Cystitis

The medical term for bladder inflammation is cystitis. When a part of the body becomes swollen and hot, it is known as inflammation. Sometimes, this condition can be painful. In most cases, this condition happens due to a bacterial infection (a urinary tract infection). Generally, a bladder infection is painful and, without treatment, can become a serious disease if it spreads to the kidneys.

This condition may also happen due to a reaction to some medicines or radiation therapy. Furthermore, there are other things that may also cause irritation to the bladder. For example, hygiene products, spermicide jelly, long-term catheter use, and others. Some people may experience cystitis as a complication of another disease.

One of the most common treatments for cystitis is antibiotics used to treat bacterial infection. However, treatment for cystitis can be different because it depends on the cause.

Symptoms

Check below some symptoms that people with cystitis usually experience:

Pelvic discomfort
Low-grade fever
A feeling of pressure in the abdominal area
Strong-smelling or passing cloudy urine
Hematuria (blood in the urine)
Frequent urination
A burning feeling or pain when urinating
A persistent urge to urinate

Accidental daytime wetting in children may also be a sign of a urinary tract infection (UTI). However, nighttime bed wetting that happens on its own is less probably caused by a UTI.

Get medical help if you experience any of the following symptoms. For example, fever and chills, nausea, vomiting, and back or side pain.

Seek emergency care if you notice blood in the urine or if painful urination lasts more than several hours. Sometimes, cystitis may return even after treatment with antibiotics. In such cases, physicians usually recommend other treatments.

Causes

Kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra form the urinary system. All these organs play an important role in removing waste from the body. Two bean-shaped organs that are located toward the back of the upper abdomen are called kidneys. They filter waste from the blood and help regulate the concentration of multiple substances in the body.

Ureters are two tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder. Thereafter, the urine is stored in the bladder until you feel the need to urinate. The urine goes away from the body through the urethra.

Bacterial Cystitis

When bacteria enter the urinary system, usually through the urethra and multiply, it causes a urinary tract infection. Commonly, cystitis happens due to a type of Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria, but other types of bacteria can also cause this condition.

Sometimes, women may develop bacterial bladder infections after sex. These bladder infections can occur even in women who are not sexually active because female genitals often hold bacteria that can cause cystitis.

Noninfectious Cystitis

While the most common cause of cystitis is UTIs, it may occur due to multiple noninfectious factors that cause inflammation of the bladder. Check below some examples:

Interstitial cystitis – The exact cause of long-term (chronic) bladder inflammation (also known as painful bladder syndrome) is not fully understood by experts. It is usually difficult to diagnose and treat, and is mostly detected in females.
Drug-related cystitis – There are some medications that may cause inflammation of the bladder. These include chemotherapy drugs, Penicillins, Ketamine, Tiapofenic acid, and others
Radiation cystitis – One of the multiple cancer treatments is radiation therapy. It may also cause inflammatory changes in the bladder tissue, which leads to cystitis.
Foreign-body cystitis – People who use catheters for long periods may also develop cystitis. It happens due to damage to the bladder tissue.
Chemical cystitis – Some people may be sensitive to certain chemicals found in hygiene products. For example, bubble bath, personal hygiene spray, or spermicidal jelly. Inflammation of the bladder occurs as an allergic reaction to previous products.
Cystitis associated with other diseases – In some cases, cystitis may happen as a complication of other diseases. These include diabetes, kidney stones, an enlarged prostate gland, spinal cord injury, and others.

Risk Factors

There are some people who are more prone to develop bladder infections than others. It occurs due to physical anatomy, a short urethra, bacterial infection that spreads beyond the bladder, and other factors. Check below some factors that significantly increase the risk of developing cystitis:

Sexually active people – During sexual intercourse, the bacteria may enter the urethra and multiply there. As a result, you may experience a UTI. While it mostly occurs in females, men may also develop it.
Birth control methods – Some types of birth control significantly increase the risk of a UTI and then cystitis. For example, a diaphragm that contains spermicide puts you at higher risk of developing the condition.
Pregnancy – The risk of developing bladder infections is higher in pregnant women due to hormonal changes.
Menopause – Hormonal changes are also common in postmenopausal women. It elevates the risk of developing UTIs.
Interference with the flow of the urine – This can lead to bladder stones or an enlarged prostate gland.
Immune system changes – There are some conditions that weaken your immune system. As a result, you are more likely to develop UTIs. These include HIV infection, diabetes, cancer, and others.
Chronic urinary catheters – Catheters are often required by older people or people with chronic health conditions. However, long-term use of catheters significantly increases the risk of bladder tissue damage and bacterial infections.

