Bladder infection, urinary bladder infection or cystitis are the manifold names for an infection or inflammation of the bladder or urinary tract. Mostly women suffer from this disease. Typical signs of cystitis are pain and burning in the lower abdomen during urination and constant urge to urinate.
What is cystitis?
Schematic diagram showing the anatomy and structure of the urinary bladder. Click to enlarge. Bladder infections (also: urinary bladder infections, cystitis) are usually recognized quite quickly by those affected. Pain in the lower abdomen, a constant urge to urinate and pain when urinating are the typical symptoms of this disease. In most cases, the entire wall or mucous membrane of the urinary bladder is inflamed, which is the cause of the unbearable pain. Among doctors, cystitis is also called bladder catarrh or urinary tract infection. In bladder infections, a distinction is made between acute, which occur suddenly, or chronic, which always recur. During pregnancy, the risk of an infection increases because urine flows more slowly through the urethra and therefore it can no longer be cleaned sufficiently. Pregnant women should therefore additionally support their bladder during pregnancy with herbal remedies from the pharmacy. Thus, you protect yourself from cystitis.
Causes
Bladder infections are usually caused by bacteria from the intestinal flora, but worms or viruses can also trigger the inflammation. These enter the urethra through smear infections or through feces. There, the bacteria migrate up and infect the bladder. Women are predominantly affected by cystitis because their urethra is shorter than that of men and is also closer to the anus. Especially during sexual intercourse, many women contract cystitis due to smear infections. That is why women suffer from cystitis more often.
Symptoms, complaints and signs
An inflammation of the bladder is noticeable by typical symptoms. These include, first and foremost, a frequent urge to urinate and a burning sensation when urinating. Inflammation of the urinary bladder is usually limited to the lower urinary tract. In uncomplicated cystitis, symptoms occur that are considered characteristic of the disease. These are a frequent urge to urinate, burning pain when urinating, and frequent passing of small amounts of urine. It is not uncommon for affected individuals to experience the sensation of pushing against resistance when going to the toilet. Because the bladder contracts like a cramp when urinating, this results in pain. If only small amounts of urine are passed when going to the toilet, although there is a strong urge to urinate, doctors refer to this as pollakiuria. In the case of cystitis, however, other symptoms are possible, such as hematuria (blood in the urine) or cloudy-looking and unpleasant-smelling urine. The urge to urinate is particularly intense at night, which doctors call nocturia. In some cases, the inflammation of the bladder spreads to other organs such as the kidneys or the male prostate gland. This becomes noticeable through further complaints such as pain in the back or on the flanks or fever. If women suffer from an inflamed bladder, it is not uncommon for them to experience intense discharge. This is especially the case when the inflammation spreads to the vagina.
Course
Cystitis is diagnosed by a doctor based on a urine test. If the urine is purulent, bloody or smells unpleasant, this is already a clear sign of cystitis. During a microscopic examination, the doctor will detect white blood cells, mucus, cellular debris or bacteria in the urine if the test is positive. If cystitis is diagnosed early, it heals completely within a few days in most cases. However, if diagnosed late, the bacteria can travel through the ureter to other organs and damage them. If they infect the kidneys, for example, this can lead to renal pelvic inflammation, which is manifested by fever, chills and pain when urinating. If the infestation is particularly severe, it can even lead to kidney failure. In addition, untreated cystitis can develop into blood poisoning. Should the inflammation recur over and over again, the bladder can be permanently damaged.Necrosis, the tissue, may die or harden. This reduces the size of the bladder and, in particularly severe cases, it must be surgically removed. Therefore, never underestimate cystitis.
Complications
Cystitis can lead to complications, especially if it is left untreated. Mild forms do not necessarily need to be treated with antibiotics, although it is strongly recommended if symptoms worsen. Antibiotics kill the pathogens and prevent them from spreading through the ureter. If this does not happen, the risk of chronic cystitis, which occurs again and again at relatively short intervals, and other diseases increases. These can include inflammation of the kidneys or renal pelvis, the course of which is much more severe than in the case of simple cystitis. If no further action is taken, even blood poisoning is possible as a result of the inflammation of the renal pelvis. While in men the epididymis can also be affected by the pathogens, cystitis is particularly critical for pregnant women, as it can lead to premature births and miscarriages. For this reason, pregnant women are regularly checked for it. However, even with antibiotic therapy, it is possible for the above complications to occur. Especially in the case of multiple cystitis, the pathogens can develop resistance to the drug used. Therefore, it should not be taken longer than necessary. The antibiotics themselves can also cause side effects, as they also attack bacteria that are not harmful to humans. In addition, gastrointestinal symptoms and allergies may occur.
When should you go to the doctor?
