Cystitis


What happens when cystitis worsens?
After suffering from cystitis, if it is not treated in time, the condition will worsen further, leading to obvious symptoms of frequent urination, urgency, and pain during urination. Severe cases may be accompanied by significant hematuria and pyuria, and even chills and high fever. If still not treated promptly, bacteria are very likely to retrogradely enter the kidneys through the ureters, causing acute pyelonephritis and leading to symptoms of back pain in patients. Severe cases can affect kidney function and even be life-threatening. Additionally, if the inflammation persists, it can lead to contractions of the bladder, reduced bladder capacity, and subsequent significant lower abdominal pain. It may even cause reproductive system inflammations such as prostatitis and orchitis in male patients.


What should I do if cystitis recurs?
After the recurrence of cystitis, symptoms such as frequent urination, urgent urination, painful urination, and discomfort in the lower abdomen may occur. It is necessary to go to the local hospital's urology department for a formal examination and treatment in a timely manner. Urinalysis and ultrasound of the urinary system can be conducted. In terms of treatment, it is mainly based on oral or intravenous administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics. In addition, patients need to drink more water, urinate frequently, maintain cleanliness of the perineal area by washing daily, engage in appropriate exercise, avoid sitting for long periods, and avoid holding in urine.


What water should be drunk for cystitis?
Patients with cystitis generally just need to drink plain boiled water. It is important for cystitis patients to ensure they drink more than 2500ml of plain boiled water daily. Drinking sufficient water can increase urine production, promptly flushing the bladder and urethra, which helps in the quick recovery of the condition. If the condition of a cystitis patient is more severe, medication may be necessary. Common medications include cephalosporins and quinolones, such as cefuroxime, cefpodoxime, and levofloxacin. Along with medication, patients should adhere to a bland diet and avoid spicy and stimulating foods such as chili, fried foods, and barbecue. Alcohol should not be consumed while taking medication, especially cephalosporins, as drinking alcohol could lead to a disulfiram-like reaction, severely harming health. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a physician.)


How to diagnose cystitis?
Cystitis is most commonly seen in female patients because the female urethra is very close to the vagina and anus, making it easy to get contaminated, leading to cystitis. Cystitis in females is somewhat related to sexual activity. The symptoms of cystitis generally include frequent urination, urgent urination, painful urination, and a burning sensation in the urethra during urination. Sometimes, there may be visible blood in the urine at the end of urination, and symptoms of discomfort and heaviness in the bladder and perineal area. A routine urine test can be done if cystitis is suspected; if the white blood cell count in the urine is greater than five per high power field, cystitis is likely the cause. Treatment generally involves medication, with a recommended short course of antibiotics for typically three days. Regularly drink more water, urinate more, and avoid spicy and irritating foods. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)


Can I eat lamb with cystitis?
Patients with cystitis should ensure a balanced diet and avoid eating spicy and irritating foods. Eat less lamb, if possible, avoid it entirely. It's beneficial to consume more fruits and vegetables, such as apples, pears, apricots, peaches, persimmons, rapeseed, spinach, and the like. Additionally, avoid eating leftover meals and pickled items, such as salted vegetables. It is best to abstain from alcohol, especially avoid drinking spirits. Do not smoke, it is best to quit smoking. The diet should be light, mainly focusing on light foods, with more steaming and slow stewing.


Bladder inflammation moxibustion site
Cystitis is primarily treated with antibiotics, so moxibustion can only serve as an auxiliary treatment method. Commonly chosen acupoints include Zhongji and Guanyuan. Moxibustion involves igniting a moxa stick, targeting the body's meridians and channels to achieve a therapeutic effect. Moxibustion can effectively unblock the body's meridians, and for certain symptoms of diseases like cystitis, it can have a significant effect. It is a treatment method in traditional Chinese medicine. From the perspective of Chinese medicine, the treatment of cystitis with moxibustion is considered a form of internal and external medicine, where blood and qi play a direct role.


What should women with cystitis pay attention to?
Female patients suffering from cystitis should first go to the hospital's urology department to receive regular antibiotic treatment. Along with treatment, dietary habits should be kept light, avoiding spicy and irritating foods such as onions, ginger, garlic, and chili peppers. Additionally, avoid drinking strong tea, coffee, and other stimulating beverages. In terms of daily routine, avoid sitting for long periods and holding in urine. Engage in appropriate exercise, drink plenty of water, and urinate frequently to help flush out inflammatory exudates and bacteria from the bladder, which aids in treating the disease. Furthermore, strengthen the hygiene care of the external genitalia, keeping the area clean and dry, all of which are beneficial for the treatment of the disease.


Symptoms of Chronic Cystitis in Women
The main clinical manifestations of chronic cystitis in women are recurrent symptoms of frequent urination, urgency, and incomplete emptying, accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen, generally without the presence of blood in the urine. Chronic cystitis often develops from acute cystitis that has not been fully treated. For such cases, further urine culture and antibiotic sensitivity tests should be conducted. After identifying the causative bacteria, appropriate antibiotics should be used for regular treatment, typically exceeding three weeks. Additionally, there are special types of cystitis, such as glandular cystitis. In cases of this type of chronic cystitis, surgical bladder instillation and other treatments may be necessary.


What is tested for cystitis?
After suffering from cystitis, a definitive diagnosis can be made through routine urine tests, ultrasonography, urine culture, and antibiotic sensitivity tests. Typically, the routine urine test will show a significant increase in white blood cells, possibly accompanied by pus cells, and often an increase in red blood cells as well. Ultrasonography may reveal inflammatory changes such as thickening and roughness of the bladder wall. Combined with the patient's clinical symptoms, such as frequent urination, urgency, painful urination, or even blood in urine, a clear diagnosis can be established. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, it is advisable to promptly treat with antibiotics. Oral antibiotics, such as levofloxacin tablets or cephalosporins like cefuroxime axetil capsules, are commonly used. During treatment, it is recommended to eat a light diet, avoid spicy and irritating foods, drink plenty of water, and urinate frequently.


What should I do about cystitis?
After discovering cystitis, do not be too stressed mentally, actively treat it, drink more water, and orally take sodium bicarbonate to alkalinize the urine. This can reduce irritation to the urinary tract. Additionally, medicines like atropine and diazepam can be used, and appropriate heat application to the bladder area, as well as hot water sitz baths, can alleviate bladder spasms. Antibiotics such as cephalosporins and quinolones can be appropriately used. For simple cystitis, you can choose antibiotics that are more sensitive, using a three-day treatment method, which is similar to a seven-day course, with fewer side effects and lower costs. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)