Symptoms and types of acute cystitis

Inflammation of the bladder is one of the most common diseases of the urinary system. The main feature of the pathology is its painful and acute symptoms:

• Frequent urge to urinate with a small amount of fluid released.
• Pain and burning during urination.
• Pain in the pelvic area, pubic area, lower abdomen, and genitals.
• Subfebrile body temperature.
• Cloudy urine with blood and pus.
• Unpleasant smell of urine.
• Pain in the lumbar region.
• Deterioration of general well-being.
• Nervous state.

The above symptoms may be accompanied by signs of kidney damage: pain in the lower back, high body temperature, blood in the urine, nausea and vomiting.

Acute pain in cystitis

The nature of the pain and the presence of other symptoms depend on the stage of the urinary system damage. Severe and acute pain persists for 5-7 days. During this period, activity is limited for 2-3 days. It is very important to seek medical help in time, preventing the development of complications.

• If cystitis is severe, pain occurs in the lower abdomen and intensifies when palpating the pubic area.
• Sharp pain occurs when going to the toilet and when trying to urinate.
• Discomfort affects the perineum, anus, and genitals.

In order to alleviate the painful condition, it is recommended to adhere to the following rules: stay in bed, do not eat salty and spicy foods, drink more fluids and drinks with a diuretic effect.

To relieve smooth muscle spasms, it is recommended to use painkillers and antispasmodics: Analgin, Tempalgin, Uropyrin, Spazmalgon, No-Shpa and others. Antibacterial agents that destroy pathogenic flora are also necessary for treatment. But they can only be taken as prescribed by a doctor.

[ 1 ], [ 2 ], [ 3 ], [ 4 ], [ 5 ], [ 6 ], [ 7 ]

Temperature in acute cystitis

A change in body temperature towards its increase in acute inflammation of the urinary tract is associated with the body's immune response to the action of pathogenic microorganisms. If the body temperature exceeds subfebrile values, that is, more than 37 °C, then the activity and vital activity of bacteria decreases sharply.

In most cases, bacterial cystitis occurs with elevated temperature. This phenomenon indicates that the immune system is resisting the infection. The degree of hyperthermia depends on the type of pathogen.

Acute hyperthermia, which is life-threatening, occurs extremely rarely with cystitis. If this happens, it indicates a severe form of the disease, which requires emergency medical care. In any case, the inflammatory reaction is a reason to monitor the dynamics of body temperature. This is necessary to prevent many life-threatening complications.

First signs

Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bladder is familiar to many people, especially women. Let's consider the first signs of acute cystitis, which will allow you to recognize it in the early stages and begin treatment in a timely manner.

• Lower back pain.
• Frequent urge to go to the toilet.
• Burning, itching and stinging during urination.
• After using the toilet, there is a feeling of a full bladder.
• Pain in the pubic area.
• Urine becomes cloudy with traces of blood and pus.

In addition to the above symptoms, there may be an increase in temperature to subfebrile values, nausea, and general weakness.

[ 8 ], [ 9 ], [ 10 ]

Stages

The treatment method and prognosis for recovery depend on the stage of the urinary system damage. Cystitis has the following stages:

1. Acute - characterized by a sudden onset, usually 2-4 hours after exposure to the provoking factor. Manifested by severe pain, problems with urination, cutting and burning in the urethra. The urine may contain blood or pus, and the liquid itself is cloudy. The pathological condition is accompanied by elevated body temperature, headaches and requires bed rest. With proper treatment, the acute stage passes within 5-7 days.
2. Chronic - similar in symptoms to the acute stage, but manifested by less severe pain. Frequent urge to go to the toilet with a small discharge of fluid, pain in the suprapubic area and along the urethra, pyuria predominate. This stage is characterized by frequent relapses.

The peculiarity of the inflammatory process is that without timely and correct treatment, the acute stage becomes chronic, which can cause serious complications. In order to prevent infectious damage to the bladder, you should maintain personal hygiene, promptly treat any diseases, especially gastrointestinal tract, eat right and strengthen the immune system.

Acute attack of cystitis

One of the features of inflammation of the urinary tract is its unexpected onset. The disease manifests itself in acute attacks, discomfort during urination, heaviness in the lower abdomen, burning and stinging in the urethra. The urge to go to the toilet becomes very frequent, while the amount of discharged fluid is minimal. Urine is cloudy, with admixtures of blood or pus.

