Cystitis is a disease accompanied by damage to the mucous membrane and bladder wall. This disease leads to a gradual disruption of organ functions. According to statistics, women are more susceptible to this disease than male patients. According to official data, cystitis is diagnosed in 0. 8% of men who have passed the 40-year mark.
The relatively low incidence 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 much more difficult for the infection to penetrate the bladder.
In most cases, the pathology develops against a 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 years old, you must carefully follow the rules of intimate hygiene. After reaching this age, the urinary system of men is susceptible to the development of various pathologies that can lead to damage to the walls and mucous membrane of the bladder.
Cystitis in men is the result of inflammation in the prostate, testicles, and urethra. There are other causes of this disease:
Urinary problems cause urine retention in the body (urethra is too narrow).
Prostate tumor.
Diverticulosis.
Infectious diseases are transmitted through intimate intimacy. These include gonorrhea and chlamydia.
Prostatitis, urethritis, cystitis. The listed diseases can cause pathological changes in the functioning of the bladder.
Presence of a mechanical barrier (especially rock formation).
Recently had urological surgery.
Malignant tumor of the urethra or prostate.
Infection localized to the upper respiratory tract. If the patient has ARVI or tonsillitis, bacteria can penetrate through the blood into the organs of the genitourinary system. So, cystitis can be a consequence of any infection (regardless of its location).
In some cases, the disease develops due to pyelonephritis or renal tuberculosis. The latter condition often occurs without obvious 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 disease. Many people have reduced immunity due to frequent alcohol consumption, prolonged stress, consumption of unhealthy foods 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 in the lungs, but also in other organs:
Prostate;
testicular;
kidney
In some cases, when culturing Koch's bacillus, false negative results will be obtained. An infectious disease disguises itself as another (no less serious) pathology. This leads to failure to prescribe appropriate treatment promptly.
There are other factors that cause impaired immunity: increased blood sugar, hypothermia, chronic lack of sleep, injuries to the spine.
Signs of cystitis in men
During the acute phase of the disease, a man needs to empty his bladder regularly. In this case, when going to the toilet, a very small amount of urine may flow out.
Sharp pain may occur when emptying the bladder. As a rule, pain occurs at the beginning and at the end of the urination process. Their manifestations may vary. Pain can be tolerable or severe. During the time between going to the toilet, men feel discomfort in the penis, pubic area and groin area.
With cystitis, body temperature often increases. General signs of intoxication may occur. The man felt a constant lack of energy and complained of headaches. If such symptoms appear, hospital treatment is recommended.
Sometimes the disease is severe, gangrenous cystitis and hemorrhage may occur. The urine produced is cloudy. You may see mucus or blood in it and it has a foul, unpleasant smell. At the same time, the amount of body fluid secreted during the day is reduced to 0. 3 liters.
As the disease becomes chronic, the pain becomes less intense. There is no longer any bloody impurities in the urine but there may still be mucus in it. In addition, chronic cystitis can switch to the acute stage at any time.
Causes of the disease can be:
not contagious;
Infectious.
There are several ways bladder infections can cause:
Rise.In this case, the infection penetrates from the external environment into the bladder.
Decrease.Infection enters the bladder from other organs (especially the kidneys).
causes lymphatic disease.In this case, bladder infection through the lymphatic vessels is observed.
There's blood.If there is a collection of pus 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 disease:
Allergic reactions lead to inflammatory processes in the mucous membrane of the bladder;
impaired function of the nervous or immune system;
chemical burns – due to medical staff negligence, the patient may be given the wrong medication that the doctor has prescribed;
Attend radiation therapy sessions that involve exposure to the pubic area.
Diagnostic
If you detect at least a few symptoms of cystitis, you should not delay visiting a urologist. After a thorough examination, the specialist will prescribe comprehensive treatment.
To establish an accurate diagnosis, a man should undergo the following diagnostic procedures:
Urogenital smear.This procedure is intended to diagnose potential infections transmitted through sexual contact.
Bacterial culture.This analysis is necessary to determine the type of pathogen and determine its sensitivity to certain drugs.
Do a general urine test.When there is inflammation, the levels of red and white blood cells will increase. An acidic urine reaction indicates the presence of tuberculosis in the body.
