Cystitis Treatment

Cystitis

Cystitis is a troublesome condition arising from infection in the urine. It usually resolves quickly with antibiotic. Some women are prone to repeated episodes of cystitis. Men rarely suffer from cystitis and the treatment offered here is not for men.

Cystitis symptoms

Urine is usually free from bacteria. In cystitis bacterial infection in the urine causes irritation in the bladder, leading to burning when passing water and, usually, a need to run to the toilet frequently. There may also be an offensive smell to the urine which may be cloudy and blood stained.

Complications

Cystitis is not normally a serious condition, however, occasionally infection can travel up into the kidneys leading to a serious infection known as pyelonephritis.

Pyelonephritis is infection in the kidneys that can cause kidney damage. The symptoms of pyelonephritis are: high fever, back ache, shivering, headache, nausea and vomiting. Pyelonephritis requires urgent medical attention and sometimes hospital treatment.

Recurring infection

Doctors often can not find out why a woman is getting repeated episodes of cystitis. When a woman first starts having these infections, tests are sometimes carried out. The tests are usually normal.

In some women cystitis is associated with recent intercourse or can be associated with stress. However, most water infections seem to start for no particular reason. If a woman has repeated episodes of cystitis, and the pattern of infection and symptoms are not changing, doctors usually just treat each infection as it arises with antibiotic.