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Cystitis (cystitis) urinary tract infection
contents
- Cystitis (cystitis) as uncomplicated urinary tract infection
- Symptoms of cystitis
- Diagnosis by laboratory values
- Cause of a bladder infection
- From diagnosis to treatment
- Conventional and naturopathic treatment
- Natural remedies for bladder infections
- Preventive measures
Cystitis (cystitis) as uncomplicated urinary tract infection
Cystitis is an ascending inflammation of the lower urinary tract, which in addition to the bladder mucosa usually urethral (urethritis) and ureter (ureteritis), sometimes affects the renal pelvis. Especially women often suffer from the symptoms, in many cases even develops a chronic cystitis. 50 to 70 percent of all women have already had a corresponding urinary tract infection during their lifetime.
In addition, there is non-bacterial cystitis or chronic interstitial cystitis. In particular, women over the age of 40, but also pregnant women are more often affected by such chronic cystitis.
Frequent urination may be a symptom of cystitis. (Image: ruigsantos / fotolia.com) Symptoms of cystitis
Typical complaints are more frequent urination with pain and burning. A characteristic of cystitis is the constant, strong urinary frequency with delivery of small amounts of urine (pollakisuria), pain or burning sensation during urination (dysuria) as well as spasmodic pain above the pubis, when there is a urgency (bladder flu sémenia).
In addition to the classic bladder symptoms can also
- nausea,
- Diarrhea and
- Loss of appetite.
An acute symptom is the occurrence of chills. The urine can also appear cloudy and attract attention by a changed smell. In some cases, a dull or pressure-like flank pain or lumbar pain is felt.
The symptoms can be combined or experienced individually within a short period of time and drastically increased. Sometimes, however, they remain moderate and barely stand out. It can also lead to the loss of small amounts of urine when sneezing or coughing, especially in chronic bladder infection.
The symptoms are similar to an irritable bladder, but no pathological changes in the urine can be detected. On the other hand, in many cases, a bladder infection without noticeable symptoms and can only be identified by the urine values in the laboratory. Untreated cystitis may secondary to pyelonephritis.
A urinalysis can detect an acute bladder and urinary tract infection. (Image: Alexander Raths / fotolia.com) Diagnosis by laboratory values
Too many red and white blood cells in the urine indicate the inflammatory process. In addition to the noticeable signs of inflammation such as pain and overheating, a urine sample is examined in the laboratory (stitch test) in order to ensure the diagnosis of an infection by means of inflammatory parameters. In cystitis, there are too many white blood cells (leukocyturia) in the urine and blood in the urine (hematuria). In addition, mostly increased nitrite values and an alkaline ph value are shown. In a urine culture, germs can be detected, in more than 80 percent of cases, it is Escherichia coli, an ancestral inhabitant of our intestinal flora. In addition, trichomonads, fungi or chlamydia can be found. Pathogens can also enter the urinary tract via blood and lymph channels, such as streptococci or staphylococci.
Chronic interstitial cystitis, on the other hand, can only be diagnosed with a bladder reflex.
The Escherichia coli bacterium, E. coli for short, is one of the causative agents of cystitis (Image: fusebulb / fotolia.com) Cause of a bladder infection
There are favorable factors for the development of cystitis. From the outside, for example, Escherichia coli bacteria usually enter the vagina from the nearby anal area and can ascend from there to the urinary bladder. The fact that women are more often affected by cystitis than men is due to an anatomical difference. At 2.5 to 4 cm, the urethra of women is shorter than in men and thus more appropriate to allow invading bacteria up the way into the bladder. In addition, women are more prone to "stopping" for a long time, which encourages an increase in germs on the bladder mucosa.
Other factors favoring the development of cystitis are
- hypothermia,
- mechanical irritation (such as tight clothing),
- synthetic underwear (by air impermeability) or
- frequent sexual intercourse (so-called honeymoon cystitis).
In addition, intimal deodorants, chemically treated panty liners or washing lotions can lead to allergic-inflammatory processes.
