Cystitis is a bladder infection that causes a stinging sensation when urinating and a need to go to the bathroom with much greater frequency. Often, the term is used incorrectly to refer to many different infections and irritations of the lower urinary tract.
The most frequent cause of cystitis is an infection caused by intestinal bacteria that, from the anus, enter the urethra (the urethra is the canal through which the urine moves from the bladder out of the body) and from here towards the bladder. It mainly happens to women as they have a much shorter urethra. In normal conditions, the urine is sterile, which is to say that there are not any bacteria or other types of germs in it.
However, there may be bacteria in the bladder for many reasons without any symptoms appearing. When someone is unable to completely empty their bladder when urinating, it is called urinary retention. This small quantity of urine that always stays in the bladder may become contaminated with bacteria that may damage the inner lining of the bladder (bladder mucous membrane) and cause infection.
● Incorrect intimate hygiene: cystitis is especially frequent in women. Women and girls must clean the genital area from front to back, and not in the opposite direction, in order to avoid gut bacteria entering the urethra.
● Congenital Anomalies of the Kidney and the Urinary Tract (CAKUT): in the case of repeated infections in the urinary tract, especially in boys or young men, it is necessary to rule out the existence of a congenital anomaly (from birth) of the urinary tract, that prevents the bladder from being fully emptied.
● Increase in prostate size: when the prostate grows in size (benign prostate hyperplasia), prevents the bladder from being completely emptied, which can leave a permanent urinary residue in the bladder.
● Patients with a urinary catheter: all those patients that need a tube in order to urinate have bacteria in their bladder, although generally, they do not have symptoms. Changing the tube may cause small lesions that may increase the risk of infection -cystitis- or even blood infection.
● Pregnancy: when a pregnant woman has bacteria in the urine, it is necessary to take two urine cultures, despite whether or not there are symptoms. If in the two cultures there appear the same type of bacteria, the infection must be treated, because if not, there is a risk of developing pyelonefritis (a kidney infection), or a premature birth (in the final stage of pregnancy).
In general, cystitis infections are benign, but on occasion it is difficult to differentiate them from other infections such as pyelonefritis. For this reason, it is advised to consult your doctor in order to be diagnosed, and if necessary recommended treatment, that is generally an antibiotic.
The most important for the diagnosis is the urinalysis, that can be done in a simple manner with a test strip, a fast and reliable system that is able to indicate closely if there is a urinal infection.
● It is important to drink many liquids in order to clean the bladder: some two liters daily at the minimum.
● Avoid alcohol and caffeine consumption.
● Urinating immediately after sexual relations helps eliminate bacteria that may be in the urethra.
● When urinating, it is necessary to completely empty the bladder. It is a bad habit to sit on the toiled leaning forward.
● Try to urinate at least once every three hours. Women that avoid urinating over long periods of time contract for urinary tract infections.
● For good hygiene, use soaps and gels with a neutral pH.
● It is not recommended to self-medicate and take antibiotics of one’s own accord, because a mistaken treatment may help to maintain the infection and cause a resistance to antibiotics in the bacteria/ This may cause the infection to become more serious and make it more difficult to find a solution later on.
November 27, 2018
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