Cystitis is the medical term for inflammation of the bladder. Most of the time, the inflammation is caused by a bacterial infection, in which case it may be referred to as a urinary tract infection (UTI). A bladder infection can be painful and annoying, and can become a serious health problem if the infection spreads to your kidneys.
Less commonly, cystitis may occur as a reaction to certain drugs, radiation therapy or potential irritants, such as feminine hygiene spray, spermicidal jellies or long-term use of a catheter. Cystitis may also occur as a complication of another illness.
The usual treatment for bacterial cystitis is antibiotics. Other treatments are used for other types of cystitis.
Types:
There are several types of cystitis:
Bacterial cystitis, the most common type, which is most often caused by coliform bacteria being transferred from the bowel through the urethra into the bladder.
Interstitial cystitis (IC) is considered more of an injury to the bladder resulting in constant irritation and rarely involves the presence of infection. IC patients are often misdiagnosed with UTI/cystitis for years before they are told that their urine cultures are negative. Antibiotics are not used in the treatment of IC. The cause of IC is unknown, though some suspect it may be autoimmune where the immune system attacks the bladder. However, there is hope. Several therapies are now available.
Eosinophilic cystitis, is a rare form of cystitis that is diagnosed via biopsy. In these cases, the bladder wall is infiltrated with a high number of eosinophils. The cause of EC is also unknown though it has been triggered in children by certain medications. Some consider it a form of interstitial cystitis.
Radiation cystitis, often occurs in patients undergoing radiation for the treatment of cancer.
Hemorrhagic cystitis.
Causes:
Your urinary system is composed of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. All play a role in removing waste from your body. Your kidneys — a pair of bean-shaped organs located toward the back of your upper abdomen — filter waste from your blood and adjust the body composition of many substances. Tubes called ureters carry urine from your kidneys to the bladder, where it's stored until it exits your body through the urethra.
Cystitis occurs when the normally sterile lower urinary tract (urethra and bladder) is infected by bacteria and becomes irritated and inflamed. It is very common.
The condition frequently affects sexually active women ages 20 to 50 but may also occur in those who are not sexually active or in young girls. Older adults are also at high risk for developing cystitis, with the incidence in the elderly being much higher than in younger people.
Cystitis is rare in males. Females are more prone to the development of cystitis because of their relatively shorter urethra—bacteria do not have to travel as far to enter the bladder—and because of the relatively short distance between the opening of the urethra and the anus. However it is not an exclusively female disease.
More than 85% of cases of cystitis are caused by Escherichia coli ("E. coli"), a bacterium found in the lower gastrointestinal tract. Sexual intercourse may increase the risk of cystitis because bacteria can be introduced into the bladder through the urethra during sexual activity. Once bacteria enter the bladder, they are normally removed through urination. When bacteria multiply faster than they are removed by urination, infection results.
Risks for cystitis include obstruction of the bladder or urethra with resultant stagnation of urine, insertion of instruments into the urinary tract (such as catheterization or cystoscopy), pregnancy, diabetes, and a history of analgesic nephropathy or reflux nephropathy.
The elderly of both sexes are at increased risk for developing cystitis due to incomplete emptying of the bladder associated with such conditions as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostatitis and urethral strictures. Also, lack of adequate fluids, bowel incontinence, immobility or decreased mobility and placement in a nursing home are situations which put people at increased risk for cystitis.
Noninfectious cystitis
Although bacterial infections are the most common cause of cystitis, a number of other noninfectious factors may cause the bladder to become inflamed. Some examples:
Interstitial cystitis- The cause of this chronic bladder inflammation, also called painful bladder syndrome, is unclear. Most cases are diagnosed in women. The condition can be difficult to diagnose and treat.
Drug-induced cystitis- Certain medications, particularly the chemotherapy drugs cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide, can cause inflammation of your bladder as the broken-down substances of the drugs exit your body.
Radiation cystitis- Radiation treatment of the pelvic area can cause inflammatory changes in bladder tissue.
Foreign-body cystitis- Long-term use of a catheter can predispose you to bacterial infections and to tissue damage, both of which can cause inflammation.
Chemical cystitis- Some people may be hypersensitive to chemicals contained in certain products, such as bubble bath, feminine hygiene sprays or spermicidal jellies, and may develop an allergic-type reaction within the bladder, causing inflammation.
