The occurrence of cystitis: characteristics of the disease and methods of its treatment

No person is immune from cystitis, and gender and age category do not matter at all.However, due to anatomical features, cystitis develops in women much more often than in the stronger sex.What are we talking about when doctors make such a diagnosis?Cystitis refers to inflammatory processes occurring in the genitourinary system and affecting primarily the bladder and urinary canals.The disease is accompanied by pain and increased frequency of urinary processes.

important.In the absence of timely, competent treatment, the disease threatens to become chronic, which is fraught with annual exacerbations accompanied by unpleasant manifestations.

Therefore, when the first symptoms that indicate the formation of cystitis appear, it is necessary to contact a treating specialist to confirm the diagnosis and develop a therapeutic regimen.

How are inflammatory processes classified?

When determining the diagnosis, doctors take into account the classifications divided by morphology, symptoms, provoking causes and other numerous factors.In accordance with the stages of development of the pathology, the following are distinguished:

• Acute cystitis.In this case, inflammatory processes appear suddenly, quite a short time after the patient is affected by the etiological factor in the formation of the disease.In this case, the symptoms that occur are very vivid, as a result of which the victim can accurately name the day when the pathology began.Most susceptible to the effects of acute cystitis are women aged 20-40.According to statistics, the number of thirty-year-old women of the fairer sex who have suffered from the disease reaches 30%.In men, according to statistics, only seven out of 10,000 people suffer from an acute form of cystitis.Usually, the development of this form is provoked by various bacterial pathogens.
• Chronic cystitis.In this form, inflammatory processes in the mucous membrane of the bladder are constantly present, periods of exacerbation alternate with remissions.In most cases, they arise against the background of an acute inflammatory process.Chronic cystitis in women and even in men is diagnosed quite often, because many patients do not go to medical facilities on time.

In turn, there are several types of chronic cystitis, which depend on the clinical course of the disease:

• Latent form.It is characterized by an asymptomatic course for a long time, exacerbations are observed often or are quite rare and can occur twice a year.Usually, latent pathology does not cause particular problems for the patient;accordingly, it is discovered quite by accident when being screened for other problems.
• Interstitial form.Problems with this form mainly affect the excretory system.Despite the fact that the origin of the disease is not bacterial, it is very difficult to treat.
• Stable form.The pathology arises as a result of an advanced infectious process and on the basis of cystitis, which proceeds in an acute form.

Due to the constantly existing inflammation, the mucous membrane changes its structure and accordingly other forms of the disease develop - ulcerative, polypous, encrusting, cystic and necrotic.In addition, there are differences in the course of the pathology;accordingly, cystitis can be:

• Primary– develops as an independent disease, the appearance of which is provoked by bacterial agents penetrating the mucous membrane of the organ, and other causes.
• Secondary- its formation occurs in parallel with the main pathology, and cystitis in this case should be perceived as a complication.

Secondary cystitis is divided into two more large groups - one includes the extravesical form of the pathology, the second is the secondary cystic type of the disease.The development of cystic cystitis is due to the presence of tumors, stones in the bladder, abnormalities in its formation, injuries and consequences of surgery.The appearance of extravesical pathology is provoked by other pathological and other conditions related to the functionality of the bladder, including pregnancy, the presence of prostate adenoma and damage to other systems or organs.

Reasons for the formation of the pathological process

The reasons that contribute to the formation of the inflammatory process are classified according to the etiology of the phenomenon.Cystitis can be:

• Infectious.It is provoked by viruses, bacteria or fungi that penetrate the urethral canal in an ascending or descending way and penetrate the mucous membrane of the bladder, after which they have a pathogenic effect on organs and systems.This type of pathology is diagnosed in 80%.
• Traumatic.It usually develops against the background of organ damage, which is accompanied by an infectious infection.
• Postoperative.Pathology may develop due to the need to use a urinary catheter after surgery.However, it is not able to completely prevent the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the urethral canal.
• diabetic.It occurs as a secondary pathology in patients with diabetes mellitus.
• Allergic.The pathological phenomenon is provoked by various means for maintaining intimate hygiene, which can cause an allergic reaction in the patient.
• Dyshormonal.It is very often observed in women during menopause due to changes in the hormonal system, due to which the functionality of other organs changes.

