Cystitis: what it is, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

By Cristiano Antonino On Apr 12, 2023

Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder mucosa, acute or chronic, which affects many people, especially women

This pathology is characterized by the feeling of having to urinate often and by a feeling of discomfort in the intimate areas.

Women in particular suffer from cystitis and there are many risk factors for the development of this inflammation

This pathology can be very annoying for the patient and the symptoms are different depending on the level of severity and change from person to person.

Certainly cystitis can worsen the subject’s quality of life but it does not usually represent a life-threatening condition.

In the most extreme cases, when the pathology is not treated correctly, there may be complications, such as diffusion to the kidneys or systemically but, if recognized and treated promptly, the picture quickly turns towards a resolution without complications.

It is advisable to inform the doctor in the event that discomfort that can be traced back to cystitis appears, to avoid its worsening.

Basically, with an antibiotic treatment, cystitis heals in a few days.

The forms of cystitis

Cystitis is usually not a dangerous condition but can be very annoying. It is possible to classify cystitis into two categories: simple or complex (the latter also known as the “complicated”).

Simple cystitis is the most common form and also the best known, characterized by more traditional symptoms, such as the need to urinate often, burning and pain in the lower abdomen.

Complicated cystitis, on the other hand, are the most serious forms, which present additional symptoms in addition to the traditional ones, such as the presence of blood in the urine, raised body temperature (fever) and infections of other structures of the urinary tract.

In the event that a cystitis of this type is suspected, it is necessary to be visited by a specialist so that he can identify the most suitable treatment in a short time.

In men, cystitis can lead to difficulty emptying the bladder and, consequently, to a stagnation of urine which predisposes to further infectious processes of the urinary tract.

Cystitis can also be divided into infectious and non-infectious

Infectious cystitis is the most common and represents 90% of all forms of cystitis. An example of these cystitis are Escherichia Coli bacterial infections.

Noninfectious cystitis is caused by a reaction to a noninfectious insult. The most frequent are radio-induced (or actinic) ones, caused by damage induced to the bladder by ionizing radiation usually used in radiotherapy for the treatment of tumors of neighboring structures or of the bladder itself.

What are the causes of cystitis

The causes of cystitis are different and often combined.

Although the bladder is particularly resistant to infections, thanks to the disinfectant properties of urine, some conditions can lead to a reduction in the body’s defense mechanisms in the face of a bacterial attack.

There are several factors that can cause cystitis

Among the most popular are:

the use of antibiotics that can promote the growth of resistant bacteria,
excessive stress load,
irregular and unhealthy diet,
problems with intimate hygiene, such as excessive or poor hygiene,
the use of tampons,
use of products such as diaphragm or spermicidal creams that modify vaginal acidity by decreasing its defense capacity,
unprotected sex,
the catheter,
stones or tumors,
prostatic hypertrophy,
diverticula,
the presence of glucose in the urine, which can cause significant bacterial growth (for this reason diabetes can also be considered a risk factor for cystitis).

Diagnose cystitis

The easiest way to diagnose cystitis is to talk to your doctor about the different symptoms.

The characteristics of cystitis make it easy to suspect, as the symptoms are often present simultaneously and are specific to this pathology.

Even where it is clear that it is cystitis, the doctor may request specific tests in order to confirm the suspected diagnosis.

To diagnose cystitis, a urine culture may be required, which is the analysis of the bacteria present in the urine from a sample provided by the patient.

Fundamental to the success of this exam is the use of a sterile container, provided in the hospital or pharmacy.

The laboratory also verifies the presence of various elements in the biological sample collected, such as proteins, blood, glucose and ketones.

To understand the state of health of the patient, the reactions of these components with certain chemical substances are analysed.

Even a chemical-physical examination of the urine can be useful, as it allows an evaluation of important characteristics such as color and density.

In the event that these tests prove negative or show particularly altered values, further verification tests may be required.

Treatments for cystitis

There is no single, universal cure for cystitis.

Usually, if the cause is bacterial in nature, an empirical antibiotic therapy is set up to solve the problem.

Thanks to the use of these antibiotics it is possible to cure this inflammation.

It is good to remember that a first episode of cystitis is a risk factor for the development of a new episode in the course of life.

With proper antibiotic therapy, the symptoms disappear.

Proper antibiotic therapy allows you to rebalance the bacterial flora of the bladder, reducing the risk of developing new episodes.

Those suffering from recurring cystitis should take prophylactic antibiotic therapy to prevent recurrence.

In order for this therapy to work, however, it must be targeted so that it acts on the bacterium that causes the infection.

For this reason, it is important to first identify the type of bacterium responsible by performing an antibiogram, to understand which antibiotic could be more effective, since they are not all the same.

Sometimes the antibiotic can be accompanied by a supplement that makes it more effective, contributing to the removal from the walls of the bladder of the bacterium.

An example is D-Mannose which can be administered in combination with the antibiotic for the removal of Escherichia Coli.

When suffering from cystitis it is advisable to hydrate the body by drinking at least two liters of water a day

In this way the body can expel the bacteria more easily.

Proper hydration makes healing faster and treatments more effective.

There is a type of cystitis, defined as coital, which occurs after sexual intercourse and, in this case, abstinence from sexual intercourse may be essential in order not to further irritate the vaginal mucosa, a frequent entry route for pathogens.

Cystitis in pregnancy

Cystitis can be related to pregnancy due to the constant changes in the woman’s body in this delicate moment.

During pregnancy, a woman undergoes many physiological changes including hormonal changes that can make the bladder more susceptible to developing infections.

In particular, the increase in progesterone can lead to a decrease in the tone of the urethra and to alter the urinary flow.

This translates into a greater likelihood of reflux which predisposes to the development of infection.

Even the compression exerted by the growing uterus can hinder the total emptying of the bladder.

In the case of cystitis in pregnancy it is advisable to follow an antibiotic treatment that ensures the lowest possible risk for the mother and the fetus, in this way the infection is treated and complications are prevented, such as kidney infections, which can lead to childbirth premature.

In any case it is advisable to consult your general practitioner and your gynecologist in order to obtain appropriate treatment.

Prevent cystitis

To prevent cystitis it is essential to adopt a healthy lifestyle, paying particular attention to nutrition.

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It may be useful to maintain a healthy intestinal bacterial flora to prevent bladder diseases, for example by taking foods based on yogurt and miso, rich in probiotics.

Foods to prevent cystitis are also those rich in fiber such as whole grains which prevent imbalances in the bacterial flora.

Fruit and vegetables must be eaten in season and fresh, in order to avoid taking additives used in agriculture.

In this way the intestine is strengthened and properly hydrated.

Several studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of fruit, especially red fruits, such as blueberries and blackberries, in preventing episodes of cystitis.

The foods to avoid are those that can increase the degree of inflammation, such as spicy, spicy or sugary foods.

Excessively spicy or spicy foods could cause inflammation of the urinary tract which can predispose to colonization by pathogenic bacteria.

High sugar consumption could lead to a proliferation of bacteria in the bladder which would make them difficult to eliminate.

Finally, one way to prevent cystitis is certainly to consume the recommended amount of water per day which, in adults, corresponds to at least 2 liters per day.

If you practice sports, this amount could increase, as your body may need additional hydration.

Hydration favors the elimination of bladder bacteria, making it difficult for them to proliferate.

It is important to know how to promptly recognize the symptoms of cystitis and request a consultation from your doctor, in order to obtain further information on how to behave to treat the disorder and prevent new episodes.

In this way it is possible to have a professional opinion on which solution is best suited to your needs.

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