From diagnosis to treatment
The disease arises in the interplay between pathogens and defense of the body. While conventionally the (mostly) bacterial pathogen is externally regarded as the cause of the disease, the naturopathic view always focuses on the interplay between the pathogenic germ and the defenses of the affected organism.
In addition to alleviating the symptoms, the therapy is therefore always aimed at strengthening or restoring the natural regulatory capacity with which a person repels microbes and avoids illness. This is done depending on the therapeutic orientation as a constitutional treatment after homeopathic anamnesis, classic western by iris diagnosis or with pulse and tongue diagnostics, as they are made in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda. The current defensive situation can be determined and regulated, for example, by means of the dark field examination, with blood and stool samples in the laboratory.
Possible sources of inflammation and interference fields, which may even be remote from the place such as e.g. the teeth, but nevertheless by weakening the organism are involved in the development of cystitis, u.a. detected with electro-acupuncture or bioresonance procedures and give indications for a comprehensive treatment, especially with repeated or chronic infections.
In contrast, chronic interstitial cystitis causes a change in the bladder tissue. Vascular occlusions, an autoimmune disease, psychogenic or hormonal causes can be the trigger for interstitial cystitis. This leads to a reduction of the bladder (shrinking bladder), which then causes the symptoms that are very similar to an acute bladder infection.
Conventional and naturopathic treatment
The timely treatment of cystitis is of great importance, so that the infection does not spread to the renal pelvis and kidneys and can damage them. Conventional treatment consists in the administration of antibiotics, which is certainly justified in severe and advanced cases. Ibuprofen has been proven to treat pain in urinary tract infection. In 70 percent of all patients, taking ibuprofen is enough to treat cystitis successfully.
Interstitial cystitis requires the targeted use of medications that strengthen the inner lining of the bladder. Among other things, subcutaneous pentosan polysulfate or heparin is injected. If the bladder has become extremely small and the bladder tissue does not respond to the drug treatment, it must be extended by surgery.
Goldenrod has an antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Therefore, it is particularly suitable for the treatment of cystitis (Image: Heike Rau / fotolia.com) Natural remedies for bladder infections
In many cases, cystitis is very accessible to the abundance of medicines and forms of treatment of naturopathy, of which only a few can be mentioned here.
General measures, such as the switch to fresh and wholefood diets as well as the absence of mucolytic stimulants such as coffee, tobacco, alcohol, citrus drinks, soft drinks and spicy spices form the basis of any therapy. Sufficient hydration is necessary to flush the diseased urinary tract, water and thin herbal teas are the most suitable.
It will be especially medicinal plants administered with diuretic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory action, for example
- Bearberry leaf,
- birch leaves,
- Bucco leaves and
- Orthosiphon.
Goldenrod leaves also have an antispasmodic effect, while marshmallow root can soothe irritated mucous membranes. As a herbal antibiotic and for immunomodulation often a preparation of horseradish and nasturtium is used.
The appropriate Bach flowers should be determined individually according to the current state of mind. According to the splint model of D. Krämer, however, certain flowers are assigned to the bladder meridian and preferably tested for cystitis. These include Centaury, Holly, Pine and Impatiens with the themes of defense / demarcation, anger / irritability and guilt / guilty conscience. Crab apple is recommended as a cleansing flower of "all levels" in every infection.
Also, the sugar "D-mannose" is very effective because it prevents the bacteria from attaching to the bladder mucosa.
After having undergone a bladder infection fresh cranberry nut juice, drunk daily about a shot glass, prevent relapse and strengthen the bladder mucosa.
Preventive measures
Furthermore, hygiene recommendations are to be observed. These include regular use of the toilet, avoiding synthetic lingerie or chemically treated toiletries, and wiping after defecation from front to back to prevent the ingress of E. coli bacteria. (Jvs, fp, ok, updated 28.05.2018)
Specialist supervision: Barbara Schindewolf-Lensch (doctor)