate classification of the disease is made taking into account morphological changes:
- catarrhal cystitis. It is characterized by damage to the upper layers of the mucosa of the bladder. With it, swelling and hyperemia (a state of increased blood filling of the organ) occur.
- Hemorrhagic. It leads to inflammation of the vessels, which provokes the penetration of blood into the urine.
- ulcerative fibrous. It is characterized by the spread of the inflammatory process to the muscular tissues of the organ.
- Gangrenous. Associated with the development of necrotic changes in the walls of the bladder.
- interstitial. The inflammatory process spreads to the mucosa of the organ, the submucosa and the muscular layer.
A separate form of cystitis is often called the postcoital variety ("honeymoon cystitis"). This variant of the disease occurs after defloration. This is due to the penetration of vaginal mucus into the urethra.
Also, depending on the stages of the course, acute and chronic (recurrent) cystitis are distinguished. The acute form is characterized by an uncomplicated course and has vivid symptoms. If the disease has become chronic, the patient's characteristic symptoms appear only during periods of exacerbation.
Important!
The information in this article should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. For the correct diagnosis and treatment, you should always consult a doctor.
disease symptoms
Signs of cystitis can be very diverse and often depend on the form of the pathology. If we talk about the general symptom picture, the most common is the following:
- Frequent urges to urinate (normally the number of micturitions during the day is about 6-10 times).
- Discomfort in the bladder area, feeling of fullness.
- Pain in the lower abdomen.
- Burning and cutting when urinating.
- Change in urine color, presence of impurities (blood or mucus).
There are also general symptoms of intoxication. A woman may experience chills, weakness, fatigue, fever, heavy sweating. In severe cases, due to damage to the muscular layer of the bladder, urinary incontinence occurs.
Cystitis can become a manifestation of any urological disease, therefore the clinical picture largely depends on the nature of the underlying pathology. Also, symptoms of the disease may include signs of inflammatory diseases of the organs of the reproductive system. Unfortunately, in women, this combination is extremely common.
Causes of cystitis
The pathology is one of the polyetiological (that is, multicausal), so several factors contribute to its development. The main cause of the appearance is the entry into the bladder of various microorganisms. In almost 90% of cases, it is E. coli, which lives in the rectum and is found near the urinary organs. Also, the inflammatory process is caused by other bacteria and microorganisms: Candida fungi, chlamydia, herpes viruses, etc.
Pathological organisms can enter the urinary system in various ways. There are the following forms of penetration:
- Upward. Most often, pathogenic microflora enter the bladder through the urethra.
- descendingIn this case, microorganisms penetrate from the kidneys (for example, in the presence of pyelonephritis).
- lymphogenic. Associated with lymph flow, through which organisms enter the bladder from other organs of the small pelvis, in the presence of inflammation in them.
- hematogenous. Infection occurs from distant inflammatory foci due to blood flow.
There are several reasons why cystitis is more common in women than in men. These include the following:
- The special structure of the reproductive system, which contributes to the spread of bacteria and infections in the urinary system.
- A short urethra, which is located near the anus (a place where various bacteria accumulate).
- Frequent hormonal fluctuations, which can weaken the body's immunity.
Risk factor's
There are factors that increase the risk of developing bladder inflammation. These include:
- Hypothermia of the pelvic organs.
- Decreased immunity.
- Constant overwork, frequent stress.
- Violation of the rules of intimate hygiene.
- Tendency to constipation.
- Abuse of spicy and spicy foods.
- Stagnation in the pelvic organs.
- Chronic pathologies of the genitourinary system.
- Alcohol abuse.
- Congenital pathologies of the urinary organs.
Another factor for the development of such an infection is pregnancy. According to statistics, every tenth pregnant girl experiences symptoms of inflammation of the bladder. This condition leads to a decrease in general immunity, a change in hormone levels, an increase in the size of the uterus, and a deterioration in the blood supply to the bladder.
Also, the disease is often diagnosed in patients in menopause. Starting at age 50 or 55, estrogen levels drop, often leading to a weakening of the lining of the bladder.
In many patients, acute or chronic cystitis manifests during menstruation. This is because the bacteria enter the urethra along with menstrual blood. The following factors can provoke such a condition during menstruation:
- Thrush or other infectious pathologies.
- Inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs.
- Decreased general immunity.
- sexually transmitted infections
- Allergic reaction to sanitary pads or tampons.
- Failure to comply with hygiene regulations.
treatment characteristics
The diagnosis of "cystitis" is made on the basis of the patient's complaints and an examination by a urologist or gynecologist, and some instrumental tests and examinations are also mandatory.
The doctor prescribes the woman:
- general urinalysis;
- clinical blood test;
- urine culture, bacteriological examination (if complicated cystitis is suspected).
With a recurrent course of the disease, a smear and seeding of vaginal discharge, an analysis for antibodies to the herpes virus, scrapings from the urethra and cervical canal may be prescribed. These procedures help identify factors that cause relapses.
Instrumental techniques are also important in the diagnosis of pathology. Among them:
- Ultrasound of the pelvic organs and the bladder.
- Magnetic resonance imaging of the genitourinary system.
- Cystoscopy with biopsy (with complicated or recurrent course).
