Visits to the toilet are becoming more frequent, but less and less productive: only a little urine can be squeezed out, sometimes mixed with blood.There is pain during and after urination.Sometimes there is nagging pain above the pubis.All these are symptoms of cystitis, a disease that most often affects women.And although cystitis does not pose a danger to life, it is very capable of ruining several of its days.
The purpose of this article is to tell you how you can treat cystitis at home and how to cope with this disease as quickly as possible.
What is cystitis?
Cysitis is an infectious disease.But its pathogens live in our own body.In 85–95% of cases, the cause of urinary tract infections is E. coli, a common inhabitant of the intestines.Another typical pathogen is Staphylococcus saprophyticus, a representative of the skin microflora.And they enter the bladder via an ascending route: from the skin or from the rectum through the urethra.
How to prevent cystitis?
It is the anatomical features (larger bladder volume and short urethra) that determine the prevalence of cystitis among women.
It’s clear why women suffer from cystitis more often – it’s all about anatomy.The urethra in women is much shorter than in men, and the bladder is larger, which means it can be emptied less often.But a stream of urine quite effectively washes away microorganisms that have penetrated the urinary canal.Hence the first rule for women: if you don’t want to experience cystitis, go to the toilet every 3-4 hours.
Another common cause of cystitis is microtrauma of the female urethra during sexual intercourse.The so-called defloration cystitis often ruins the honeymoon.Advice to loving men: do not forget about intimate hygiene.Tip for smart women: Emptying your bladder before and after sex greatly reduces your risk of infection.
When should you see a doctor?
Not a single woman is immune from isolated cases of cystitis.However, if dysuria recurs, it is worth undergoing a comprehensive examination.
Pregnancy is a particularly dangerous time.The functioning of the immune system and hormonal levels change, the growing uterus displaces the bladder, disrupting the outflow of urine, and as a result, infection.Meanwhile, bacteriuria increases the risk of premature birth by 2 times - so cystitis during this period is not at all harmless.
If symptoms of the disease occur in a man, you should consult a specialist immediately and without fail; cystitis in men is almost always secondary.And the root cause may be prostate disease, or diabetes, or urolithiasis.In addition, symptoms similar to cystitis may occur with non-gonococcal urethritis (its probable causative agents are chlamydia, mycoplasma, trichomonas) and tuberculosis of the bladder.
The doctor will do urine and blood tests, microflora cultures, probably refer you for an ultrasound of the bladder, possibly a cystoscopy, and take smears from the urethra.If the examination proves that cystitis is uncomplicated, then you will most likely be trusted to cope with its symptoms on your own.
What to do if you have cystitis?
- It is very advisable to stay in bed during an exacerbation, under a warm blanket, with a heating pad in the lower abdomen (if blood is not excreted in the urine, then we cancel the heating pad).
- Drink as much as possible.Tea - only with milk, coffee and beer are excluded.Cranberry, lingonberry and blueberry fruit drinks are very welcome (the proantyanides they contain prevent bacteria from attaching to the wall of the bladder), a decoction of oats, bearberry, birch buds is good, and if blood appears, nettle.Herbal medicine is most effective in the form of preparations; the pharmacy will always offer ready-made ones.
- The diet involves avoiding spices, canned food, and marinades, but dairy products, fruits (especially watermelon) and vegetables will be beneficial.
- If you have cystitis, you should not go to a bathhouse or sauna, but washing with warm water and special intimate hygiene products will help reduce discomfort after urination.
- You can put suppositories with papaverine - this often relieves pain.
But in any case, antibacterial drugs are necessary to treat the infection.
If cystitis is recurrent, or the patient is elderly, or has diabetes mellitus, then the course of uroseptics should be longer - at least a week.
Attention!Pregnant women are prescribed antibiotics only by a doctor after an examination - this is safer for the woman and child.
What should you be wary of?
If left untreated, an infection from the bladder through the ureters can spread to the kidneys, resulting in pyelonephritis.
If frequent and painful urination is accompanied by lower back pain and fever, then it is possible that the infection has spread to the kidneys, and here you cannot do without a doctor.
Which doctor should I contact?
At the first episode of cystitis, you can consult a therapist.If the disease takes a recurrent or chronic course, you should consult a urologist and be sure to undergo cystoscopy.