What Causes Cystitis of the Bladder?

Most cases of cystitis and interstitial cystitis will occur when bacteria enters the body and infects the lining of the bladder. Escherichia coli (E. coli) is the bacteria mostly responsible for bladder infections.

Besides bacterial infections, there are other causes of cystitis and bladder pain for example:

• Sensitivity to chemicals: Some people may develop an allergic reaction in the bladder when exposed to certain chemicals in products, feminine hygiene sprays, or bubble baths.
• Certain medications: There are several allopathic drugs thought to induce cystitis, such as chemotherapy and frequent use of antibiotics. Radiation treatment can also cause bladder problems.

• Other causes of cystitis: Cystitis may also be caused by an enlarged prostate, kidney stones, diabetes, spinal cord injuries, use of a diaphragm for birth control, bladder cancer, sexual intercourse, stress, poor diet, food allergies, and hormonal imbalances (during menopause or pregnancy).

Differentiation Cystitis of the Bladder

How do you know if your patient has cystitis or cystitis of the bladder ?

• An increased and persistent urge to urinate

• A burning pain from urination

• Foul-smelling or dark-colored and cloudy urine

• Nocturnal urination

• Frequently passing small amounts of urine

• Chronic pelvic discomfort

• Lower abdominal pain

• Lower back pain

• Traces of blood in the urine

• Weakness and a low-grade fever, especially among older women who also don’t show signs of other symptoms

How Cystitis of Bladder Is Diagnosed

Although a diagnosis of cystitis of the bladder is made according to a patient’s signs, symptoms and certain tests for example:

Urinalysis (help determine if there is pus, blood, or bacteria in urine), and a microscopic examination may reveal high levels of E. coli and white blood cells.

Ultrasound or X-ray is sometimes used to discover other bladder inflammation causes like a structural abnormality or a tumor. Sometimes a cystoscopy is used, especially when patient experienced symptoms for a long period of time.

P.S: Interstitial cystitis, can be harder to diagnose due to symptoms overlapping with other conditions such as an overactive bladder, vulvodynia, chronic pelvic pain, a UTI, and endometriosis.

That’s why interstitial cystitis is sometimes not accurately diagnosed until five years after first showing signs of symptoms.

Allopathic treatment for Cystitis of the bladder

Cystitis caused by bacterial infection is generally treated with antibiotics. Treatment for other types of cystitis depends on what’s causing it.

Allopathically treating bacterial cystitis

Antibiotics are the first line of treatment for cystitis caused by bacteria. Which drugs are used and for how long depends on your overall health and the bacteria found in the urine.

• First-time infection. Symptoms often improve a lot within the first few days of taking antibiotics. But you’ll likely need to take antibiotics for three days to a week, depending on how severe your infection is.

  Take the pills exactly as directed by your provider. Don’t stop the pills early, even if you’re feeling better. This helps make sure that the infection is completely gone.

• Repeat infection. If you have recurrent UTIs, your provider may have you take antibiotics for a longer period of time. You may also be referred to a doctor who specializes in urinary tract disorders (urologist or nephrologist). A specialist can check for any urologic problems that may be causing the infections. In some cases, taking a single dose of an antibiotic after sex may be helpful for repeat infections.
• Hospital-acquired infection. Hospital-acquired bladder infections can be a challenge to treat. That’s because bacteria found in hospitals are often resistant to the common types of antibiotics used to treat community-acquired bladder infections. Different types of antibiotics and different treatment approaches may be needed.

Women who have gone through menopause may be particularly at risk of cystitis. As a part of treatment, your provider may give you a vaginal estrogen cream. But vaginal estrogen is recommended only if you’re able to use this medicine without increasing your risk of other health problems.

Allopathically treating interstitial cystitis

There’s no single treatment that works best for someone with interstitial cystitis. The cause of inflammation is uncertain. To relieve symptoms, you might need medication given as a pill you take by mouth. Medicine can also be placed directly into the bladder through a tube. Or you might have a procedure called nerve stimulation. This uses mild electrical pulses to relieve pelvic pain and urinary frequency.

Surgery is a last resort option, to be considered only when other treatments fail. Surgery might not work to relieve pain and other symptoms.

