What is cystitis in women?— one of the most common urological diseases is cystitis.It is an inflammation of the bladder wall, occurring most often in the fair sex - in 80% of cases.According to statistics, the prevalence of this disease among the female population in one calendar year is up to 36 million cases.For men, these figures are several times lower.
Almost every woman has experienced unpleasant symptoms of the disease at least once in her life.This is explained by the structural features of the excretory system.The urethra, which has a larger diameter and shorter length than in men, and the close proximity of the vagina and anus allow pathogens to quickly penetrate the bladder cavity.Cystitis, which occurs in a woman aged 16 to 65 years and is not accompanied by other pathologies of the excretory system, is called uncomplicated.The treatment is successfully carried out on an outpatient basis (at home).
Causes of cystitis in women
Basically, the nature of the disease is infectious.There are several pathogens, but the main one is E. coli.Sometimes cystitis develops against the background of other diseases related to urology and gynecology.Factors that can provoke inflammation:
- Hypothermia of the body.The risk group includes girls and women who prefer to wear clothes that are not suitable for the weather, for example, too thin tights, short skirts in the cold season.
- Neglect of genital hygiene.This is often the cause of cystitis in girls.
- Neurogenic bladder is a problem that occurs not only in children but also in adults.Associated with impaired voluntary urination.Due to the increased sensitivity of the bladder receptors, girls are more often diagnosed with this condition than boys.The result is malnutrition of the organ, which leads to the rapid development of pathogenic microflora, which causes inflammation.
- Hormonal changes that occur in the female body during pregnancy, metabolic disorders in diabetes mellitus provoke the appearance of cystitis.
- Wearing too tight, narrow and uncomfortable clothes leads to disruption of the blood supply to the organs of the excretory system.
- Radiation therapy for tumors in the pelvis can cause inflammation.
- Estrogen deficiency, mucosal changes during menopause.
- Bladder wall injury during various endoscopic procedures.
- In girls, the manifestation of cystitis occurs during the first sexual act.The reason is an injury to the wall of the bladder, entry of microflora from the vagina into the urethra.Therefore, an active, energetic sex life, when there is also a high risk of infection, also contributes to the appearance of the disease.
Under the influence of these factors, pathogenic microflora develops, which leads to inflammation and the appearance of unpleasant symptoms.
Clinical picture of cystitis
The disease in women appears suddenly, within a short period of time after the action of a provoking factor (hypothermia, infection, injury).
The first and main symptom is usually pollakiuria - frequent urination.It is observed as a result of increased tone of the bladder wall caused by inflammation.
The desire to visit the toilet occurs up to several dozen times a day, every 15-20 minutes.The volume of each portion of urine becomes smaller and smaller.Some patients, on the contrary, suffer from urinary retention (due to spasm of the sphincter) or incontinence (if the neck of the organ is affected).
The woman feels severe pain in the lower abdomen, passing to the perineum.The greatest discomfort is felt when emptying the bladder.It proceeds painfully, with pain and a burning sensation.Unpleasant sensations can occur at the beginning and at the end of the urination process.
One of the constant symptoms is leukocyturia.The color of the urine changes, it becomes cloudy, strewn with pus and blood.With pronounced hematuria, it is said to be a hemorrhagic form of cystitis.
The woman's general state of health worsens, weakness and malaise appear, the temperature can rise to 38 ° C.
Classification of cystitis
In medicine, it is customary to distinguish types of diseases depending on the course, the cause of formation, the stage of development, morphological changes and the spread of the inflammatory process.The generally accepted classification distinguishes the following types of cystitis in women:
- Hemorrhagic.The cause of the pathology is the activity of viruses, bacteria, fungi.Urine contains blood, depending on the amount of blood, the color varies from pink to brown.In the absence of treatment, iron deficiency anemia can develop and subsequently a general infection of the body due to blockage of the pathways with blood clots.
- Interstitial.The inflammation is non-infectious and occurs more often in young women.The reason is the lack of glycosaminoglycans, which causes inflammation.It is characterized by severe cutting pain and frequent urges, mostly at night.With an active sexual life, the disease can progress.
- Radiation cystitis.It occurs after radiation used in the treatment of tumors.The procedure affects the sensitivity of the bladder, causes deformation of the walls and dysfunction of the organ.
- Catarrhal cystitis.In addition to blood, stones, sand and an increased content of calcium salts are found in the urine.Bladder capacity decreases.
- Inlay.The affected mucosa is covered with salts and fibrin.Drug therapy is not always effective.The best results in treatment are achieved with surgical intervention.
- Cervical cystitis.Named according to the location - inflammation forms in the neck of the bladder.The peculiarity lies in the damage to the mucous membrane, as well as to the sphincters that regulate urination.A woman often feels false urges, pain in the perineum and lower abdomen.Laboratory analysis of urine reveals a high content of pathogenic microorganisms in it.
