What is cystitis and how is it treated?

Cystitis symptoms:

• pain and burning when urinating;
• frequent urination and urinating in small amounts;
• blood in the urine (hematuria);
• cloudy or strong-smelling urine;
• pelvic discomfort;
• feeling of pressure in the lower abdomen;
• mild fever.

Seek medical help if back or side pain, high fever and chills, nausea and vomiting, severe pain or blood in the urine. Also talk to your doctor if symptoms of cystitis return after you have finished antibiotics. You may need to try a different type of medicine.

Types of cystitis

There are several types of cystitis, determined by the cause:

• Bacterial cystitis - occurs when bacteria enter the bladder through the urethra and irritate the bladder walls;
• Medicinal cystitis - some medications can irritate the bladder as they are eliminated from the body;
• Foreign body cystitis - can occur following the application of a catheter, stent or other endoscopic instrument - such a product can cause inflammation;
• Chemical cystitis - inflammation of the bladder occurs due to certain forms of treatment, such as medications, but also soaps, washes, gels, spermicides, etc.;
• Radiotherapy-induced cystitis - radiotherapy can shrink tumors and destroy cancer cells, but it can also damage healthy cells, and radiotherapy-induced cystitis usually occurs following radiation therapy to the pelvic region.

A person may also develop asymptomatic bacteriuria. In this case bacteria are present in the urine, but without any symptoms.

Cystitis can also be acute or chronic. In acute cystitis, symptoms appear suddenly and usually do not last very long. Acute cystitis with hematuria is when blood is seen in the urine. Hemorrhagic cystitis is caused by damage to the blood vessels in the lining of the bladder. This form of cystitis can vary in severity.

Causes of cystitis

It is thought that most cases of cystitis occur when bacteria enter the bladder through the urethra - cystitabacterium cystitis. Most cases of cystitis are caused by Escherichia coli infection, but other types of bacteria can also cause infection.

There is also infectious cystitis, which can be caused by:

• taking certain medications, which cause inflammation of the bladder as the substances are eliminated from the body;
• long-term use of a catheter;
• the use of certain harsh products, such as bath foams, intimate area sprays, spermicides, etc., which can cause a reaction or inflammation;
• radiotherapy to the pelvic area.

Women are more prone to cystitis and other urinary tract infections than men. Other risk factors include:

• Sexual activity - during sex, bacteria can be pushed into the urethra;
• cystitis in pregnancy - hormonal changes during pregnancy can increase the risk of bladder infection;
• menopause - changes in hormones after menopause can often lead to bladder infections;
• conditions such as bladder stones or enlarged prostate.

Cystitis treatment

A bladder infection is usually treated with antibiotics. Your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic for cystitis depending on the type of bacteria found during urinalysis - such as amoxicillin for cystitis, fosfomycin tromethanol - Monural cystitis, or another type of antibiotic. To properly treat the infection, it is important to take the full course of antibiotics as prescribed by your doctor.

Mild analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs may also be recommended to relieve pain - cystitis treatment at home. Your doctor may also recommend some treatments and medications for cystitis, used as an adjunct to specific or supportive treatment. These are usually based on herbal extracts or oils and relieve mild symptoms caused by inflammation of the urinary tract by increasing urinary flow, such as Fares' Biomicin Urinary and Canephron Forte.

Biomicin Urinar, A20, 15 capsules, Fares

506

£6.60

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Black Cherry for cystitis

Cranberries contain active ingredients that help prevent bacteria from sticking to the bladder wall. Blackberries are known for their ability to prevent urinary problems and maintain urinary tract health. They contain important nutrients, such as citric acid, which protect and prevent the formation of kidney stones. They also contain bioflavonoids, phenolic compounds and other nutrients that offer protection.

They are available both on their own, as candied black cherries, black cherry juice, black cherry powder, black cherry cystitis teas, but also in capsules and other types of black cherry supplements - black cherry extract and black cherry tablets on their own, or together with other ingredients, such as vitamin C, other plant extracts, etc. They support the health of the urinary tract, improve excretory function, help the urinary tract to function properly, reduce the risk of urinary tract infections such as cystitis, urethritis, etc. and decrease the ability of pathogens to adhere to the walls of the urinary tract. They also relieve symptoms such as stinging, pain, discomfort and itching.

For example, Urinal cystitis contains two types of dry concentrates made from black cherry juice and black cherry, together with spleen extract and vitamin D. It should not be used to replace the antibiotic treatment prescribed by your doctor, but should be used in parallel as directed by your doctor. Another example is Organic Urinary Comfort, which contains, in addition to black cherry extract and extracts of cinnamon, black currant buds, hibiscus, nettle and black grass, with benefits in protecting the urinary system. It alleviates urinary discomfort, reduces the risk of recurrent bacterial infections, favors the elimination of toxins and has anti-inflammatory effect.

Merișor (Cranberry), 60 tablets, 1+1, Dacia Plant

94

£9.20

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Comfort Urine Bio, 20 phials, Santarome

7

£21.30

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Prevention of cystitis

You can reduce your risk of cystitis by adopting good lifestyle practices. These include:

• Practice good daily hygiene habits, including after using the toilet and proper menstrual hygiene.
• Wear cotton underwear, avoiding synthetics.
• Drink enough fluids to help flush bacteria from the bladder.
• Avoid the use of harsh cleaning and washing products in the intimate area, such as bath foam, perfumed intimate sprays and gels etc.
• Do not delay going to the toilet and always empty your bladder completely.