In addition, healthy males rarely develop cystitis.

What Are The Possible Complications of Cystitis?

The only way to prevent complications is early diagnosis and proper treatment. Otherwise, people may experience the following complications. Check below some examples:

Kidney infection – Without treatment, a bladder infection may spread to the kidneys. This infection is known as pyelonephritis, and it may cause permanent damage to the kidneys.
Hematuria – Some people may have small amounts of blood in the urine that can be seen only with a microscope. This condition is called microscopic hematuria, and it often goes away after treatment. When you can notice the blood in the urine, the condition is called gross hematuria. However, it happens rarely with a typical bacterial cystitis. If the blood continues to be present in the urine after treatment, you should visit a doctor right away.

How to Prevent Cystitis?

Certain self-care measures may help reduce the risk or even prevent recurrent bladder infections and cystitis. These include:

Drink plenty of liquids to prevent dehydration, especially after cancer treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Urinate frequently, especially if you feel the urge to urinate.
It is recommended to wipe from front to back after a bowel movement to prevent bacteria from spreading to the vagina and urethra.
You should wash the skin around the genitals every day. Avoid harsh soaps or wash too vigorously.
You should empty your bladder as soon as possible after sexual activity.
Do not use deodorant sprays or hygiene products in the genital area.

In addition, cranberry juice or tablets that contain proanthocyanidins are often recommended by doctors to reduce the risk of recurrent bladder infections. Generally, cranberry products are safe for healthy people.

In addition, you should use cranberry products carefully because they can interact with an anticoagulant (called Warfarin and cause bleeding.) If you already have a bladder infection, cranberry is not an effective treatment.

Diagnosis

If you think you are experiencing cystitis symptoms, do not hesitate to see a doctor to confirm the diagnosis and get treatment. Those who ignore the symptoms and do not get treatment may experience certain serious complications. Check below some tests often used to confirm the disease:

Urine analysis – During this test, doctors collect a small sample of the urine in a container. Then it is tested in the laboratory to check for infection signs (such as blood, pus, or bacteria).
Imaging tests – These tests are often used to identify if a tumor or anatomical problems cause inflammation of the bladder. Doctors usually perform X-rays or ultrasounds.

Treatment

Commonly, a typical bacterial cystitis is often treated with antibiotics.

Bacterial Cystitis Treatment

Antibiotics are the primary treatment for people with this type of cystitis. The type of antibiotics and length of the treatment are different among people because they depend on your overall health and the bacteria found in the urine.

First infection – In such cases, the symptoms go away within a few days after beginning the treatment with antibiotics. However, you should administer these medicines for 1 week.
Recurrent infections – People with recurrent infections should often be administered antibiotics for a long period. In some cases, your doctor may refer you to a healthcare professional specialized in urinary tract infections (such as a urologist or nephrologist).
Hospital-acquired infection – This infection is commonly difficult to treat because bacteria found in hospitals are resistant to multiple antibiotics.

Physicians may recommend a vaginal Estrogen cream for women who have gone through menopause. This cream is recommended only if you are at increased risk of UTIs.

Interstitial Cystitis Treatment

Unfortunately, there are no treatments for people with interstitial cystitis because doctors do not fully understand why inflammation occurs. However, to lessen the symptoms, doctors may recommend oral medicines or certain drugs that are placed directly into the bladder through a tube.

When medicines do not work, doctors recommend a procedure known as nerve stimulation or surgery (in severe cases). A nerve stimulation uses mild electrical impulses to reduce pelvic pain and the sudden urge to urinate.

Other Noninfectious Cystitis Treatments

Drinking plenty of water and avoiding certain hygiene products that cause irritation to the bladder may help lessen the symptoms and reduce the frequency of cystitis episodes. However, if you develop cystitis as a complication of another health condition, physicians usually treat it with medications.

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes cystitis?

The most common cause of cystitis is bacterial infection that happens due to a type of Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. However, people may experience cystitis due to other causes. Examples include:

Certain hygiene products
Dehydration
Diabetes
Weakened immune system
Long-term use of urinary catheters
Menopause
Some medicines (such as chemotherapy drugs)
Enlarged prostate glands

This article does not contain a complete list of what causes cystitis. For more details, discuss it with your doctor.

What is the best treatment for cystitis?

The primary treatment for people with cystitis is antibiotics. It helps clear a bacterial infection that causes the disease. The duration of the treatment and the type of antibiotic depend on the severity of the infection.

Can cystitis be cured permanently?

Nowadays, there is no way to cure cystitis, but there are a lot of treatments available to control the symptoms. Ask your healthcare provider if you have additional questions.