Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bladder is a very common disease with which they come to the urologist. It can have a different etiology, but in most cases the disease is caused by various infections. Cystitis can develop in both women and men, but it is women who are most exposed to it due to the anatomical features of the structure of their body.
The disease is very dangerous, because in the absence of timely and proper treatment can lead to various serious consequences. Let's try to understand in more detail what it is, what is dangerous to health and how to cure cystitis quickly at home.
General information about the disease
As mentioned earlier, this ailment is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bladder caused by various factors. According to medical experts, cystitis, the first signs of which can be very different, is diagnosed in every woman throughout the world throughout her life. Men are also susceptible to this disease, but suffer from it much less frequently.
In approximately 90 percent of cases, the disease is contagious. The most common pathogen is Escherichia coli, which lives in the body of every person. Another harmful microorganism, which also often causes the development of the inflammatory process, is staphylococcus saprophytic. It enters the urethra through the urethra or through the large intestine.
Classification, types
We examined above what causes cystitis, so now it's time to find out what types of disease are divided into. It is important to understand that a single classification does not exist, and the types of pathology are divided into several groups according to various criteria.
Depending on the intensity of the course, the following forms can be distinguished:
- primary - in the absence of concomitant diseases of the bladder;
- secondary - the inflammatory process proceeds in conjunction with other chronic ailments of infectious etiology.
By the level of localization, cystitis, the first signs of which can be felt already in the early stages, is:
- cervical - inflammation covers only the mucous membrane of the organ;
- trigonitis - localization of the pathological process in the "triangle" of the bubble;
- global - the defeat of the entire inner wall.
In addition, the disease is classified and depending on the etiology. By origin, the following types are distinguished:
- infectious;
- neurogenic;
- chemical;
- thermal;
- viral;
- ray;
- toxic;
- postoperative;
- medication;
- biological;
- parasitic.
In addition to all of the above, in modern medicine there are two forms of the disease:
- Sharp. It appears suddenly, has intense and pronounced symptoms. Among the main clinical manifestations, one can distinguish an increase in subfebrile temperature, burning in the urethra and pain during coping.
- Chronic As a rule, it proceeds secretly, so a person may not even be aware of a problem. Symptoms make themselves felt only during an exacerbation. A cause for concern may be the presence of blood in the urine. An accurate diagnosis requires a complete blood count.
Regardless of the form of inflammation, acute cystitis can develop at any time. Treatment in women and men can take place in both inpatient and outpatient settings. In addition, there are many effective methods of traditional medicine that will quickly get rid of the pathology at home. This will be discussed in more detail later.
The main causes of the development of pathology
So, what is cystitis from? Let's dwell on this in more detail. Regardless of gender and age category, the main factors that increase the risk of developing an inflammatory process in the bladder are the following:
- severe hypothermia of the pelvic organs;
- bladder injury;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- eating too spicy and fatty foods;
- gynecological diseases and STDs;
- various infections;
- random sexual intercourse without the use of contraception;
- lack of proper hygiene.
As mentioned earlier, in the vast majority of cases, the disease is infectious.
Among the most common pathogens, the following can be distinguished:
- E. coli;
- staphylococcus;
- Klebsiella;
- Proteus.
In addition, postcoital cystitis in women is very common. This form belongs to the sexual group. It is not transmitted from one partner to another, but is activated by the carrier after sexual intercourse. Mostly the representatives of the weak half of humanity, who have erratic intimate relationships, suffer from it.
It is worth noting that the human urethra has a powerful protective mechanism. However, as a result of certain factors, it can weaken.
Among the most common, the following can be distinguished:
- hypothermia;
- lack of vitamins;
- pathological violation of the functioning of the body;
- various diseases of the genitourinary system;
- hormonal imbalance;
- consequences of surgical interventions;
- violation of immunological reactivity.
Here, in fact, are all the reasons why cystitis can develop. The first signs appear only a few days after the onset of the inflammatory process. How to independently detect the pathology will be described later.
