Cystitis (bladder inflammation)
Acute urinary infections (UTIs) are the most common cause of cystitis. UTIs should be treated with antibiotics. Occasionally they may lead to ascending infections into the kidney with abscess formation, kidney damage and septicaemia which are dangerous complications. It is advisable to take a urine sample in a clean jar for bacterial culture before starting on an antibiotic. Once the specimen has been taken the antibiotic can be started before the results are available. If the treatment does not work the culture will help to determine an appropriate treatment in case the germ is resistant to the antibiotic used.
Instructions for Cystitis
- Increase fluid intake to 2 to 3 litres a day with non acid drinks i.e. avoid Coke, fizzy drinks and fruit juices while the infection is being treated.
- Take Ural sachets 1 to 2 sachets, 2 to 3 times a day or a flat teaspoonful of “bicarb of soda” (sodium bicarbonate [NaHCO3]) 2 to 3 times daily.
E coli, a common cause of urinary infections, likes growing in acid urine. Ural and bicarb make the urine alkaline and retards the growth of this bacterium.
- Take Cranberry extract either as juice or tablets 2 to 3 times daily.
Bacteria like growing on surfaces rather than floating free in the urine. Cranberry extract stops bacteria from attaching to the surface of the bladder, urethra and catheters. This inhibits their growth.
- Wash and thoroughly dry your perineum (i.e. the genital and anal areas) two times daily.
- After a bowel action use the tissues by wiping backwards.
- Empty your bladder before and after intercourse.
- In cases where infections develop after intercourse you might be advised to take an antibiotic tablet or capsule after each act.
- In cases of on going bladder pain, soluble aspirin or an anti-inflammatory (but not panadol) is suggested twice a day to a maximum of a month. (Use of aspirin over many months may damage the kidneys.) The aim of anti-inflammatories is to reduce residual inflammation in the bladder wall that has been caused by a bad infection. This type of pain may continue even when the germ has been eliminated by a recent treatment. A medical opinion where pain persists would be advisable as further investigations may be needed.