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 a nagging pain above the pubis.All of these are symptoms of cystitis, a disease that affects women more often.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 to cure 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 intestine.Another typical pathogen is Staphylococcus saprophyticus, a representative of the skin microflora.And they enter the bladder via ascending route: from the skin or from 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 is 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 get 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.Smart Women's Tip: Emptying your bladder before and after sex greatly reduces the risk of infection.
When should you see a doctor?
No woman is immune from isolated cases of cystitis.However, if dysuria recurs, it is worth undergoing a thorough examination.
Pregnancy is a particularly dangerous time.The functioning of the immune system and hormone 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 appear in a man, it is necessary to immediately and without fail consult a specialist;Cystitis in men is almost always secondary.And the main cause could be prostate disease, diabetes or urolithiasis.Also, cystitis-like symptoms can occur with nongonococcal urethritis (its probable causative agents are chlamydia, mycoplasma, trichomonas) and tuberculosis of the bladder.
Your doctor will perform urine and blood tests, microflora cultures, likely refer you for an ultrasound of the bladder, possibly a cystoscopy, and take smears from the urethra.If the examination shows that cystitis is not complicated, you will most likely be given the task of coping with its symptoms on your own.
What to do if you suffer from cystitis?
- It is very advisable to stay in bed during a flare-up, under a warm blanket, with a heating pad in 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, cranberry and blueberry fruit drinks are very welcome (the proantianides they contain prevent bacteria from sticking to the bladder wall), a decoction of oats, bearberry, birch buds and, if blood appears, nettle is fine.Phytotherapy 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 useful.
- If you have cystitis, you should not go to a bathhouse or sauna, but washing with warm water and special products for intimate hygiene will help reduce discomfort after urination.
- You can put suppositories with papaverine - this often relieves pain.
But in any case, antibacterial drugs 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 the woman and the baby.
What should you be careful about?
If left untreated, an infection from the bladder through the ureters can spread to the kidneys, causing pyelonephritis.
If frequent and painful urination is accompanied by 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 has a recurrent or chronic course, you should consult a urologist and be sure to undergo cystoscopy.