General clinical manifestations
What should you pay attention to first of all? Symptoms of the disease may be different. It depends on its shape and stage. In a chronic course, any signs of inflammation may be absent for a long period of time, and in an acute ailment it usually makes itself felt almost immediately. Among the main clinical manifestations that occur after a few days, pain in the pelvic region can be distinguished. However, on the basis of discomfort alone, it is almost impossible to make an accurate diagnosis on your own, since symptoms are also characteristic of many other diseases.
Regardless of gender and age, if a person begins cystitis, signs will usually appear immediately.
Here are the main ones:
- Clouding and discoloration of urine.
- In some cases, impurities in her blood.
- Frequent urination.
- Discomfort and pain in the lower abdomen.
- Sometimes body temperature may rise.
- Unpleasant urination.
It is worth noting that these symptoms are characteristic of almost all forms of inflammation of the bladder mucosa, therefore, based on them, we can only make assumptions about the presence of health problems, which are a good reason to go to the hospital and undergo a comprehensive examination.
Symptoms in acute inflammatory process
This form of the disease makes itself felt almost instantly. In this case, clinical manifestations last approximately 2-3 days, after which they become less intense. As a rule, signs of pathology completely disappear after 10-14 days. This is due to the activity of the immune system and the protective mechanisms of the body. Most patients at this stage note a slight weakness and a slight increase in temperature.
The main signs of acute cystitis are as follows:
- frequent urination;
- severe pain in the groin and lower abdomen;
- blood impurities in the urine;
- strong unpleasant odor from urine;
- chills.
In some cases, the patient may experience nausea and vomiting. However, this is rare in medical practice.
Symptoms in a chronic inflammatory process
What should I look for? This form of the disease is one of the most common. According to statistics, about half of the fair sex of our country have it. In contrast to the case described above, the symptoms of chronic cystitis in women have significantly lower intensity and severity. Most girls do not even suspect that they have problems with the bladder until they go to the hospital.
The following symptoms may be cause for concern:
- frequent and sharp urge to the toilet;
- feeling of incomplete emptying;
- discomfort in the pelvic area;
- external impurities in the urine and its clouding.
It is worth noting that if the pathological process proceeds in a sluggish form, then pain with cystitis is most often absent. In this case, women may experience small jumps in body temperature, to which, as a rule, no one gives any attention, attributing everything to overwork, which is characteristic of most people who lead an active lifestyle.
Possible complications
This aspect should be given special attention. If in time to detect hemorrhagic cystitis in women and men, as, in principle, and any other form of it, and start treatment in a timely manner, then it is possible to completely get rid of the pathology in less than one week. However, if you do not take any measures or just heal the clinical manifestations of the disease, then the inflammation can become chronic and periodically recur.
In addition, the following complications are highly likely to develop:
- High blood levels in the urine, which may lead to the need for transfusion.
- Inflammation of the kidneys of a bacterial or infectious etiology.
- Interstitial cystitis, the symptoms and treatment of which will be discussed later. This form of pathology is very dangerous, since it affects not only the mucous membrane, but also the muscle layer, resulting in the drying of the bladder, and it ceases to cope with its functions. In this case, no therapy will help, and the only way out is only an organ transplant.
As you have probably already seen, the consequences of inflammation of the bladder mucosa can be quite deplorable, so it is very important to contact the hospital in time when the first symptoms occur in order to immediately begin the necessary treatment.
Basic diagnostic methods
If the first signs of cystitis are detected, you must immediately make an appointment with the therapist. The doctor will perform a general examination and prescribe a cystoscopy. Depending on the form of the disease, consultation with a urologist may be required.
During the examination of the patient, much attention is paid to the following factors:
- typical clinical manifestations;
- body reaction to antibiotics.
Based on the research results, the optimal therapy program is selected. If it does not give any effect and the pathology takes on a chronic form, then in this case it is very important to determine the cause of further progression.
If cystitis is accompanied by a temperature above +37.5 degrees, then the patient is prescribed a comprehensive examination, which includes:
- general urine analysis;
- Nechiporenko analysis;
- bacteriological examination of urine.
