One of the most common reasons for seeking medical attention is cystitis, or commonly known as a urinary tract infection. However, the medical term refers to bladder inflammation and urinary tract infection due to various causes; in fact, it describes the detection of microorganisms in urine, usually bacteria (bacteria) and occasionally fungi (fungi) or viruses (viruses) .
According to global statistics, 50% of women will experience urinary problems at least once in their lives. This is attributed to the fact that the length of the urethra (only 4 cm) facilitates the entry of microorganisms into the body. Additionally, studies show that most cases occur in healthy women between the ages of 18 and 30.
Cystitis usually goes away within a few days. However, in more complex or recurring cases, patients may require long-term treatment with the most appropriate medications to combat the infectious cause.
What are the symptoms and causes of cystitis?
The most common symptoms of cystitis include burning, pain, or stinging during urination. You may also have the sensation of urinating and have to urinate more frequently, but the amount of urine produced is much less than normal. If the infection progresses, you may also experience blood in the urine (hematuria), fatigue, general malaise, and urine that becomes darker, smells different, and is different in density (turbidity).
If these symptoms are accompanied by fever, the infection may affect other organs, such as a man’s kidneys or prostate.
Regarding the causes – as mentioned at the beginning of this article – urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria (bacterial cystitis). However, cystitis can also have other causes, such as radiation therapy, use of spermicidal gel, unprotected sex, drug reactions, etc. (non-infectious cystitis).
inside bacterial cystitisExperts have identified microorganisms from feces as the culprit. Enterobacteriaceae are responsible. until today, E. coli – E. coli take charge, take charge 85% of sexually active women have uncomplicated infections, 70% of adults have uncomplicated infections, and 50% of nosocomial infections occur.
after E. coliother common bacteria include Proteus, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Citrobacter, Pseudomonas, Serratia, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus faecalis,in particular, Staphylococcus saprophyticusThe University Clinic of Navarra said that sexually active women account for 15% of infections.
Are there risk factors for cystitis?
Currently, certain aspects are known to contribute to the development of cystitis: pre-existing medical conditions, demographic factors, lifestyle habits. However, the risk may increase if:
- Be a sexually active person.
- Use certain types of contraceptives.
- People with diabetes, cancer or who are immunocompromised.
- Pregnancy or menopause.
- Urinary tract obstruction.
- Diagnosed with infectious stones (stones secondary to chronic urinary tract infection).
- Difficulty in intestinal transit, manifested as constipation or diarrhea.
Various habits and conditions can also contribute to the development of UTIs: exposure to cold, wearing tight underwear, emotional stress, drinking less water, or hormonal changes, especially in women.
How is it diagnosed and what is the treatment?
The tests and analyzes needed to evaluate a patient with cystitis vary depending on the site of suspected infection and the symptoms that are present. The most common evaluations include a physical examination (where the doctor palpates the patient’s abdominal and pelvic areas to identify areas of pain or redness), urinalysis (to determine whether an infectious agent is present), and a urine culture. Urine, vaginal or urethral fluidl (accurately identify pathogens and measure antibiotic effectiveness).
Treatment of cystitis generally involves the use of antibiotics, with the choice depending on the case, cause and type of infection, whether it is a first or recurring infection.
When choosing an antibiotic drug, the doctor or specialist must consider three basic aspects:
- This indicates that the incidence of bacterial resistance is low, remaining below 20%.
- Its administration is easy, through a short course of antibiotics that ensures persistence for 3 days.
- This creates minimal ecological impact.
When the infection is caused by a physical obstruction to the flow of urine, such as a stone, surgery may be needed to remove the obstruction or to correct a physical abnormality, such as a descending uterus or bladder.
If you think you may have cystitis, experts recommend confirming the diagnosis with a medical consultation and drinking plenty of fluids. Self-medication is not recommended under any circumstances as bacterial resistance can develop over time.