Cystitis associated with other conditions- Cystitis may sometimes occur as a complication of other disorders, such as gynecologic cancers, pelvic inflammatory disorders, endometriosis, Crohn's disease, diverticulitis, lupus and tuberculosis.
Symptoms:
Diagnosis:
If you have symptoms of cystitis, talk to your doctor as soon as possible. In addition to discussing your signs and symptoms and your medical history, your doctor may order these tests, as well:
Urine analysis- If your doctor suspects you have a bladder infection, he or she may ask for a urine sample to determine whether bacteria, blood or pus is in your urine.
Cystoscopy- Inspection of your bladder with a cystoscope — a thin tube with a light and camera attached that can be inserted through the urethra into your bladder — may help with the diagnosis. Your doctor can also use the cystoscope to remove a small sample of tissue (biopsy) for analysis in the laboratory.
Imaging tests- Imaging tests usually aren't necessary but in some instances — especially when no evidence of infection is found — they may be helpful. Tests, such as X-ray or ultrasound, may help rule out other potential causes of bladder inflammation, such as a tumor or structural abnormality.
Treatment:
Antibiotics are used to control bacterial infection. It is vital that one finish an entire course of prescribed antibiotics. However, cystitis can also be treated with over-the-counter medicines, where self-treatment is appropriate.
Commonly used antibiotics include:
Nitrofurantoin, Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, Amoxicillin, Cephalosporins, Ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin, Doxycycline, etc.
The choice of antibiotic should preferably be guided by the result of urine culture.
Chronic or recurrent UTI should be treated thoroughly because of the chance of kidney infection (pyelonephritis). Antibiotics control the bacterial infection. They may be required for long periods of time. Prophylactic low-dose antibiotics are sometimes recommended after acute symptoms have subsided.
Pyridium may be used to reduce the burning and urgency associated with cystitis. In addition, common substances that contain weak acids such as ascorbic acid or cranberry juice, act as weak buffers in the urine rendering it less acidic and thus reduce pain on urination. An effective, but old fashioned treatment (that seems to have been forgotten) is a salt water douche. Dissolve plenty of salt in warm water and bathe the affected region until symptoms subside.
Less commonly, cystitis may occur as a reaction to certain drugs, radiation therapy or potential irritants, such as feminine hygiene spray, spermicidal jellies or long-term use of a catheter. Cystitis may also occur as a complication of another illness.
The usual treatment for bacterial cystitis is antibiotics. Other treatments are used for other types of cystitis.
Types:
There are several types of cystitis:
Bacterial cystitis, the most common type, which is most often caused by coliform bacteria being transferred from the bowel through the urethra into the bladder.
Interstitial cystitis (IC) is considered more of an injury to the bladder resulting in constant irritation and rarely involves the presence of infection. IC patients are often misdiagnosed with UTI/cystitis for years before they are told that their urine cultures are negative. Antibiotics are not used in the treatment of IC. The cause of IC is unknown, though some suspect it may be autoimmune where the immune system attacks the bladder. However, there is hope. Several therapies are now available.
Eosinophilic cystitis, is a rare form of cystitis that is diagnosed via biopsy. In these cases, the bladder wall is infiltrated with a high number of eosinophils. The cause of EC is also unknown though it has been triggered in children by certain medications. Some consider it a form of interstitial cystitis.
Radiation cystitis, often occurs in patients undergoing radiation for the treatment of cancer.
Hemorrhagic cystitis.
Causes:
Your urinary system is composed of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. All play a role in removing waste from your body. Your kidneys — a pair of bean-shaped organs located toward the back of your upper abdomen — filter waste from your blood and adjust the body composition of many substances. Tubes called ureters carry urine from your kidneys to the bladder, where it's stored until it exits your body through the urethra.
Cystitis occurs when the normally sterile lower urinary tract (urethra and bladder) is infected by bacteria and becomes irritated and inflamed. It is very common.
The condition frequently affects sexually active women ages 20 to 50 but may also occur in those who are not sexually active or in young girls. Older adults are also at high risk for developing cystitis, with the incidence in the elderly being much higher than in younger people.
Cystitis is rare in males. Females are more prone to the development of cystitis because of their relatively shorter urethra—bacteria do not have to travel as far to enter the bladder—and because of the relatively short distance between the opening of the urethra and the anus. However it is not an exclusively female disease.
More than 85% of cases of cystitis are caused by Escherichia coli ("E. coli"), a bacterium found in the lower gastrointestinal tract. Sexual intercourse may increase the risk of cystitis because bacteria can be introduced into the bladder through the urethra during sexual activity. Once bacteria enter the bladder, they are normally removed through urination. When bacteria multiply faster than they are removed by urination, infection results.