There are other reasons that can provoke the formation of cystitis.In this way, inflammatory processes can be caused by taking certain pharmaceutical drugs that provoke the production of acrolein.This substance irritates the lining of the bladder.The risk of cystitis increases if the following factors are present:

• Wearing synthetic underwear, especially when it fits tightly to the body.At the same time, the active reproduction of bacteria in the genitals begins.
• Indiscriminate sexual contacts with untested partners will inevitably become the cause of a sexually transmitted infectious pathology at some point.And any such disease can provoke cystitis.
• The presence of intestinal diseases and constipation, which leads to the active proliferation of opportunistic microorganisms that can penetrate the urinary tract.
• Some kidney diseases can develop in the bladder.
• An insufficiently strong immune system is unable to resist pathogenic microorganisms that enter the urethral canal.

Despite the fact that the causes of cystitis in women and men are largely similar, there are some differences.Thus, in most cases, the fairer sex suffers due to the structure of the urethra.Its opening is located next to the anus, and the canal itself is large in width and short in length.This anatomical feature greatly facilitates the penetration of bacteria and E. coli into the canal.

Causes of cystitis in women also include hormonal changes during pregnancy;such changes can significantly undermine local immunity.We must not forget about menopause, when the production of estrogen in the female body significantly decreases.But it is this hormone that directly affects the bladder membrane.The structure of the female reproductive system is also important - it includes many organs that are characterized by the development of inflammatory processes, which are subsequently transferred to the urinary system.

Men suffer from cystitis many times less than women, but they have their own specific factors, the presence of which causes the formation of pathology:

• Stagnation of urine in the presence of mechanical obstacles - stones, neoplasms, diverticula, foreign objects that prevent the outflow of liquid.
• Phimosis characterized by narrowing of the foreskin.
• Inflammatory processes can be triggered by an infection that spreads from the urethral canal, prostate, seminal vesicles, testicles and appendages.

important.There are other factors that are unrelated to the genitourinary system, but contribute to the development of cystitis in the stronger sex - diabetes, stressful situations, abuse of spicy foods and alcoholic beverages.

Spinal cord injuries, hypothermia, and transurethral surgery can have a negative impact.

How does cystitis manifest itself?

The symptoms accompanying the inflammatory processes can be different and depend on the form of the pathology.It should be remembered that the symptoms and treatment of cystitis in women, men and children are closely related.Acute and chronic cystitis manifest differently;in the first case, a sudden onset is characteristic:

• Too frequent processes of urination, reaching 8-15 visits to the toilet, while the unit volumes of urine are small.
• At the end of emptying the bladder, there is pain and soreness in the urethra.
• The pulling pain occurs in the lower abdomen, above the pubis, in the lower back and in the pelvis.
• Chills appear during urination.
• After the process of urination, a feeling of an incompletely emptied bladder remains.
• The temperature may rise slightly, but more often it stays within the normal range.
• There is a general feeling of malaise.
• The separated urine is not transparent enough;in a cloudy liquid, bloody inclusions can be observed, which are released in small quantities in the last moments of urination.

If the treatment of the acute form is timely and adequate, the negative symptoms disappear after three to five days.As for the chronic form of the pathology, such a diagnosis is made when exacerbations are observed every year at least twice or negative symptoms are constantly present, but not clearly expressed.During exacerbations, signs of pathology are characteristic of the acute form, and during remissions, symptoms may be completely absent.In this case, the analyzes will not have any deviations.The most characteristic signs of chronic cystitis are:

• Frequent - up to 9-12 times - urination, during which moderate pain and a burning sensation periodically appear.Throughout the day there is an alternation of painful and normal processes.
• Even a slight cooling of the body or violation of the principles of healthy eating leads to discomfort when passing urine.Often the discomfort develops into an exacerbation and the clinical picture becomes bright.
• The pain in the lumbar region, in the region above the pubis, in the pelvis becomes constant, although weak.
• From time to time the patient is disturbed by the imperative desire to urinate;become more noticeable during the cold period.
• The separated liquid not only becomes cloudy, but also begins to smell unpleasant.
• At night there is a desire to urinate, which is typical of pathologies of the prostate gland, often accompanied by chronic cystitis.
• The changes also affect the psycho-emotional state, the patient becomes depressed.

Separately, the signs of cystitis in women carrying a child should be considered.As practice shows, they are more susceptible to pathology than other patients.This phenomenon is due to changes in hormonal levels;under the influence of estrogens and progesterone, cystitis can develop in the initial stages of pregnancy.At the same time, it is quite difficult to distinguish it from the usual frequent urination, which is natural in such a condition.However, it is indicative of the absence of pain and burning, the urine remains clear, there is no chill, and when examining the urine there are no traces of inflammation, which usually accompanies cystitis.

