Symptoms

Typical signs (symptoms) of cystitis are unpleasant (alguria) or painful (usually burning) urination (dysuria), burning sensation after urination, a strong and frequent urge to urinate (pollakiuria) and pressure pain in the bladder region. The time of day is irrelevant for the intensity of the pain. There is usually no fever.

In women, both complicated and uncomplicated cystitis can be caused. The forms of cystitis differ not only in the treatment but also in the symptoms. In the case of an uncomplicated cystitis, the affected women complain of a burning pain when they urinate, as well as the fact that they often have to go to the toilet, but can then only pass a few drops of urine.

In medical terminology this is known as pollakiuria. The reason for this is that temporary dysregulation can be caused in the context of inflammatory processes in the urinary tract system. In addition, an uncomplicated cystitis can provoke lower abdominal pain.

Furthermore, the urine may be altered in appearance. It can appear cloudy and fluffy and smell more strongly. Neither fever nor tapping pain when tapping the renal bed in the case of an uncomplicated cystitis occur.

On the other hand, a complicated cystitis can be recognised by the fact that the person concerned has a fever and sometimes complains of a knocking pain in the region of the kidney bed. This pain indicates that the inflammation has spread. The fever indicates that bacteria have entered the blood and there is a risk of blood poisoning.

If nitrite in the blood is detected in the laboratory values, this may also indicate that bacteria in the bloodstreamBlood in urine may be due to various triggers. These triggers can be both harmless and require treatment. In order to avoid complications and consequential damage, blood in the urine should always be clarified if its genesis is unclear.

The technical term for this is haematuria. Bloody urine can also occur in the context of a bladder infection. This can be the result of inflammatory processes in the bladder or the ureters.

If there are clearly visible changes in the urine, this is known in technical jargon as macrohaematuria. Accordingly, it is called microhaematuria if the blood particles are not visible to the naked eye, but are only detected in laboratory tests. Bloody urine can have a variety of causes and should always be clarified by a doctor.

Itching is not a classic symptom of a bladder infection, but it can be accompanied by it. In the course of antibiotic treatment in particular, it can happen that not only the bacteria that have caused the cystitis are killed by the medication, but also the bacteria that belong to the normal flora of the intimate area are destroyed. The natural environment in this area includes lactic acid bacteria, which provide a certain degree of protection against harmful bacteria, fungi and noxious substances.

If these are no longer or less present, the protective function is reduced or disappears. Consequently, the risk of developing infections with viruses, bacteria or fungi is greater. The consequence can be an accompanying itching.

The cystitis occurs preferentially in women. In particular, an uncomplicated form of cystitis occurs only in women. But a complicated cystitis can also occur in men.

Men over the age of 50 are often affected. A bladder infection in men is often associated with prostate problems. In men in particular, painful, burning urination, a reduced urine volume, sometimes cloudy, flaky urine, possibly an increased urine smell and a strong urge to urinate, as well as partial pain during bowel movements and pain in the perineal area, are common. Less frequently, men complain of painful ejaculation in the context of a bladder infection. In addition, the signs of a complicated cystitis – fever, chills and possibly knocking pain when tapping the renal bed – can occur, as with women.