Another feature of an attack of cystitis is a subfebrile body temperature and deterioration of general health. Very often, due to severe pain in the first days of the disease, the patient has to stay in bed. As the pathology progresses, nausea and vomiting, hyperthermia, severe pain in the suprapubic region occur. The acute condition lasts for 2-3 days, and the recovery period takes more than a week.

[ 11 ], [ 12 ], [ 13 ]

Types

One of the most frequently diagnosed diseases of the genitourinary system is acute cystitis. The disease causes inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bladder, accompanied by painful symptoms. It is most often diagnosed in women due to the anatomical features of the urethra.

Cystitis has several types, let's look at the main ones:

• Acute – characterized by pronounced symptoms and an unexpected onset. Occurs due to hypothermia, infection with pathogenic microorganisms, failure to observe hygiene rules, frequent constipation, and abuse of spicy foods and alcoholic beverages. The symptoms are so painful that the patient has to stay in bed for 2-3 days. With proper treatment, the disease goes away in 5-7 days.
• Chronic – has vague symptoms, occurs due to incorrect or untimely treatment of the acute form of inflammation. Relapses in the spring and autumn.
• Bacterial (infectious) – is one of the most common. Most often it occurs due to coli bacteria, chlamydia, staphylococci, less often due to streptococci and trichomonads. The main pathogens are gram-negative enterobacteria.
• Traumatic – occurs due to damage to the bladder mucosa during surgical or diagnostic procedures.
• Hemorrhagic – has a viral nature, manifests itself in blood clots in the urine and severe pain. May be complicated by renal failure.
• Hypercalceuric – occurs due to metabolic disorders, when the mucous membrane is damaged due to the release of calcium salt crystals by the kidneys.
• Radiation is a complication of malignant neoplasms of the genitals and bladder.
• Chemical – occurs due to the action of toxic substances (for example, due to improper treatment or taking dangerous drugs) penetrating the organ membrane. It is extremely rare.
• Allergic – caused by allergens that irritate the walls of the bladder. Irritants include food, drinks, medications, cosmetics, household chemicals, and underwear.
• Parasitic - is a complication of helminthic invasion, manifested by acute inflammation.
• Interstitial – inflammation of the mucous membrane, submucosal layer and muscular walls of the bladder.

To treat each of the above types of disease, a separate treatment plan is drawn up, individually for each patient.

Acute hemorrhagic cystitis

Very often, when the bladder is inflamed, there is blood in the urine. But with acute hemorrhagic cystitis, the urine turns red. It may contain blood clots and flakes. This condition requires emergency treatment, since there is a risk of developing renal failure and other serious complications.

The main causes of acute cystitis with blood:

• Hypothermia and decreased protective properties of the immune system.
• Chronic STDs.
• Active intimate life and frequent change of sexual partners.
• Inflammatory lesions of the pelvic organs.
• Stagnation of urine in the bladder.
• Penetration of foreign objects into the organ.

Age-related hemorrhagic cystitis is also distinguished, which occurs due to decreased elasticity of the bladder walls and deterioration of local tissue immunity. Cracks and ulcers form on the organ's mucous membrane, through which infection penetrates.

Laboratory and instrumental studies are performed for diagnosis. If blood tests show an increase in ESR, an elevated level of leukocytes and other biochemical disorders, this indicates that the inflammation has spread to the kidneys.

To treat acute cystitis with blood, antibacterial, hemostatic and anti-inflammatory drugs are used. To reduce pain - analgesics, to strengthen the immune defense - vitamins and immunostimulants.

[ 14 ], [ 15 ], [ 16 ], [ 17 ], [ 18 ], [ 19 ]

Acute bacterial cystitis

A lesion of the urinary bladder with inflammation of its mucous membrane due to the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the organ is bacterial cystitis. Most often, this pathology is detected in women, although men and children are susceptible to it.

• The main cause of bacterial inflammation is the close location of the external opening of the urethra to the anus. Because of this, the main pathogen of the disease is E. coli. In women, infection is possible with pathogenic flora from the vagina.
• The disease manifests itself as frequent urge to urinate with a small amount of urine, pain in the lower abdomen, blood in the urine, and deterioration of general well-being.
• To identify the causative agent of the disease, a bacteriological analysis of urine is carried out to determine the sensitivity of pathogenic microorganisms to antibiotics.