All this is necessary in order to confirm or deny the presence of any infection that can cause postcoital cystitis in women, since this form of the disease is very dangerous and can lead to serious consequences.
The main methods of therapy
Let's dwell on them in more detail. When developing a treatment program, doctors focus on the fight against pathogenic microorganisms that provoked the development of the inflammatory process. For this, antibiotics are used, which are selected individually depending on the form, intensity of the symptoms and the duration of the disease.
In addition, the following factors are taken into account:
- side effects;
- drug absorption;
- its elimination from the body;
- the presence of any pathologies.
In most cases, patients are prescribed a completely standard therapy program based on the use of the following medications:
- Furadonin;
- Norfloxacin;
- Pefloxacin;
- Monural
- "Cefixime";
- No-shpa;
- "Baralgin."
If acute cystitis has been diagnosed, treatment in women and men can take place in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
If the patient is allowed to go home, then he should definitely adhere to the following recommendations:
- Taking medications in accordance with the prescribed doctor.
- Maintaining optimal water balance.
- Healthy sleep.
- Proper nutrition.
- Compliance with personal hygiene.
- Performing thermal procedures.
When treating inflammation of the bladder, it is very important to prevent hypothermia. Therefore, when going out, you need to dress well, especially in the months with cool and unpredictable work.
As for the treatment itself, as a rule, the first results are noticeable already on the fourth or fifth day after the start of medication, and on the tenth day the symptoms completely disappear. In most cases, further relapse of the disease does not occur.
Nutrition recommendations
Hemorrhagic cystitis in women, like any other form of it, is very easy to cure, but this requires complex therapy and strict adherence to all the doctor’s prescriptions. This applies not only to taking medication, but also following a special diet.
When adjusting your menu, you should follow these recommendations:
- Food and drink should have a diuretic effect on the body.
- In the process of cooking, it is better not to use salt and spices.
- Spicy and fatty foods are strictly prohibited.
- For the period of therapy, sweets should be excluded from the diet.
- Thermal processing of food should be minimal. It is best to eat foods cooked in boiled form or steamed.
Doctors recommend the following:
- Fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Dairy products.
- Lenten first courses.
- Boiled lean meat.
- Seafood.
As for the prohibited, the menu should be completely excluded:
- Sausages, canned food and marinades.
- Spicy dishes and spices.
- Confectionery.
- Cheeses
- Coffee and black tea.
As for drinking, it is recommended to use plain still water, herbal decoctions, juices and compotes.
Traditional medicine
Many people are wondering how to cure cystitis quickly at home using folk methods. This is quite possible if you start the fight against the disease in the early stages of its development, when the inflammatory process did not manage to affect the muscle tissue and neighboring organs.
Among the most effective recipes are the following:
- Grind two tablespoons of rosehip root, pour it with 0.5 liters of water, bring to a boil and simmer over low heat for 15 minutes. When the broth is ready, strain it and drink 100 ml 30 minutes before eating.
- Take 16 grams of dried yarrow, fill them with 200 ml of water, boil and let it boil for about 20 minutes. Take a healing broth three times a day for a tablespoon after eating.
- An excellent effect in the fight against inflammation of the bladder is oak bark. To prepare the broth, you will need to take 1 gram of raw material, pour a glass of water. Now wait until it boils, then simmer on low heat for a quarter of an hour. Then let it brew for an hour, then strain and take 1 tbsp. l thrice a day.
- Among medicinal plants, lingonberries occupy a special place. This is a real storehouse of vitamins and minerals. Collect the leaves of the bush, dry them, then chop, pour 400 milliliters of water and send to a steam bath for 40 minutes. When the broth has cooled, strain it and drink 50 ml before each meal.
All these healing remedies help quite well with cystitis, however, you should understand that using only alternative methods of treatment is very dangerous, since some of them have certain contraindications. Therefore, before you start taking anything, it is recommended that you first undergo a comprehensive examination and consult with a qualified doctor. Only in this way you can defeat the disease with minimal consequences for your own health.
Cystitis is a rather serious ailment that needs to be treated immediately, even when the first symptoms appear. Otherwise, the consequences of the disease can be deplorable.