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Cystitis is an infection of the wall of the bladder. Bladder infections are more common in women, which may be because women have a shorter urethra. About 10 to 20 percent of all women get at least one bladder infection during their lifetime. They may also occur in children, more often in girls. In younger men and children, bladder infections often relate to abnormal anatomy or function. Therefore, these patients require a thorough medical evaluation.
Bladder infections may spread up and into the kidney, which may become infected, and this can be quite serious. Kidney infection could lead to high blood pressure or kidney failure. Most urinary tract infections enter from the urethra. The urethra is the body's tube that connects the bladder to the outside of the body. All women have bacteria residing near the opening of the urethra, which is located near the top of the opening of the vagina. The bacteria are normally kept under control by our immune defences. Passing urine acts to flush out germs. SOME FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO INFECTION ARE: - irritation from feminine hygiene spray
- irritation from sexual intercourse
- bladder stones that block urine flow and irritate linings
- a swollen prostate gland
- pregnancy
- nerve problems affecting the bladder
- having a catheter in the bladder
- using a diaphragm and spermicide for birth control
- history of urinary tract infections or
- sexually transmitted diseases
A PERSON WITH A URINARY TRACT INFECTION MAY HAVE THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS: - urgent and frequent need to urinate
- difficulty, pain, burning during urination or difficulty when trying to start to urinate
- pain or a feeling of warmth during urination
- cramps in the bladder
- discharge from the urethra in men
- blood in the urine
- fever or chills
- low back pain or
- tenderness over the bladder area
High counts of bacteria in the urine suggest a bladder infection, but a urine culture is needed to confirm an infection. Urine cultures take a few days to complete and treament usually is started on the same day you see your doctor. When the urine culture and sensitivity results are available, the medication may be changed depending on the specific bacteria and what it is sensitive to. Other tests may be necessary to rule out sexually transmitted diseases. Most infections respond well to antibiotic treatment; however, recurrence is possible. TO AVOID A RECURRENCE: - drink a lot of water, at least 2 litres every day
- take all your medication as ordered until it is all gone
- use condoms when having intercourse and
- make sure that birth control diaphragms fit properly. (If they are too large, they may put pressure on the neck of the bladder.)
For these reasons, doing what you can do to prevent chronic bladder infections is very important. Article #5270 Copyright (c) 2002 McKesson. All Rights Reserved. |