The treatment is complex and consists of antimicrobial therapy, painkillers and immunostimulants. Physiotherapeutic methods, a special therapeutic diet, and in some cases, folk methods are also used.

[ 20 ], [ 21 ], [ 22 ], [ 23 ]

Acute uncomplicated cystitis

Purulent-inflammatory lesions of the bladder mucosa are acute uncomplicated cystitis. It is one of the most common urinary tract infections. Most often, it occurs due to the action of enterobacteria and coagulase-negative staphylococci. In most cases, it is diagnosed in women. Without timely and proper treatment, it becomes chronic.

The main risk factors for uncomplicated inflammation of the urinary tract include:

• Physiological features of the body. In women, the urethra is short and wide, located close to the anus and vagina, that is, sources of infection.
• Weakened immune system, hypothermia.
• Poor nutrition, allergic reactions.
• Frequent change of sexual partners.
• Gynecological diseases.
• Hormonal disorders.
• Kidney disease.

To establish a diagnosis, urine and blood tests and instrumental studies are performed. Particular attention is paid to the clinical signs of infection: acute pain in the lower abdomen, frequent urge to go to the toilet, discomfort when urinating, cloudy urine, subfebrile body temperature.

Treatment consists of antibacterial therapy, analgesics, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic drugs. With a properly composed therapy regimen, inflammation subsides in 5-7 days.

[ 24 ], [ 25 ]

Acute cystitis in men

Inflammatory lesions of the urinary tract and bladder mucosa are rare in men. Most often, the disease is detected in patients over 40 years of age. The atypical nature of acute cystitis in men is explained by the characteristics of their urethra: long and narrow. Since the urethra is curved, this delays the infection from ascending to the bladder and kidneys.

If a man is diagnosed with bacterial cystitis, it most often occurs against the background of urethritis, prostatitis, epididymitis, vesiculitis. The main causative agent of the infection is non-specific bacteria of the intestinal and pseudomonas aeruginosa, yeast-like fungi Candida, etc. Specific inflammation develops against the background of trichomonads, mycobacteria tuberculosis, gonococci, chlamydia.

The development of the disease is usually caused by subvesical compression of the urinary tract, which prevents the free flow of urine. The causes of inflammation include:

• Urological diseases.
• Mechanical obstruction of urine outflow: stones, tumors, foreign bodies, diverticula, urethral strictures, prostate adenoma.
• Phimosis is a narrowing of the foreskin.
• Neurogenic bladder dysfunction.

Other factors that increase the risk of developing the disease include diabetes, spinal injuries, hypothermia, abuse of spicy foods and alcohol, and transurethral surgery.

The main symptoms of the disease include: frequent urge to urinate, cloudy urine, stranguria, terminal hematuria, deterioration of general well-being, and decreased ability to work.

For diagnostics, a set of laboratory and instrumental studies is carried out, special attention is paid to differentiating the damage to the bladder from other pathologies with similar symptoms. Treatment consists of bed rest, drug therapy, plenty of fluids and diet.

[ 26 ], [ 27 ], [ 28 ], [ 29 ]

Acute cystitis in children

Bladder infection in pediatric patients occurs quite often. At the initial stage, the disease does not cause acute symptoms, but manifests itself in frequent urination of the baby. As it progresses, the pathological symptoms increase:

• Painful urination with a small amount of fluid.
• Burning, cutting pain and itching above the pubis.
• Cloudiness of urine and change in its smell.
• Elevated body temperature.
• Deterioration of general well-being: poor sleep, loss of appetite, frequent crying.

As with adults, girls are more likely to suffer from cystitis in children, which is due to their physiological characteristics. Another reason for this unpleasant condition in children is the habit of writing on the potty, leaning forward. In this position, the bladder is not completely emptied, which creates ideal conditions for the development of infection.

Treatment of children is no different from that of adult patients. Children are prescribed antibiotics, painkillers, diuretic infusions, and vitamins. Particular attention should be paid to the child's nutrition. It is necessary to ensure frequent drinking to quickly flush pathogenic flora from the body.

[ 30 ], [ 31 ], [ 32 ], [ 33 ], [ 34 ], [ 35 ], [ 36 ]