Cystitis is a disease accompanied by damage to the mucous membrane and wall of the bladder. This disease leads to gradual disruption of organ function. According to statistics, women are more susceptible to this pathology than men. According to official data, cystitis is diagnosed in 0. 8% of men who have passed the forty-year mark.
The relatively low prevalence of cystitis in male patients is due to the structural characteristics of the urethra. In men it is longer than in women. Therefore, it is more difficult for the infection to enter the bladder.
In most cases, pathology develops against the background of bladder outlet obstruction. It involves subvesical compression of the bladder, which becomes an obstacle to the free passage of urine.
Causes of cystitis
To reduce the risk of cystitis in men under the age of 40, you must carefully follow the rules of intimate hygiene. After reaching this age, the urinary system of the stronger sex is more susceptible to the development of various pathologies that can cause damage to the walls and mucous membrane of the bladder.
Cystitis in men is the result of an inflammatory process in the area of the prostate gland, testicles, and urethra. There are other causes of this disease:
Urological problems that cause retention of urine in the body (urethra is too narrow).
Prostate adenoma.
Diverticular disease.
Infectious diseases that are spread through sexual contact. These include gonorrhea and chlamydia.
Prostatitis, inflammation of the urethra, vesiculitis. The diseases listed can cause pathological changes in bladder function.
The presence of mechanical barriers (in particular, stone formation).
Had urological surgery in the recent past.
Malignant neoplasm in the urethra or prostate gland.
Localized infection in the upper respiratory tract. If the patient falls ill with ARVI or tonsillitis, bacteria can penetrate through the systemic bloodstream into the organs of the genitourinary system. Therefore, cystitis can be the result of any infection (regardless of its location).
In some cases, the disease develops due to pyelonephritis or renal tuberculosis. The latter usually occurs without obvious symptoms and is accompanied by fatigue, weakness, and a slight increase in body temperature.
About 90% of the world's population is a carrier of the infection. Many people have reduced immunity due to frequent alcohol consumption, prolonged stress, unhealthy food intake, and prolonged smoking. Due to the above factors, the transition from the latent phase of bacterial activity to the active phase occurs. As a result, damage occurs not only to the lungs, but also to other organs:
prostate gland;
testicles;
kidney
In some situations, when cultured with Koch's bacillus, false negative results are obtained. Infectious diseases masquerade as other (no less serious) pathologies. This leads to failure to prescribe the correct treatment in time.
There are other factors that trigger a decrease in immunity: increased blood sugar, hypothermia, chronic lack of sleep, injury to the spine.
Symptoms of cystitis in men
In the acute phase of the disease, a man needs to empty his bladder frequently. In this case, when visiting the toilet, a small amount of urine may be released.
Sharp pain may occur when emptying the bladder. As a rule, pain occurs at the beginning and at the end of urination. Their expressions can vary. Pain sensations can be either tolerable or intense. In the intervals between visits to the toilet, men experience discomfort in the penis, pubic area, and groin area.
With cystitis, body temperature often rises. General signs of intoxication may occur. The man felt a constant lack of strength and complained of headaches. If such symptoms appear, hospital treatment is recommended.
Sometimes the disease is severe, and gangrenous and hemorrhagic cystitis may occur. The urine produced is cloudy. You can see the inclusion of mucus or blood in it, and it has a foul and unpleasant smell. At the same time, the amount of fluid secreted by the body throughout the day is reduced to 0. 3 liters.
When the disease becomes chronic, the pain becomes less intense. There are no more bloody impurities in the urine, but mucus inclusions may still be present in it. In addition, the transition of chronic cystitis to the acute stage is possible at any time.
The cause of this disease may be:
not contagious;
contagious.
There are several ways of bladder infection:
Increased.In this case, the infection penetrates from the external environment into the bladder.
Descending.Infection enters the bladder from other organs (in particular, the kidneys).
Lymphogenic.In this case, infection of the bladder through the lymphatic channels is observed.
Hematogenous.If there is a purulent focus in the body, the infection can spread from this problem area through the bloodstream. It then enters the bladder.
It is worth mentioning the causes of non-infectious pathologies:
allergic reactions that lead to inflammatory processes in the mucous membrane of the bladder;
impairment of nervous or immune system function;
chemical burns - due to the mistakes of medical workers, the patient may be given the wrong medicine prescribed by the doctor;
attend a radiation therapy session that involves exposure to the genital area.
Disease diagnosis
If you detect at least some symptoms of cystitis, you should not delay a visit to a urologist. After a thorough examination, the specialist will prescribe a comprehensive treatment.
To establish an accurate diagnosis, a man is recommended to undergo the following diagnostic procedures:
Urogenital smear.This procedure aims to diagnose hidden infections that are spread through sexual contact.
Bacterial culture.This analysis is needed to determine the type of pathogen and determine its sensitivity to certain drugs.
Take a general urine test.With the presence of inflammation, an increase in the content of red blood cells and white blood cells will be detected. Acidic urine reaction indicates the presence of tuberculosis infection in the body.
Perform a cystoscopy.Informative diagnostic procedures can be carried out only if there is no acute phase of the disease. When performing a cystoscopy, stones, tumors and other foreign bodies can be detected. If necessary, biomaterials are collected for further diagnostic procedures.