Cystitis is a condition that is common, especially in women, and it is not uncommon for it to pass without medical attention. Nevertheless, there are a number of reasons that may make a visit to the doctor necessary. First of all, this concerns the duration of the symptoms. Many sufferers manage to effectively combat the symptoms by drinking enough fluids, keeping warm (both on the abdomen and in the area of the feet) and, if necessary, home remedies such as taking products that contain a high percentage of cranberry. However, if the signs of cystitis have not disappeared after a few days, a medical check-up is advisable. This is especially true for patients who are pregnant or currently undergoing treatment for unfulfilled desire to have children. In addition to the persistence of the symptoms, there are a number of other symptoms that should be evaluated by a physician. These include blood in the urine, annoying itching in the intimate area, severe pain in the abdominal area and kidneys, and especially fever. Here, a serious infection should be ruled out, which could possibly reach the kidneys via the urinary tract. This can lead not only to massive pain, but also to other serious complications that require rapid therapeutic help. The earlier the visit to the doctor, the faster the medical measures usually take effect.
Treatment and therapy
A akzte cystitis, is usually treated with antibiotics, because so the symptoms disappear quickly. The duration of intake is usually between three to ten days. Unfortunately, however, some pathogens of the bladder infection are now resistant to the active ingredient of the antibiotic, so that in special cases quinolones are also prescribed. Antibiotics are also prescribed for chronic cystitis. However, this is taken over a period of four to six weeks, in some cases even longer. Often, painkillers are also prescribed for the discomfort of urination. If you would like to speed up the healing process yourself, make sure that you drink plenty of fluids. This will help you flush the bacteria out of your body more quickly and also cleanse the urinary tract. A hot water bottle or sitz baths can also relax your lower body and thus relieve pain. Also, make sure to wrap your lower body as warm as possible. Bacteria have a hard time multiplying in warmth, which leads to faster healing. It is best to go directly to the doctor for cystitis.
Outlook and prognosis
Most bladder infections are harmless and heal well at the latest with the administration of antibiotics. This is also true for people who suffer from cystitis very often.Even in them, the inflammations are usually classified as harmless, especially if they are treated well and quickly. Nevertheless, the risk of suffering from cystitis increases with age, especially in women. The prognosis regarding the occurrence of further bladder infections can worsen here due to some risk factors. These include, for example, a high residual urine volume, the development of pathogen resistance or a general susceptibility to infection. Accordingly, those affected are more frequently and severely affected by bladder infections. The only cases in which cystitis can become severe are when the bacteria migrate to the kidneys and when there is a lack of treatment despite a long-lasting infection. The first case can progress to kidney and renal pelvic inflammation, which in the worst case leads to blood sepsis, which is life-threatening. Nevertheless, an inflammation involving the kidneys will heal without consequences after professional treatment. Drinking plenty of fluids accelerates the healing of cystitis by draining the bacteria. Furthermore, home remedies (e.g. cranberry juice) have a positive effect on healing. Accordingly, the healing process can be accelerated.
Aftercare
Cystitis is a disease that can not infrequently change from an acute course to a chronic appearance. For this reason, consistent follow-up care is very important. This can also prevent the clinical picture from shifting upwards from the bladder area to the kidney area. Follow-up care can be carried out by the patient himself, also in conjunction with the family doctor or urologist, and is closely linked to behaviors that prevent the disease from flaring up again. In this context, sufficient drinking quantity is a particularly significant criterion for efficient aftercare. This is because cystitis is based on bacterial processes. If the urinary tract is supplied with sufficient fluid, it is possible to flush out such bacteria effectively so that they cannot ascend to the kidney area and multiply. It is also important that the patient does not force urine back for this reason, but visits a toilet when the bladder filling condition is reached. There are a number of natural remedies that have proven to be very effective in bladder infections and are therefore valuable helpers with no side effects during follow-up care. These include cranberries and preparations with cranberries, which have proven to be powerful partners against acute and recurrent, that is, recurring cystitis. Heat to the feet and lower trunk area can also support bladder infection follow-up.
Here’s what you can do yourself
The most important thing to do in the event of cystitis is to drink plenty of fluids and pass plenty of urine, as this is how pathogens are flushed out. Drinking at least two liters a day should be maintained. In the course of this, the environment in the bladder itself can also be influenced in such a way that it prevents bacteria from growing. The drinking quantity should be strictly adhered to despite the pain during urination, because concentrated urine irritates the bladder and urinary tract even more. Also, any prescribed antibiotic therapy should be continued. While sugar helps bacteria to grow, cranberry, cranberry and blueberry juice, thanks to the substance proanthocyanidin contained in them, can make it more difficult for the pathogens to take hold in the bladder wall, which further facilitates flushing. In combination with special kidney and bladder tesses, which contain plant-based diuretic substances, the bladder is thus cleansed. Coffee, alcohol and citrus juices are not recommended, as they further irritate the bladder, making it more susceptible to bacteria. Hot water bottles on the lower abdomen or between the legs can help the sufferer to relieve the pain. Sitz baths also have a relaxing effect and can also make urination easier. Sitting upright when going to the toilet also ensures a better and more thoroughly emptied bladder.
