Cystitis is a disease associated with damage to the mucosa and walls of the bladder. This disease leads to a gradual interruption of the organ's functions. According to statistics, women are more susceptible to this pathology than male patients. 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 features of the urethra. In men it is longer than in women. Therefore, it is much more difficult for the infection to enter the bladder.
In most cases, the 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 40, you should 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 lead to damage to the walls and mucosa of the bladder.
Cystitis in men is a consequence of the inflammatory process in the area of the prostate gland, testicles and urethra. There are other causes of this disease:
Urological problems that provoke retention of urine in the body (very narrow urethra).
Adenoma of the prostate.
Diverticular disease.
Infectious diseases that are transmitted through intimacy. These include gonorrhea and chlamydia.
Prostatitis, inflammation of the urethra, vesiculitis. The listed diseases can cause pathological changes in the functioning of the bladder.
The presence of a mechanical obstacle (in particular, stone formation).
Has undergone urological operations in the recent past.
Malignant neoplasm in the urethra or prostate gland.
Localized infections in the upper respiratory tract. If a patient gets sick with ARVI or tonsillitis, bacteria can penetrate through the systemic blood circulation into the organs of the genitourinary system. Thus, cystitis can be a consequence of any infection (regardless of its location).
In some cases, the disease develops due to pyelonephritis or kidney tuberculosis. The latter usually appears without significant symptoms and is accompanied by fatigue, weakness and a slight increase in body temperature.
About 90% of the world's population are carriers of the infection. Many people have reduced immunity due to frequent drinking of alcohol, prolonged stress, consumption of unhealthy foods and prolonged smoking. Due to the above factors, a transition from the latent phase of bacterial activity to the active phase occurs. As a result, damage occurs not only in the lungs, but also in other organs:
prostate gland;
testicles;
KIDNEY
In some situations, when cultured with Koch's bacillus, a false negative result is obtained. An infectious disease is disguised as another (no less serious) pathology. This leads to the failure to prescribe the appropriate treatment in time.
There are other factors that provoke a decrease in immunity: increased blood sugar, hypothermia, chronic lack of sleep, injuries to the spine.
Signs of cystitis in men
In the acute stage of the disease, a man must empty his bladder frequently. In this case, when visiting the toilet, a very small amount of urine may be released.
Severe pain may occur when emptying the bladder. As a rule, the pain appears at the beginning and at the end of urination. Their expression may change. 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 appear. The man feels a constant lack of energy and complains 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 may see mucous or bloody inclusions in it and it has a putrid and unpleasant smell. At the same time, the amount of fluids secreted by the body throughout the day is reduced to 0. 3 liters.
As the disease becomes chronic, the pain becomes less severe. There are no more bloody impurities in the urine, but mucous inclusions may still be present in it. In addition, the transition of chronic cystitis to the acute phase is possible at any time.
The causes of the disease can be:
non-infectious;
infectious.
There are several ways of bladder infection:
Growing.In this case, the infection penetrates from the external environment into the bladder.
Coming down.The infection enters the bladder from other organs (especially the kidneys).
Lymphogenic.In this case, infection of the bladder is observed through the lymphatic vessels.
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 non-infectious causes of the pathology:
an allergic reaction leading to an inflammatory process in the bladder mucosa;
deterioration of nervous or immune system functions;
chemical burns - due to the error of the medical worker, the patient may be given the wrong medicine prescribed by the doctor;
following radiation therapy sessions involving exposure to the pubic area.
Diagnosis of the disease
If you detect at least some symptoms of cystitis, you should not postpone the visit to the urologist. After a complete examination, the specialist will prescribe comprehensive treatment.
To make an accurate diagnosis, a man is recommended to undergo the following diagnostic procedures:
Urogenital smear.This procedure aims to diagnose hidden infections that are transmitted through sexual intercourse.
Bacterial culture.This analysis is necessary to determine the type of pathogen and to determine its sensitivity to certain medications.
Taking a general urine test.In the presence of inflammation, an increased content of red blood cells and white blood cells will be detected. An acidic urine reaction indicates the presence of a tuberculosis infection in the body.