In the second half of term, trips to the toilet become even more frequent as the enlarged uterus puts more and more pressure on the bladder.However, the phenomenon itself does not refer to the symptoms of cystitis.The uterus puts pressure on the ureters, so the outflow of urine from the kidneys worsens.The result is an expansion of the renal cavities, in which urine stagnates and pyelonephritis can develop, which is sometimes accompanied by cystitis.

Often, the situation is the opposite - the pregnant woman has no signs of cystitis, but inflammatory changes are detected when examining the urine.The diagnosis in this case sounds like "asymptomatic bacteriuria".If such conditions occur, there is no need for hospitalization, as they are eliminated quite easily with conservative treatment.

Another situation that requires separate consideration is chronic inflammation in women aged 50 or older.The formation of cystitis is associated with a decrease in the level of estrogen produced, which leads to dryness of the mucous membranes of the genitourinary system.As a result, cracks can form on the surface of the areas near the labia and perineum, through which an infection can penetrate.Pathological microorganisms, once on the mucous membranes, are easily moved to the bladder, especially since in old age the tone of the lower urinary tract is significantly reduced.The situation is often aggravated by urinary incontinence, which is typical of the older generation and develops against the background of weakened pelvic floor muscles.The combination of these factors provokes the formation of cystitis.

Methods for diagnosing cystitis

Correct diagnosis is a guarantee that the specialist will develop the most effective therapeutic regimen for each patient.However, the techniques used in the presence of acute and chronic forms may be different.In case of acute cystitis should be prescribed:

• General examination of urine.When examining the fluid, leukocytes can be found in large quantities, which indicates the presence of inflammatory processes.Traces of epithelium in the urine sample indicate that the inflammation is localized from the renal pelvis to the bladder.The presence of red blood cells indicates damaged capillaries.
• An ultrasound examination of the entire urinary system and separately of the bladder is prescribed.This method allows you to identify indirect signs of inflammatory processes occurring in the mucous membrane of the organ.Ultrasound helps detect stones and sand, which when moving can injure mucous membranes and other layers, often causing secondary inflammation and further damage to blood vessels.
• Examination of the flora under a microscope is carried out in order to identify the cause of the pathology and to confirm the fact that it provokes the formation of inflammatory processes.
• In parallel with checking the microflora, it is recommended to carry out an antibiogram, which allows to determine which drugs the pathogen is resistant to and which will be most effective.

When diagnosing chronic cystitis, the doctor prescribes a general urine test, ultrasound, sampling for flora and the same antibiogram.These studies can be supplemented with a liquid test to determine the content of leukocytes, red blood cells and casts in 1 ml of urine, together with a three-cup sample.These types of analysis will allow you to distinguish other diseases that develop in the genitourinary system.

Traditional treatment using drugs

Let's look at the treatment of cystitis in women.To begin with, in case of exacerbation of the disease, the patient needs to rest and temporarily stop sexual intercourse - she will have to give up intimacy for at least 10 days.The doctor prescribes a number of drugs that will relieve inflammation and eliminate negative symptoms.In order to achieve the greatest effect, the treatment should be comprehensive and based on the type of pathology and the stage of its development.In the treatment of cystitis in women, drugs should include antimicrobial agents, which can belong to different groups:

• Fluoroquinolones.
• Tetracyclines.
• Cephalosporins.
• Macrolides.
• Aminoglycosides.
• Penicillin derivatives.
• Fosfomycins.

In cases where uncomplicated pathology is treated, antimicrobial tablets for cystitis in women are taken for three to seven days.In addition to antibiotics are prescribed:

• Short courses antispasmodics.
• Anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Plant-based diuretics - these can be kidney teas, preparations based on extracts.
• Immunomodulators, including the juice of the herb Echinacea purpurea, ginseng root, and other similar agents.
• Nutritional supplements.

In addition, instillations of the bladder can be prescribed - the organ is washed with antiseptic solutions, followed by the administration of drugs.Usually, this technique is indicated for radiation therapy, chronic cystitis, intolerance to antimicrobial agents and in some cases in women who give birth.

Cystitis in women at home can be alleviated by applying a warm heating pad - it should be placed on the stomach or placed between the legs, but only if the form of the disease is not hemorrhagic.Physiotherapy can be used when magnetic therapy is applied to the bladder section.You should also adjust your drinking regimen by drinking at least one and a half liters of purified water in a 24-hour period.

