Cystitis again?

Do you feel burning when you urinate, pain, very frequent urges to urinate, and when you go to the toilet again, you seem to pass only small drops of urine or nothing at all? It’s probably cystitis.

Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder

In most cases, cystitis is due to a bacterial infection of the urinary tract (most commonly Escherichia coli). Less often, non-infectious cystitis is observed – because of a reaction to drugs, detergents, spermicidal agents, during radiotherapy. Cystitis can also occur as a complication of other conditions, such as diabetes, with prolonged catheter use.

Very often, cystitis becomes chronic – cystitis is considered recurrent if there are at least two infections in six months or at least three infections in a year.

Who suffers from cystitis most often?

Women. Yes, due to the anatomical features of the female body, women are more prone to develop urinary tract infections. Statistics show that 50% of women have been affected by cystitis at least once in their lives, and 85% of them face repeated urinary tract infections.

Pregnant women, pre- and postmenopausal women, diabetics, those who wear a catheter for a long time, the elderly, people with weakened immunity are risk groups – cystitis occurs much more often in them.

How to quickly relieve symptoms and deal with inflammation?

• Drink plenty of fluids, especially water (at least 2-2.5 liters of water daily)
• Visit the toilet often – whenever you feel the need
• Warm the abdomen, kidney area – wear warm clothes, place a hot water bottle or a warm compress
• Exclude spicy, fried foods, fatty foods from your diet, emphasize fruits and vegetables

During the annual congress of the German Society of Urology, which took place from 25 to 28 September 2024, the updated guidelines for the prevention and treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections were presented.¹

The German Urological Society recommends taking a herbal combination of three medicinal herbs – Rosemary leaves, Centaury herb and Lovage root. For maximum effect, you need to start drinking it as soon as the first symptoms appear. The combination of Rosemary leaves, Centaury herb and Lovage root will help to flush bacteria from the urinary tract more quickly, reduce inflammation and spasms, and thus reduce pain and other unpleasant sensations. A clinical study has been conducted, confirming that its effect is comparable to that of one of the most prescribed antibiotics for urinary tract infections – fosfomycin (Monural®, Phosphoseptic®).² Unlike antibiotics, it has no side effects and does not affect the intestinal microbiome. It has also been proven to reduce the likelihood of cystitis recurring.

The updated guideline emphasizes the importance of avoiding the use of antibiotics without indications. It recommends the use of non-antibiotic agents to treat uncomplicated urinary tract infections and prevent recurrence. The updated guideline also addresses asymptomatic bacteriuria (the presence of bacteria in the urine but no symptoms) in pregnant women and geriatric patients with and without catheters.

Frequent and unnecessary use of antibiotics can lead to a number of side effects: fungal infections, a decline in the immune system, affect the flora of the gastrointestinal tract. A scourge of our time is antibiotic resistance – more and more microorganisms do not respond to antibiotic therapy. In the future, there is a real danger of the impossibility of curing serious, life-threatening diseases.

When should we seek medical attention?

In most cases, you can treat cystitis on your own. But if you have any of the following symptoms:

• High fever
• Nausea, vomiting
• Blood in the urine
• Fatigue
• Very severe pain

the infection is most likely spreading through the urinary tract and may affect the kidneys. SEEK MEDICAL HELP IMMEDIATELY to prevent serious complications!

What can we do to prevent cystitis?

• Drink plenty of fluids, especially water
• Dress warmly, especially around the waist and kidneys
• Pay attention to the urge to urinate – don’t put off going to the toilet
• Maintain good personal hygiene
• Use appropriate, non-irritating intimate hygiene products, avoid aggressive products

Cystitis is one of the most common health problems. Prevention and proper and timely therapy are key factors in reducing the frequency and severity of the infection.

Be healthy!

Author:

Krassimira Ivanova, Master of Pharmacy

References:

¹ “Epidemiology, diagnosis, therapy, prevention and treatment of uncomplicated, bacterial, community-acquired urinary tract infections in adults”. S3 guidelines of the German Society of Urology. V., AWMF reg.No. 043/044, effective April 2024.² Non-Antibiotic Herbal Therapy (BNO 1045) versus Antibiotic Therapy (Fosfomycin Trometamol) for the Treatment of Acute Lower Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections in Women: A Double-Blind, Parallel-Group, Randomized, Multicentre, Non-Inferiority Phase III Trial