Perform cystoscopy.An informative diagnostic procedure can be performed only in the absence of an acute phase of the disease. When performing cystoscopy, stones, tumors, and other foreign objects may be detected. If necessary, biological material will be 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, representatives of the stronger sex need urgent hospitalization.
Basic recommendations for the treatment of cystitis
During the treatment of the disease, the patient should adhere to the recommendations listed below:
Maintain bed rest.At high temperatures, antipyretics are prescribed. You also need to remember about proper water drinking regimen. Moreover, 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 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 remedies, results cannot be achieved quickly. Such products require long-term use. Herbal medicines are not considered essential. They are only used as part of complex cystitis treatment.
Perform PCR diagnostics.It is necessary to detect sexually transmitted viruses. The treatment regimen is chosen by the doctor (taking into account the type of pathogen).
The drug has analgesic properties.To eliminate pain, antispasmodic drugs should be prescribed. In some cases, the prescription of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is indicated.
Use of the drug has a pronounced antibacterial effect.Such 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 should be used only after consulting a doctor. However, their usage time should not exceed 1 week.
Helps with attacks of acute cystitis
To ease the patient's condition during the acute stage of cystitis, it is recommended to drink plenty of fluids. It activates the elimination of pathogenic microorganisms. Thanks to that, the patient's health will gradually improve.
In advanced forms of the disease, the best option is to take antispasmodic drugs. Such drugs help reduce the tone of smooth muscles located in the bladder area. Analgesics are used to relieve pain.
It is strictly forbidden to use antibiotics without a urologist's prescription. It can lead to distortion of the results of diagnostic studies. Therefore, determining the cause of the disease will be significantly more difficult. If you try treatment without consulting a doctor, you will only be able to temporarily eliminate the main symptoms of the pathology. Additionally, there is a high risk of cystitis becoming chronic.
Existing risk factors
The risk of cystitis in men increases:
with irregular bladder emptying;
vitamin deficiency;
maintain a sedentary lifestyle;
unprotected sex;
change sexual partners frequently;
prolonged overwork;
presence of foreign bodies 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. Without appropriate treatment, the following consequences may occur:
Changes in the structure of the bladder.In the context of epithelial degeneration, this organ gradually loses its elasticity and significantly reduces in size. The consequence of cystitis is also the loss of tissue regeneration. This can lead to 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 in the context of severe poisoning of kidney tissue by the waste products of pathogenic microorganisms.
The bladder sphincter is weakened, leading to urinary incontinence.This complication is often diagnosed in elderly patients.
Depression in the context of the disease becoming chronic.Recurrences of cystitis can occur several times a month. At this time, the man turned into a "hostage of the toilet", his mental state clearly deteriorated.
Note!If not treated appropriately, the risk of the disease becoming chronic is quite high. In this case, damage can be seen both in the bladder and in other organs of the genitourinary system.
How to avoid developing the disease?
To minimize the risk of developing the disease, you need to follow these recommendations:
Rinse at least once a day. In this case, it is recommended to use simple children's soap, which does not contain dyes or other harmful synthetic ingredients.
Prioritize clothes suitable 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's best for both of you to wash yourself with soap before and after sex.
Use condoms when intimate.
Take care of increasing your own immunity. This is especially true if representatives of the stronger sex are prone to frequent ARVI. If the functions of the immune system are impaired, you should consult an immunologist.
Don't try to hold in urination. With prolonged urinary retention, a bladder infection can develop rapidly.
Change underwear daily.
Drink enough fluids.
Avoid wearing underwear made from synthetic fabrics.
After bowel movements, wash from front to back. Otherwise, bacteria will move from the intestines to the male's external genitalia. From there, disease-causing microorganisms easily enter the urethra and then into the bladder.
Follow recommendations to prevent constipation.
Do not take medication without a doctor's prescription.
During an attack of acute cystitis, it is recommended to drink about 2 liters of fluid per day. Berry or fruit juices, grape fruit juices and carbonated drinks are ideal for this purpose. You should temporarily forget about drinking alcoholic beverages and soda.
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 particular biological points. This technique has a minimal number of contraindications and side effects.