Usually, acute cystitis can be eliminated within 3-5 days.However, if symptoms persist, the use of antimicrobial agents may be extended with the replacement of the primary drug, as the pathogen may not be sensitive to the previous drug.If the form of the pathology is chronic, the treatment is aimed at the absence of relapses for a year or more and the elimination of symptoms.In some cases, surgical intervention is necessary, without which it is difficult to get rid of cystitis.

How to eat if you develop cystitis

Proper nutrition is of great importance when cystitis occurs.The basis of the scheme is the elimination of the inflammatory process.Accordingly, the diet should contain easily digestible foods and a well-chosen drinking regime.As for the principles of therapeutic nutrition, they should be as follows:

• The selected foods and drinks should have a diuretic effect.
• It is recommended that salt consumption be kept to a minimum.
• Spicy, fatty, fried foods, canned foods and smoked foods are removed from the menu.
• It is best to process food by steaming or boiling.
• The protein content of food should be minimal.
• You will have to give up sugar and its substitutes.
• Products should not cause constipation.

During exacerbations, strict adherence to the diet is necessary;the selection of drinks is of great importance.In addition to ordinary water, it is recommended to take mineral water with calcium chloride, you can cook compotes from fruits without sugar and squeeze juices from vegetables.The menu should include pumpkin juice, which has an excellent diuretic effect.Cranberry and blueberry fruit drinks will help to eliminate inflammatory processes.Once a day it is useful to take herbal tea with the addition of a spoonful of natural honey;it should be prepared using bilberry leaves and corn silk.

The menu should include fresh fruits and vegetables;preference is given to cucumbers and zucchini, carrots, spinach and pumpkin, pears and pomegranates, watermelons.Dairy products should be consumed with caution as they contain fat and calcium.Once a day it is allowed to eat a small portion of natural cottage cheese or yogurt, unsalted cheese with minimal fat content.Meat and fish should be avoided during an exacerbation, gradually introducing low-fat varieties after improvement.The basis of almost any diet is oatmeal made from whole grains;with cystitis, bran can be added to the menu.When preparing salads, you should use olive oil or sunflower oil as a dressing.It is allowed to eat a handful of pine nuts within 24 hours.

There are also strict prohibitions that cannot be ignored.The diet for cystitis excludes the use of:

• Fruits with a high content of fruit acids, as they provoke irritation of the mucous membranes and prevent the healing of the surface.The list includes apples, avocados, peaches and cantaloupe, citrus fruits and pineapple.
• The use of vinegar is prohibited.
• You cannot use sauces - mayonnaise, ketchup, soy seasonings.They are high in fat and salt.
• Sugar and sweet desserts are not indicated, since this is a favorite dish of pathogenic microorganisms, which contributes to their active reproduction.
• Alcohol promotes the removal of fluid, which leads to dehydration and irritation of the damaged organ;coffee and strongly brewed tea act in a similar way.
• Prohibited vegetables include asparagus, tomatoes and legumes, onions and garlic, radishes and radishes, horseradish.

important.You should completely eliminate from your diet all those foods that provoke and intensify the irritation and inflammatory processes occurring in the bladder.

Prognosis for the development of cystitis and preventive measures

It should be understood that a person should be afraid not so much of cystitis as of possible complications, including impaired urine circulation, kidney damage, which leads to the development of pyelonephritis and nephritis, a weakened sphincter, which contributes to urinary incontinence.There may be a decrease in organ size and loss of elasticity.Another terrible consequence is infertility, which is caused by constant inflammation.

However, in the acute form of the pathology, the prognosis is quite favorable, unless we are talking about the development of a gangrenous or necrotic type of disease.If the acute form develops against the background of impaired urine outflow, which is possible with vaginal prolapse, prostate adenoma, bladder diverticulum and others, the disease may become chronic, but the prognosis for recovery is unfavorable.Prevention of pathology can significantly reduce the risk of cystitis:

• It is necessary to avoid hypothermia and wetting of the feet.
• Competent diet and proper menu planning are important.
• Careful intimate hygiene is necessary.
• Annual gynecological examination for women and regular prostate examination for men over forty are important.
• It is necessary to strengthen the immune system.
• It is necessary to normalize stools if there is constipation.

In addition, you need to treat chronic kidney diseases and eliminate sexually acquired infections.In chronic forms of cystitis, herbal preparations and diuretics should be taken at intervals of three months to prevent exacerbations.