Risks for cystitis include obstruction of the bladder or urethra with resultant stagnation of urine, insertion of instruments into the urinary tract (such as catheterization or cystoscopy), pregnancy, diabetes, and a history of analgesic nephropathy or reflux nephropathy.
The elderly of both sexes are at increased risk for developing cystitis due to incomplete emptying of the bladder associated with such conditions as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostatitis and urethral strictures. Also, lack of adequate fluids, bowel incontinence, immobility or decreased mobility and placement in a nursing home are situations which put people at increased risk for cystitis.
Noninfectious cystitis
Although bacterial infections are the most common cause of cystitis, a number of other noninfectious factors may cause the bladder to become inflamed. Some examples:
Interstitial cystitis- The cause of this chronic bladder inflammation, also called painful bladder syndrome, is unclear. Most cases are diagnosed in women. The condition can be difficult to diagnose and treat.
Drug-induced cystitis- Certain medications, particularly the chemotherapy drugs cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide, can cause inflammation of your bladder as the broken-down substances of the drugs exit your body.
Radiation cystitis- Radiation treatment of the pelvic area can cause inflammatory changes in bladder tissue.
Foreign-body cystitis- Long-term use of a catheter can predispose you to bacterial infections and to tissue damage, both of which can cause inflammation.
Chemical cystitis- Some people may be hypersensitive to chemicals contained in certain products, such as bubble bath, feminine hygiene sprays or spermicidal jellies, and may develop an allergic-type reaction within the bladder, causing inflammation.
Cystitis associated with other conditions- Cystitis may sometimes occur as a complication of other disorders, such as gynecologic cancers, pelvic inflammatory disorders, endometriosis, Crohn's disease, diverticulitis, lupus and tuberculosis.
Symptoms:
Cystitis symptoms often include:
In young children, new episodes of bed-wetting (enuresis) also may be a sign of a UTI.A strong, persistent urge to urinate, A burning sensation when urinating, Passing frequent, small amounts of urine, Blood in the urine (hematuria), Passing cloudy or strong-smelling urine, Discomfort in the pelvic area, A feeling of pressure in the lower abdomen, Low-grade fever, Pressure in the lower pelvis, Painful urination (dysuria), Need to urinate at night (nocturia, similar to prostate cancer or BPH), Blood in the urine (hematuria) (similar to a female's period or bladder cancer), Foul or strong urine odor, etc.
Diagnosis:
If you have symptoms of cystitis, talk to your doctor as soon as possible. In addition to discussing your signs and symptoms and your medical history, your doctor may order these tests, as well:
Urine analysis- If your doctor suspects you have a bladder infection, he or she may ask for a urine sample to determine whether bacteria, blood or pus is in your urine.
Cystoscopy- Inspection of your bladder with a cystoscope — a thin tube with a light and camera attached that can be inserted through the urethra into your bladder — may help with the diagnosis. Your doctor can also use the cystoscope to remove a small sample of tissue (biopsy) for analysis in the laboratory.
Imaging tests- Imaging tests usually aren't necessary but in some instances — especially when no evidence of infection is found — they may be helpful. Tests, such as X-ray or ultrasound, may help rule out other potential causes of bladder inflammation, such as a tumor or structural abnormality.
Treatment:
Antibiotics are used to control bacterial infection. It is vital that one finish an entire course of prescribed antibiotics. However, cystitis can also be treated with over-the-counter medicines, where self-treatment is appropriate.
Commonly used antibiotics include:
Nitrofurantoin, Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, Amoxicillin, Cephalosporins, Ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin, Doxycycline, etc.
The choice of antibiotic should preferably be guided by the result of urine culture.
Chronic or recurrent UTI should be treated thoroughly because of the chance of kidney infection (pyelonephritis). Antibiotics control the bacterial infection. They may be required for long periods of time. Prophylactic low-dose antibiotics are sometimes recommended after acute symptoms have subsided.
Pyridium may be used to reduce the burning and urgency associated with cystitis. In addition, common substances that contain weak acids such as ascorbic acid or cranberry juice, act as weak buffers in the urine rendering it less acidic and thus reduce pain on urination. An effective, but old fashioned treatment (that seems to have been forgotten) is a salt water douche. Dissolve plenty of salt in warm water and bathe the affected region until symptoms subside.
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