The type of disease can be determined only after a complete examination.
Acute and chronic cystitis
The existing differences in the course of the disease make it possible to distinguish its different forms.
Acute cystitis
It progresses rapidly and is characterized by pronounced symptoms - dysuria (impaired urination), leukocyturia and terminal hematuria.The woman experiences frequent urges that cause discomfort with strong painful sensations.Dysuric disorders after 5-10 minutes cause a desire to visit the toilet, urine is scarce.
Chronic cystitis
Its symptoms are similar to the acute form.Exacerbations of the disease occur once or repeatedly during the year.It is expressed in the form of frequent and painful urination, severe pain in the pubic area.The characteristics of chronic cystitis> are:
- nocturia - desire to urinate at night;
- Dysuria is a constant urge to empty the bladder.
In the stage of remission, symptoms are slow, imperceptible or completely absent.
Diagnosis
Detecting cystitis at an early stage allows you to start treatment on time, prevent the chronicity of the disease and the appearance of other complications.Laboratory and instrumental studies help establish an accurate diagnosis.These include: general urine test, bacteriological culture, vaginal pap smear.If necessary, ultrasound, cystoscopy and cystography are prescribed.
The main and mandatory research method is urine analysis.With its help, the degree of the inflammatory process and the type of the causative agent of the disease are determined.The general analysis allows you to determine how high the number of leukocytes and red blood cells is.The composition contains salts of uric acid, mucus and bacteriuria.In the presence of inflammation, the urine acquires a cloudy appearance and may have a reddish tint.
It is not always possible to make an accurate diagnosis based on laboratory methods alone.In these cases, the doctor prescribes a cystoscopy - a method that allows you to assess the state of the bladder, the presence of stones, tumors, ulcers and foreign bodies in it.The condition of the walls of the organ is determined using ultrasound.
Treatment regimen
It is not difficult to get rid of cystitis if you follow all the doctor's recommendations.The treatment regimen is compiled taking into account the cause of the exacerbation, the type of pathogen and the presence of concomitant diseases.For bacterial cystitis includes:
- Antibacterial therapy.
- Taking antispasmodics.
- Special diet.
- Herbal medicine, use of traditional medicine.
In addition to the above methods, physiotherapy and installations are prescribed for recurrent cystitis.Women during menopause are recommended to use hormonal creams containing estrogen.Sitz herbal baths help to improve well-being and relieve unpleasant symptoms.
Drug therapy
Timely treatment using effective methods allows you to completely remove the inflammation and restore the mucous membrane.
Antispasmodics are prescribed to relieve pain.A natural preparation for the treatment of cystitis has an analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect.The biologically active substances in its composition have a beneficial effect on the urinary tract and kidneys.
Given the bacterial nature of the disease, the use of antibiotics is a mandatory step in treatment.They are prescribed taking into account the type of cystitis pathogen, the degree of absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, the rate of elimination from the body and side effects.Modern drugs have the ability to stay in the affected organ, which increases their effectiveness, which allows to shorten the course of treatment.
Traditional methods of treatment
Our great-grandmothers knew well what cystitis was and used various folk remedies to get rid of unpleasant and painful symptoms.
Cranberry treatment
They use fruits as well as leaves from the plant, collected in early spring, while the nutrients and beneficial substances are transferred to the flowers and fruits.There are many cranberry recipes in folk medicine:
- Pour the fruit with boiling water (2 cups of water per 150 g), leave for an hour, drink 0.5 cup three times a day.
- The leaves of the plant are crushed, poured into a pan, lukewarm water is added and put on fire.After it boils, take it out, let the broth brew for a while, take before meals 3 times a day for three months.For 60 g of raw materials you will need 1 liter of water.
- For preventive purposes, it is recommended to use blueberry jam and fruit drinks in the diet.
It should be noted that cranberries wash potassium and calcium, which a woman needs for health and beauty, along with urine.It is important, using blueberry decoctions, to enrich the diet with products that complement the main trace elements (cottage cheese, pumpkin, parsley).
Chamomile for cystitis
The plant is used not only for making teas and potions.Local application of chamomile is no less effective in the fight against cystitis.The infusion is used for dousing.Chamomile decoction restores the damaged mucous membrane, cleans the inner surface of the bladder from infection and improves blood circulation.
Bear grapes
The plant is known for its diuretic and antibacterial action.An infusion of 30 ml is prepared from the leaves.30 g of crushed raw material is poured with a glass of boiling water and left for 45 minutes, after which it is filtered.
Traditional medicine in the treatment of cystitis is a supplement to drug therapy.Their use is possible only after consulting a doctor.
The disease can be avoided if you follow certain rules: avoid hypothermia, maintain hygiene, strengthen the immune system and do not ignore infections and inflammations that occur in the body.