Cystitis

Cystitis is an infection of the bladder. It is caused by bacteria from the nearby skin that travel up the urethra (the tube from the outside to the bladder). Women more commonly get cystitis because they have a shorter urethra, which opens nearer to the anus (back passage). In men it is important to exclude infections such as Chlamydia, which can give rise to similar symptoms.

In most cases cystitis affects the bladder. In some cases the infection can travel up to the kidneys, which can be a more serious infection.

What are the symptoms?
•    Passing urine more often
•    Stinging or burning when you pass urine
•    A strong urge to urinate even when your bladder is empty
•    Dark, cloudy or smelly urine
•    Blood in the urine
•    Feeling generally unwell or having a fever
•    Lower abdominal discomfort

Home treatments
•    Take a pain killer e.g. paracetamol or ibuprofen to reduce discomfort
•    Hold a covered hot water bottle over the lower part of the abdomen
•    Make sure you are drinking at least 2 litres of fluid a day
•    Make the urine less acidic by drinking a glass of water with a teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate in it. The chemists sell products that contain sodium citrate, which has the same effect.
•    Drink cranberry juice or take capsules of cranberry concentrate.

When to see a nurse or doctor
•    If you are a man
•    If your symptoms don’t improve after a few days
•    You have blood in your urine
•    You are pregnant
•    Your symptoms are accompanied by fever, nausea or vomiting
•    You have pain in your lower back or severe abdominal pain
•    The cystitis keep coming back
•    You have other problems such as kidney stones or diabetes

Medical treatments
•    Your nurse or doctor will ask for a sample of urine. This should preferably be a mid-stream sample i.e. you urinate the first part of the stream into the lavatory and collect the second part of the stream. This will then be tested with a special stick and may be sent off to the hospital.
•    You may be treated with an antibiotic, typically for 3-5 days. Always take the complete course
•    If you are on the combined oral contraceptive pill remember to use condoms or abstain from sex whilst you are taking the antibiotics and for 7 days afterwards.

Prevention
•    Drink at least 2 litres of fluid a day
•    Pass urine when you need to rather than ‘hanging on’.
•    Make sure you empty your bladder completely.
•    Wipe from the front to the back when using the toilet
•    Avoid perfumed soaps, bubble bath etc
•    Wear cotton underwear and avoid tight fitting clothes
•    Consider drinking cranberry juice
•    Empty your bladder soon after sex
•    Consider using a lubricant to reduce friction during sex.


Source : Bupa Health Information