Therapy | Inflammation bladder

Therapy

Although the inflammation of the bladder is generally not expected to cause serious complications, it should be treated with antibiotics. Although a purely symptomatic therapy is also possible in principle, the decline in the infection can be greatly accelerated by antibiotics. An outpatient and short-term therapy with an orally taken antibiotic is sufficient.

Typical antibiotics used to treat the inflammation of the bladder are so-called quinolones (e.g. ciprofloxacin), cephalosporins or cotrimoxazole. Which antibiotic is prescribed by the doctor depends on individual circumstances. These include, for example, existing allergies or intolerances, but also regional peculiarities in the pathogen spectrum.

The antibiotic must be taken in any case, as with each antibiotic treatment, up to the end of the prescribed time. Even if the symptoms disappear earlier. Penicillins or cephalosporins are used during pregnancy to prevent damage to mother and child by the inflammation.

For pain relief, drugs such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can be taken. Many patients also report the helpful effect of heat pads. If necessary, a bladder muscle relaxing medication can also be added to make urination easier.

As an independent supplement to the therapy, care should be taken to drink as much fluid as possible. This is best in the form of water or herbal teas. A special effectiveness of the “kidney and bladder teas” could not be proven so far.

As a rule, a drinking quantity of at least 2-3 liters is appropriate. In patients with heart failure, the drinking quantity should be discussed with the doctor. The increased flushing of the urinary tract can reduce the number of bacteria or wash them out. It is also important to ensure that the bladder is emptied as completely as possible. There are also indications that cranberry juice has a positive effect on the course of urinary tract infections.

Prophylaxis

A targeted prophylaxis is not possible. In most cases, certain people have an increased risk of repeatedly developing bladder inflammation, e.g. due to certain anatomical conditions. By drinking enough, the urinary tract is flushed better, which can prevent infections from rising into the bladder.

In addition, especially in winter, you should ensure that you have sufficiently warm clothing, e.g. sufficiently long coats. Hygiene is also extremely important. For example, women should make sure that after going to the toilet the cleaning is always done from the direction of the vagina to the anus.

Otherwise faecal germs, which are part of the natural flora in the intestine, can enter the vagina and thus the urethra and cause an inflammation of the bladder there. Women should also make sure to urinate promptly after sexual intercourse to flush out any germs. The use of washing lotions, intimate sprays or the like should be avoided in the genital area, as these can destroy the normal bacteria flora and thus contribute to increased infections. There is also a vaccination against cystitis, which can lead to urinary tract infections occurring less frequently.