Performing cystoscopy.An informative diagnostic procedure can be performed only in the absence of an acute stage of the disease. During cystoscopy, stones, tumors and other foreign bodies can be detected. If necessary, biomaterial is collected for further diagnostic procedures.
If you have persistent urinary retention and acute intense pain, you should be careful when using pain relievers. In this case, the representative of the stronger sex needs urgent hospitalization.
Basic recommendations for the treatment of cystitis
During the treatment of the disease, patients should adhere to the recommendations listed below:
Maintaining bed rest.At elevated temperatures, antipyretic medications are indicated. You should also remember about the proper drinking regime. In addition, patients 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, blackberry). To reduce the intense inflammatory process, preparations based on medicinal herbs are used. To strengthen the immune system, drink fruit juice made from blueberries. When using herbal medicines, it is impossible to achieve a quick effect. Such products require long-term use. Herbal medicines are not considered essential. They are used only as part of the complex treatment of cystitis.
Carrying out PCR diagnostics.It is required to detect sexually transmitted viruses. The treatment regimen is selected by the doctor (taking into account the type of pathogen).
Drugs with analgesic properties.To eliminate pain, it is recommended to prescribe antispasmodics. In some situations, the prescription of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is indicated.
Taking drugs with a pronounced antibacterial effect.Such medications are prescribed after determining the sensitivity of the pathogen to the prescribed medications. In the treatment of cystitis, cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones are actively used. Such medications are used only after consulting a doctor. However, the duration of their use should not exceed 1 week.
Help with an attack of acute cystitis
To ease the patient's condition in the acute stage of cystitis, it is recommended to drink large amounts of fluids. Activates the removal of pathogenic microorganisms. Consequently, the patient's well-being will gradually improve.
In advanced forms of the disease, the best option is to take antispasmodics. Such medications 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 significantly 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 increases:
with irregular emptying of the bladder;
lack of vitamins;
maintaining a sedentary lifestyle;
unprotected sexual intercourse;
frequent change of sexual partners;
excessive prolonged work;
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 appropriate therapy, the following consequences may occur:
Changes in the structure of the bladder.Against the background of degeneration of the epithelium, this organ gradually loses its elasticity and significantly decreases in size. The consequence of cystitis is also the loss of the ability to regenerate tissues. This can result in a bladder rupture.
Kidney damage.The most common complication of untreated cystitis is pyelonephritis. An even more serious consequence is the development of kidney failure. This occurs against the background of severe intoxication of the kidney tissue by waste products of pathogenic microorganisms.
Weakening of the bladder sphincter, leading to urinary incontinence.This complication is most often diagnosed in elderly patients.
Depression against the background of the disease becomes chronic.Recurrences of cystitis can occur several times a month. At this time, the man turns into a "toilet hostage", his psychological condition deteriorates significantly.
Note!In the absence of proper treatment, the risk of the disease becoming chronic is quite high. In this case, damage to the bladder and other organs of the genitourinary system is observed.
How to avoid developing the disease?
To minimize the risk of developing the disease, you should follow these recommendations:
Wash yourself at least once a day. In this case, it is advisable to use plain baby soap that does not contain dyes or other harmful synthetic ingredients.
Prioritize clothing appropriate for the weather. Against the background of hypothermia, not only cystitis can develop, but also more serious pathologies that become the cause of infertility.
It is good for both partners to wash with soap before and after sexual contact.
Use condoms during intimacy.
Take care of increasing your immunity. This is especially true if a representative of the stronger sex is susceptible to frequent ARVI. If the functions of the immune system are impaired, you should consult an immunologist.
Do not try to stop urination. With prolonged retention of urine, a 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 bowel movements, wash from front to back. Otherwise, the bacteria will be transferred from the intestines to the male external genitalia. From there, pathogenic microorganisms easily penetrate into the urethra, and then into the bladder.
Follow the recommendations for preventing constipation.
Do not take medications without a doctor's prescription.
During an acute attack of cystitis, it is recommended to drink about 2 liters of fluid per day. Berry or fruit juices, cranberry juice and drinking water are ideal for this purpose. It is recommended to forget to drink drinks containing alcohol 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 include the impact on specific biological points. This technique has a minimal number of contraindications and side effects.