Today we will talk about what is candidal cystitis. This term refers to the inflammatory process that occurs in the bladder (more precisely - on its walls) and the urethra. The cause of the disease is a fungus of the genus Candida.
How is the disease manifested? There are many symptoms, and we will talk about them a little later, now we propose to highlight the main ones. These include:
- pain spreading in the lower abdomen;
- dysuria (i.e., problems with urination).
According to many experts, candida cystitis is a consequence of generalized candidiasis. The infection can spread throughout the body.
It is also worth noting that in recent years there has been an increase in the number of sick people. And all this despite the fact that this diagnosis is made extremely rarely. In addition, it is important to note that candidal cystitis in men is 4 times less common than in women. How can this be explained? Everything is quite simple. The urethra in women is very short, which allows the infection to easily relocate to the bladder. If we consider the age category, then a greater number of cases of infection occur in the age of 18 to 45 years.
Disease spread
This disease is common in countries with a violation of hygienic and living conditions. In addition, it is important to note that regarding the climate, the fungus of the genus Candida is very fond of heat and moisture.
Where are the most common outbreaks of infection? These are Central and South America, southern Africa, countries of Southeast Asia and Oceania.
As mentioned earlier, candida cystitis in women is more common than in men, due to the length of the ureter. But regardless of gender, this problem often occurs in people whose immunity is greatly weakened.
Thrush and cystitis
Let's try together to find out if there is a connection between these two diseases? Just want to remind you that Candida fungi are already present in the body of any woman. If the immune system is normal, then it prevents the rapid multiplication of the fungus. And this is even considering the fact that microorganisms can enter the urethral mucosa. They are simply washed away by a stream of urine. In addition, the acidic environment of the vagina is an obstacle to the formation of colonies.
We can observe a completely different picture in violation of the acid-base balance. If these microorganisms have found a favorable environment for reproduction, then they begin to create colonies. What symptoms then begins to feel a woman? This is burning, itching, unpleasant odor, copious cheesy discharge from the vagina. This is commonly called candidiasis, which is popularly called "thrush."
Now we turn to the anatomical structure of the female genital organs. The vagina and urethra are very close to each other, which allows the infection to enter the second unhindered. Then it rises to the bladder, but along its entire path it irritates the walls of the ureter, which leads to an inflammatory process.
Candidiasis cystitis is extremely rare, since fungal colonies still cannot always get into the bladder.
Causes of the disease
As mentioned earlier, the causative agent of this disease is a fungus of the genus Candida. Cystitis of fungal etiology occurs as a result of the rapid development of these microorganisms and their entry into the bladder. There are only two ways to get an infection in the bladder:
- ascending;
- downward.
More information can be obtained from the table below.
| Hit path | Ascendant | This is possible if a fungal infection affects the skin of the genitals. If it enters the urethra, the infection can easily reach the bladder. After that, a person begins to notice the symptoms of this unpleasant disease. Another option is possible here - the direct method. For example, after catheterization. If an infected catheter was used during this medical procedure. |
| Explanation | Descending | In this case, the infection enters the bladder from the mouth, stomach, or skin. How is this possible? With the help of the bloodstream, a fungal infection can spread to absolutely any part of the body, the bladder is no exception. |
Risk factors
According to experts, candida cystitis can develop under the influence of a number of factors. We single out the main one - a decrease in human immunity. Reduced resistance may be acquired or congenital. Now about this in more detail in the table.
| Character | Congenital | Acquired |
| Description | The first option may be the absence of the thymus gland as part of the immune system. The second option is a small number of T-lymphocytes. This leads to the fact that the human immune system is always in a weakened state and cannot deal with a number of problems (including the multiplication of fungal infections). | The first is the prolonged course of an infection of a bacterial nature. The second is diabetes, obesity and other problems associated with metabolic disorders. It is important to note here that diabetes is characterized not only by a violation of carbohydrate metabolism, but also by reduced immunity. With this disease, the level of sugar and glucosuria is increased, which is an excellent nutrient medium for fungi of the genus Candida. Third - bad habits (frequent use of alcoholic beverages, smoking and taking drugs). Fourth - viral diseases, including HIV, AIDS and flu. Fifth - chronic diseases of organs and systems of the body. Sixth - the frequent use of certain medications, including hormones and antibiotics. Seventh - radiation (burn disease). |
In addition, pregnancy, dysbiosis, prolonged wearing of a catheter in the urinary tract, oncology, tuberculosis, various blood diseases and serious operations, and injuries are considered risk factors.
