Cystitis in Women
What is cystitis?
Cystitis means inflammation of the bladder. It is usually caused by a urine infection. Typical symptoms are
• Pain when you pass urine
• Frequency
• Lower abdomen pain
• Blood in your urine
• High temperature
• Smelly and cloudy urine
Most urine infections are caused by bacteria (germs) which might come from your bowel and live and multiply in urine quickly to cause infection.
What are the risk factors?
Women are more prone to cystitis than men 8/1 for many reason like short urethra (the tube from the bladder that passes out urine), sexual intercourse where the opening of the bladder is close to the vagina so that bacteria can come from vagina to bladder easily during the intercourse. 50% of women have cystitis at least once in their life. More risk factors are diabetes mellitus and pregnancy.
What else might be ?
Some conditions may simulate cystitis like yeast infection. Changing soaps, deodorants, bathtubs etc, may cause chemical cystitis i.e. no germs.
Dipstick test to detect bacteria in urine is enough most of the time to diagnose cystitis.. Occasionally, your urine sample is sent to the laboratory to find out the exact bacteria.
What is the treatment for cystitis? Complete cure is expected
•Not taking any treatment especially if you are not pregnant cystitis, particularly mild cases, often resolves in a few days. However, symptoms can sometimes last for a week or so without treatment.
•Antibiotics. A three-seven day course is a common treatment. Symptoms usually improve within a day or so after starting treatment. Your doctor will give you antibiotic if you are pregnant or has other medical problems
•Drink lots of fluid. Although no evidence behind that including cranberry juice but some women feel better when they take them
•Tylenol or Advil. If need for pain and fever.
How can I prevent a urinary tract infection?
There are some things women can do to make it less likely they will get urinary tract infections, especially if they get them often.
· Drink plenty of water every day.
· Urinate when you need to, don’t hold it in.
· Wipe from front to back to prevent bacteria from entering the vagina or urethra.
· Avoid use of feminine hygiene sprays or douches.
· If you get a lot of urinary tract infections and use spermicides or creams that kill sperm, talk to your health care provider about using other forms of birth control
When should I go back to my doctor?
• If your symptoms persist or getting worse after three days of antibiotics.
• If you develop new symptoms like vomiting or high fever
• If you have back pain