Allopathically treating other forms of noninfectious cystitis

Some people are sensitive to chemicals in products such as bubble bath or spermicide. Avoiding these products may help ease symptoms and prevent more episodes of cystitis. Drinking plenty of fluids also helps to flush out substances that may be irritating the bladder.

For cystitis that develops as a complication of chemotherapy or radiation therapy, treatment focuses on managing pain by taking medicine.

Some Natural medicines for Cystitis of the Bladder

The following natural approaches to cystitis are considered best.

1. Cranberry

The use of cranberry for urinary conditions can be traced back to Native American tribes. Cranberry juice and cranberry powder extract are both thought to prevent E. coli and other bacteria from sticking to the bladder wall. Cranberry can prevent UTIs and treat acute cystitis.

2. Uva Ursi or Wild Cranberry

For centuries, uva ursi has been a popular herbal remedy for treating bladder infections like cystitis. The active compound in uva ursi is arbutin. Some studies show that uva ursi can prevent frequent UTIs when combined with dandelion leaf and root.

3. Probiotics

If you are using antibiotics, probiotics are especially useful in preventing the overgrowth of harmful bacteria. Antibiotics are known to kill all the bacteria in your system, which also includes the good stuff. In a 2009 systematic review of five studies, probiotics with Lactobacillus strains helped prevent UTIs.

4. Goldenseal

Goldenseal has a long history for treating infections and E. coli. It can boost the immune system, and it contains a potent alkaloid called berberine. Some studies support goldenseal in the treatment of urinary conditions.

8. Berberine or Berberis Vulgaris

Other Natural Remedies

Other natural treatments for cystitis include Echinacea, horsetail, oil of oregano, magnesium, vitamin D3, fish oils, grape seed extract, pine bark extract, parsley water, horseradish, and celery seeds. Other therapies for cystitis also include acupuncture, yoga, and other mindfulness techniques.

Homoeopathic medicines for Cystitis of the Bladder

Cantharis

Cantharis is a well known homoeopathic remedy for its marvelous effects on inflammations and infections. In cases of burns, it brings immediate relief.

It is ideal for cases with symptoms of inflammation of the bladder with pain and a lot of burning in the genitals. The urine passed drop by drop, excessive burning while passing urine. There is retention of urine but the person feels the need to pass urine frequently; the reason for this is the incomplete clearance of the bladder. There is an intolerable urge to urinate that makes the person go into paroxysms. It can be used in cases of Interstitial cystitis where the root cause is chronic inflamed bladder.

Apis Mellifica

Apis Mellifica Is an excellent remedy used in homoeopathy in cases of chronic inflammation of bladder  as well as Interstitial Cystitis. Apis helps to cure the inflamed part and reduce the swelling.

Hot urine passed drop by drop owing to the burning that corrodes the skin and makes it difficult to urinate. The urine in these cases is of a strong color and odor, incomplete urination gives rise to a constant urge to urinate. In cases of urine troubles with swelling in the genitals, retention of urine in infants.

In youngsters, it can be used in cases where kidney inflammations have caused cystitis. The kid is scared to pass urine due to the burning pain it causes.

Equisetum

Slight or dull pain in right kidney then in left – extending down left side of sacrum, with urgent desire to urinate; had urinated only a few minutes before and now passed four ounces of clear light-coloured urine.

Pain in bladder as from distension, severe dull pain in bladder not by urinating; continued some days after taking the allopathic drug, and caused him to fear inflammation of the bladder.

Tenderness in region of bladder and lower abdomen, extending upward from groin; Pain and tenderness in bladder region with soreness of testicles, extending up spermatic cords.

Excessive burning in urethra while urinating, Sharp cutting pain in urethra, Pricking in urethra a short distance back from meatus, Biting itching in meatus scratching, Great desire to urinate but only a small quantity passes, Urgent desire to urinate with prickling and soreness of meatus from contact and pressure, Obliged to rise several times at night to urinate, Profuse urination, with burning in urethra and sharp pain at root of penis, Later passes smaller quantities and darker.

Urine cloudy, Great excess of mucus on standing. Enuresis, nocturnal and diurnal.