How to establish the pathogen?
To do this, a series of events is necessary.
- Examination of the genitals (a urologist, therapist and gynecologist are involved in this procedure). The patient is questioned for the presence of a fungal infection in the past. Also, the doctor should ask about the diseases and medications taken.
- Next, you need to pass two analyzes: OAM and UAC. When collecting urine, do not forget that it is the morning portion that is needed.
- It is necessary to conduct a serological blood test, which allows you to calculate the presence of antibodies to the penetration of the fungus.
- Microscopic examination of urine.
- An ultrasound of the bladder, which helps to detect the presence of an inflammatory process. You should know that urinary must be full.
Symptoms
Symptoms of candidal cystitis are almost the same as with its usual form. Patients observe:
- apathy
- weakness;
- increase in body temperature;
- loss of appetite
- low working capacity;
- pain in the lower abdomen;
- feeling of pain and burning during urination;
- swelling of the legs;
- nausea
- headache;
- frequent urination;
- mucus and blood in the urine;
- itching
If you look closely at the above list, you can see that the symptoms are similar to some other problems of the genitourinary system. Therefore, do not self-medicate, go to a specialist who will conduct all the necessary tests and prescribe the right treatment.
Treatment
Now we turn to the question of treatment of candidal cystitis. Immediately, we note that the methods of treatment are the same as with other forms of the disease. Treatment goals:
- destroy the focus of infection;
- restore the mucous membrane of the vagina and bladder.
But there is one feature of the treatment of the candidal form of the disease - experts highly recommend not using antibiotics, since they can only aggravate the situation. In this regard, the main emphasis is on antifungal drugs:
- Canesten
- "Ketoconazole";
- Intraconazole and others.
In addition, candida cystitis, the symptoms and treatment of which are considered by us in this article, requires antiseptic therapy:
In addition, other drugs are used that alleviate the patient’s condition, that is, symptomatic therapy is performed. The choice of drugs depends on the problems that concern the patient. For example, “No-shpa” is suitable for relieving pain, to get rid of leg swelling, use “Torsid”, and “Ibuprofen” will help to reduce the temperature.
When treating this ailment, it is very important to do the procedure for washing the bladder with Amphotericin. The duration of treatment should be at least 2 weeks.
ethnoscience
In this section, we will briefly tell you how to treat candidal cystitis using folk remedies. It is worth mentioning right away that the duration of such therapy is much longer (from 1.5 to 2 months).
What are herbal antiseptics? You will find them in the list below, but it is far from complete. So, in the treatment of often use:
- lavender;
- sage;
- Birch
- lingonberry;
- thyme;
- dill;
- fennel.
There are many ways to use these herbs. For a girl, douching with broth will be most effective. In addition, you can use inside infusions of diuretic plants.
Just note that it is not necessary to procure these funds on your own, you can buy ready-made packaged phyto-collections at the pharmacy.
Food
Now briefly about how to eat during the treatment of cystitis caused by fungi of the genus Candida. There is a list of products that are not recommended for use during the treatment period. These include:
- potatoes;
- sweets;
- bread;
- dairy products.
There is also a list of products that must be present in the diet:
- fresh vegetables;
- fruits;
- berries;
- oat jelly.
Possible complications
Complications of candidal cystitis include:
- candidiasis of other internal organs (if the infection begins to spread, which is guaranteed if untreated);
- pyelonephritis, which is understood as inflammation of the kidneys;
- glomerulonephritis (this term refers to inflammation with subsequent degeneration of renal tissue);
- bacterial cystitis.
Prevention
To avoid the complications of candida cystitis listed in the last section, it is important to start treatment for this problem in time. In addition, experts recommend that preventive measures be taken that can prevent the development of the disease.
These are pretty simple recommendations:
- observe hygiene;
- maintain the correct daily routine;
- timely treat diseases of the genitourinary system;
- do not self-medicate, all medicines should be prescribed by a doctor;
- eat right (the diet should not only be complete, but the products in it should not have a detrimental effect on any organs and systems of a person);
- strengthen immunity;
- gynecologist women should visit at least twice a year.
Remember: it is impossible to develop immunity to this disease. If a person is constantly exposed to risk factors, then the disease can come back again and again. In this case, it will go into a chronic form. Therefore, it is so important to lead a healthy lifestyle and not to forget about preventive measures.