Trips to the bathroom 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 a dull pain above the pubis.These are all symptoms of cystitis, a disease that most often affects women.And although cystitis is not life-threatening, it is very capable of ruining many of your days.
The purpose of this article is to tell you how you can treat cystitis at home and how to deal with this disease as quickly as possible.
What is cystitis?
Cysitis is an infectious disease.But its pathogens live in our own bodies.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 ascendingly: through the skin or through the rectum through the urethra.
How to prevent cystitis?
It is the anatomical characteristics (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 a matter of anatomy.The urethra in women is much shorter than in men and the bladder is larger, meaning it can be emptied less frequently.But a stream of urine quite effectively eliminates microorganisms that have penetrated the urinary canal.Hence the first rule for women: if you don't want to get cystitis, go to the bathroom every 3-4 hours.
Another common cause of cystitis is microtrauma of the female urethra during sexual intercourse.So-called defloration cystitis often ruins the honeymoon.Advice for loving men: don't forget about intimate hygiene.Tip for smart women: Emptying your bladder before and after sex greatly reduces the risk of infection.
When should you see a doctor?
Not a single woman is immune to isolated cases of cystitis.However, if dysuria reappears, it is worth having a complete examination.
Pregnancy is a particularly dangerous time.The functioning of the immune system and hormonal levels change, the growing uterus displaces the bladder, stopping the outflow of urine and, as a result, infection.Meanwhile, bacteriuria increases the risk of premature birth by 2 times - therefore, cystitis during this period is not at all harmless.
If symptoms of the disease appear 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, diabetes or urolithiasis.Also, cystitis-like symptoms can 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 a bladder ultrasound, possibly a cystoscopy, and take swabs from the urethra.If the examination proves that the cystitis is not complicated, you will probably be able to handle the 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 on the lower abdomen (if blood is not excreted in the urine, we cancel the heating pad).
- Drink as much as possible.Tea - only with milk, coffee and beer are excluded.Cranberry, blueberry and blueberry fruit juices are very welcome (the proantyanides they contain prevent bacteria from attaching to the bladder wall), a decoction of oats, bearberry, birch buds is good, and if blood appears, nettle.Herbal medicines are most effective in the form of preparations;the pharmacy will always offer ready-made ones.
- The diet involves avoiding spices, canned foods and marinades, but dairy products, fruits (especially watermelon) and vegetables will be beneficial.
- If you have cystitis, you should not go to the bathhouse or sauna, but washing with warm water and special intimate hygiene products will help reduce discomfort after urinating.
- You can put suppositories with papaverine - this often relieves pain.
But in any case, antibacterial medications are needed to treat the infection.
If cystitis is recurrent, or the patient is elderly or has diabetes mellitus, 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 both the woman and the child.
What should you be careful about?
If left untreated, a bladder infection through the ureters can spread to the kidneys, resulting in pyelonephritis.
If frequent and painful urination is accompanied by lower back pain and fever, it is possible that the infection has spread to the kidneys and here you cannot do without a doctor.
Which doctor should I contact?
In the first episode of cystitis, you can consult a therapist.If the disease has a recurrent or chronic course, you should consult a urologist and have a cystoscopy.