Cystitis is commonly caused by a urinary tract infection, with women being the most affected.
Urine infection can cause a lot of discomfort or even pain . However, this article explains everything there is to know about suffering from cystitis, that is, what is urinary infection and what are its causes, symptoms and treatment.
What is cystitis?
Cystitis is an inflammation of the lining of the bladder . It is a generally minor health problem, but it affects many people throughout their lives.
It mostly affects women, and is manifested by a continuous and painful need to urinate. Obviously, under normal conditions there should be no pain associated with the act of urinating, so cystitis must be suspected as the main hypothesis of the discomfort.
These discomforts, which can be painful, are usually due to a urinary infection. When this happens, the problem is caused by the proliferation of some type of bacteria, Escherichia coli being one of the most common.
However, it can also be the result of damage or irritation to certain parts of the urinary tract, and in some cases there may be blood in the urine.
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Diagnosis
Diagnosis to confirm cases of cystitis is based on urinalysis . Given the suspicion that a patient may suffer from this type of inflammatory process caused by bacterial infection, the doctor considers it necessary to analyze a urine sample.
In this type of analysis, the concentration of bacteria present in the urine is examined. It ends up being a positive diagnosis in those cases in which there is a concentration greater than 100,000 CFU (colony-forming units) per milliliter of urine.
As stated above, there are cases in which the discomfort or pain is due to some type of injury to the bladder or other parts of the excretory system but is not associated with an infection. In these cases it is called non-infectious cystitis, and the causes of this damage must be explored if the symptoms do not subside.
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Causes
Bladder inflammation is usually due to infectious causes, as has been previously mentioned. It must be borne in mind that these bacteria are already present in the body before the infection, and it is that they are microorganisms that are normally part of the intestinal flora.
Typically, these bacteria have managed to enter the urinary tract. In fact, the reason why there is much more probability of suffering from cystitis in the case of women is for mere anatomical reasons.
The proximity of the end of the urethra to the anus in the case of women means that these bacteria can easily pass from the digestive system to the urinary system. However, it is important to rule out that there is any other reason if you suffer from a recurring urine infection, and in these cases it is essential to consult a doctor.
The two most common causes of cystitis without a bacterial infection are cystitis caused by radiation therapy and interstitial cystitis.
The first is suffered by patients who have received pelvic radiotherapy, while in the second case the origin of the problem is not well known. There seems to be a relationship between the lack of permeability in the lining of the bladder, the increase in histamine-producing cells and a high autoimmune response.
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Symptoms
The symptoms of cystitis are clear, although they can manifest themselves in different intensity and duration . Bladder inflammation can be more or less acute and painful, and can resolve in different periods of time.
In general, it is possible to overcome the symptoms of the infection in less than 24 hours, although there are cases in which the damage or infection is more severe. In addition, there are cases of recurrence of cystitis, which can sometimes become a chronic problem.
The clinical picture can be complicated especially if the hygiene of the area is neglected, and in some cases the infectious process can spread dangerously to the upper urinary system or to the genital area.
In general, the most common symptoms are burning or pain when urinating, a frequent urge to urinate, and a feeling of incomplete emptying of urine. However, sometimes there may also be pain and a feeling of weight in the upper pubic area and even blood in the urine.
All of these symptoms can occur at the same time or occur separately. In addition, the intensity or frequency of each of them can vary.
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Treatment
There are recommendations and drugs to combat cystitis effectively , being important first of all to drink plenty of water. Some people may find it better not to urinate less, but the urinary tract must work to expel the bacteria that cause cystitis.
On the other hand, there are medications that are very useful to eradicate the problem once the first symptoms are identified. One of the most used drugs for them is fosfomycin. It is a single-dose remedy that is taken orally and does not require a prescription, although it is not recommended to use it if you have not consulted your doctor.
On the other hand, there are antibiotics, which are used only when the doctor prescribes them. It is very important to follow the instructions related to schedules and doses for the treatment to take effect. If this treatment is not used correctly, it can favor the resistance of bacteria and make it difficult to solve the problem.
Finally, sometimes it has been considered appropriate to resort to antispasmodic drugs. However, it must be borne in mind that these drugs only manage to relieve pain, but are useless for treating the root problem.
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Bibliographic references
- Lewis, S.A. (2000). Everything you wanted to know about the bladder epithelium but were afraid to ask. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol., 278 (6), F867-74.
- Stamm, W.E. y Hooton, T.M. (1993). Management of urinary tract infections in adults, in N Engl J Med., 329 (18), 1328-1334.
- Wiles, T.J., Kulesus, R.R. y Mulvey, M.A., (2008). Origins and virulence mechanisms of uropathogenic Escherichia coli., in Exp Mol Pathol, 2008 Aug; 85(1), 11-19.
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