Such diagnostic procedures allow you to determine the presence of pathology and the causes of its occurrence. Based on the data obtained, a specialist can draw up a treatment regimen for cystitis. The therapy is based on an integrated approach, which aims to achieve the following goals:
- Carrying out antibacterial and symptomatic therapy, elimination of existing symptoms.
- Prevention of possible complications.
- Prevention of recurrence of pathology.
Antibacterial and symptomatic therapy includes taking various medications. These can be analgesic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, etc. The purpose of its administration is to relieve symptoms and eliminate the existing inflammatory process. Also, the doctor may prescribe immunomodulators or multivitamin complexes. If cystitis is recurrent, preparations based on bacteriophages are often used.
In addition, it is possible to prescribe various physiotherapeutic methods. Among them:
- Electrophoresis. Helps relieve inflammation and reduces cramps.
- Magnet therapy. Eliminates bacteria and viruses in the inflamed organ.
- Inductotherapy. Contributes to the normalization of blood flow, normalizes the urinary system.
In addition, the patient is recommended to follow several rules:
- Exclude from the diet spicy, spicy and salty foods, carbonated drinks, coffee, alcohol and sweets.
- Refuse sexual intercourse during the treatment period.
- Drink enough water (acidic fruit drinks and urological fees are also recommended).
- Refuse physical activity (including swimming in the pool and ponds).
Important!Traditional medicine methods have no proven efficacy, therefore they can only be used in combination with drugs. You can not use folk remedies on your own, be sure to consult your doctor!
Treatment is performed on an outpatient basis, with a few exceptions. Sometimes hospitalization of the patient is required, the indications for this may be:
- Severe course of the disease.
- The presence of serious concomitant diseases (for example, diabetes mellitus).
- The appearance of complications.
- Decompensated heart failure.
- Ineffectiveness of ongoing antibiotic therapy.
Symptoms and treatment of acute cystitis.
The acute form develops rapidly against the background of the relative health of the patient. The main symptom is frequent urination. Also for acute cystitis in women, symptoms such as severe pain, burning during urination, symptoms of intoxication and fever are characteristic.
There is a rapid increase in symptoms and an increase in the number of micturitions during the first day. The intervals between urination can be reduced to 5-15 minutes. At the same time, impulses occur both during the day and at night.
The condition may be accompanied by the appearance of blood in the urine and purulent discharge. The acute form of the pathology lasts on average up to 7-10 days, without the lack of adequate treatment, the disease becomes chronic with phases of exacerbation.
Symptoms and treatment of chronic cystitis.
This stage develops as a result of incorrect and/or untimely treatment of the inflammatory process. Pathology is often the result of self-medication and uncontrolled medication.
Also, the chronic form can be the result of other diseases of the genitourinary system. Cystitis is often diagnosed in patients with pyelonephritis, vulvovaginitis, and various infections of the reproductive and urinary systems.
The danger of chronic cystitis is that it occurs without pronounced symptoms. A woman may experience flares followed by remission, during which there are no problems urinating. However, during exacerbations, symptoms similar to the acute form appear. There is frequent urination with pain and pain, blood or purulent discharge often appears in the urine.
In the treatment of chronic cystitis, it is important to eliminate the factors that constantly provoke relapses. For example, during menopause and in the presence of hormonal disorders, hormone replacement therapy is prescribed. In some cases, surgery may be required to correct birth defects in the urinary system.
Possible complications
The key to successful treatment of cystitis is a timely visit to the doctor. As a rule, in such cases, therapy lasts no more than 10-12 days. However, in the absence of medical care and non-compliance with the doctor's recommendations, the patient may experience a chronic form of the disease. In this case, complications are not excluded, which include:
- pyelonephritis;
- paracystitis;
- abscess;
- urinary incontinence;
- violation of the reproductive function of the body.
Preventive therapy is recommended for patients with frequent recurrent cystitis (more than 3 exacerbations per year) to prevent possible complications. It involves taking small doses of antibiotics, but such treatment is carried out only as directed by a doctor.
disease prevention
In most cases, simple preventive measures help prevent the development of cystitis. Including, you need:
- Proper hygiene of the external genitalia.
- Observe hygiene during sexual activity.
- Drink enough clean water every day.
- Eliminate any provoking factors (stress, hypothermia, a large number of hot and spicy foods).
- Seek medical attention in a timely manner and do not treat diseases of the pelvic organs on your own.
It is also important to remember that during cystitis it is forbidden to visit a bath / sauna or to overheat the body in any way (including the use of heating pads on the lower abdomen). In the presence of a bacterial form of the disease, the reproduction of pathogenic microflora can be provoked. And this increases the risk of developing an abscess. If the disease is of a different nature, heating the tissues will accelerate blood microcirculation. This can cause blood to enter the urine and increase pain.
In the prevention of cystitis, regular emptying of the bladder and intestines is important. In addition, a woman leading an active lifestyle is recommended to include physical activity in the daily routine. This will remove congestion in the pelvic organs and normalize the urination process.
Cystitis is an extremely unpleasant disease, as it has a rapid course and can affect the quality of life. However, the correct and rational approach to treatment allows you to quickly eliminate all symptoms of the disease and avoid various complications. The most important thing in this case is not to self-medicate and not to delay contacting a doctor.
Important!
The information in this article should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. For the correct diagnosis and treatment, you should always consult a doctor.