If you have persistent urinary retention and severe acute pain, you should be careful when using pain relievers. In this case, the representative of the stronger sex requires immediate hospitalization.
Basic recommendations for the treatment of cystitis
During the treatment of the disease, the patient should adhere to the recommendations listed below:
Maintain sleep.At high temperature, antipyretic drugs are indicated. You also need to remember about the correct drinking regime. In addition, the patient should temporarily exclude sour and smoked foods from the diet and adhere to a strict diet. When preparing food, you should use a minimum of spices and seasonings.
Use of herbal medicines.Doctors often prescribe herbal teas that have antibacterial and diuretic effects. Such products contain natural ingredients (horsetail, bearberry). To reduce the intense inflammatory process, preparations based on medicinal herbs are used. To strengthen the immune system, drink fruit juice made from cranberries. When using herbal medicine, it is impossible to achieve a quick effect. Such products require long-term use. Herbal medicine is not considered important. They are used only as part of the complex treatment of cystitis.
Perform PCR diagnostics.It is needed to detect sexually transmitted viruses. The treatment regimen is selected by the doctor (taking into account the type of pathogen).
Medicines with analgesic properties.To eliminate pain, it is recommended to prescribe antispasmodics. In some cases, the prescription of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is indicated.
Take drugs with a significant antibacterial effect.The drugs are prescribed after determining the sensitivity of the pathogen to the prescribed drugs. In the treatment of cystitis, cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones are actively used. Such drugs are used only after consulting a doctor. However, the period of use should not exceed 1 week.
Helps with acute cystitis attacks
To alleviate the condition of the patient in the acute phase of cystitis, it is recommended to drink a large amount of liquid. It activates the elimination of pathogenic microorganisms. As a result, the patient's well-being will gradually improve.
In the advanced form of the disease, the best option is to take antispasmodics. Such drugs help reduce the tone of the smooth muscles located in the bladder area. Analgesics are used to relieve pain.
Taking antibiotics without a urologist's prescription is strictly prohibited. It can lead to distortion of the results of diagnostic studies. As a result, identifying the cause of the disease will be more difficult. If you try to get treatment without consulting a doctor, you will only be able to temporarily eliminate the main symptoms of the pathology. In addition, there is a high risk of cystitis becoming chronic.
Existing risk factors
The risk of cystitis in men is increased:
with irregular bladder emptying;
vitamin deficiency;
maintain a sedentary lifestyle;
unprotected sexual intercourse;
frequent changes of sexual partners;
prolonged overwork;
the presence of a foreign body in the bladder area;
wearing uncomfortable underwear;
the presence of chronic diseases of the male genital organs;
decreased immunity.
Complications of the disease
You should not try to treat cystitis yourself. In the absence of proper therapy, the following consequences may occur:
Changes in the structure of the bladder.Against the background of epithelial degeneration, this organ gradually loses its elasticity and significantly decreases in size. A consequence of cystitis is also the loss of the ability to regenerate tissue. This can result in a ruptured bladder.
Kidney damage.The most common complication of untreated cystitis is pyelonephritis. A more serious consequence is the development of kidney failure. This occurs against the background of severe intoxication of kidney tissue by the waste products of pathogenic microorganisms.
Weakness of the bladder sphincter, leading to urinary incontinence.This complication is most often diagnosed in elderly patients.
Depression with the background of the disease becomes chronic.Recurrence of cystitis can occur several times a month. At this time, the man turned into a "toilet hostage", his psychological state deteriorated significantly.
Notes!If there is no proper treatment, the risk of the disease becoming chronic is quite high. In this case, damage to both the bladder and other organs of the genitourinary system is observed.
How to avoid this disease?
To minimize the risk of developing the disease, you need to follow the following recommendations:
Wash yourself at least once a day. In this case, it is advisable to use a simple baby soap that does not contain dyes or other harmful synthetic components.
Give priority to clothing that suits the weather. Against the background of hypothermia, not only cystitis can develop, but also more serious pathologies that are the cause of infertility.
It is good for both partners to wash themselves with soap before and after sexual intercourse.
Use a condom during intercourse.
Be careful to improve your own immunity. This is especially true if the representatives of the stronger sex are exposed to frequent ARVI. If the function of the immune system is affected, you should consult an immunologist.
Do not try to hold back urination. With prolonged retention of urine, the rapid development of infection in the bladder is possible.
Change your underwear every day.
Drink enough fluids.
Avoid wearing underwear made of synthetic fabrics.
After defecating, wash from front to back. Otherwise, the bacteria will be transferred from the intestine to the external male genitalia. From there, pathogenic microorganisms easily penetrate the urethra, and then into the bladder.
Follow the recommendations to prevent constipation.
Do not take medicine without a doctor's prescription.
During an acute cystitis attack, it is recommended to drink about 2 liters of fluid per day. Berry or fruit juice, currant juice, and drinking water are still suitable for this purpose. It is recommended to forget drinking alcoholic beverages and soda for a while.
Sometimes osteopathic techniques are used in the treatment of cystitis. This speeds up the patient's recovery process.
If indicated, the use of acupuncture methods is indicated. They involve influencing special biological points. This technique has a minimal number of contraindications and side effects.