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Cystitis
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- Cystitis is usually caused by bacteria. It is an extremely common problem and most often affects women. Men can also have Bladder Infections,
but it is much less common.
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- The most
common symptoms are frequent urination, burning or
painful urination, and urgency (having to urinate right away).
- Some notice blood in their urine,
while others have pain in the region of the bladder.
- Most do not have fever and usually
are not very sick.
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- Cystitis
is usually due to a bacterial infection of the urine.
Occasionally, it can be caused by a virus.
- The infection is more common in women because
a woman's anatomy is designed in such a way that it
makes it easier for bacteria to enter the bladder (short urethra).
- Sexual intercourse, using spermicidal creams, and using diaphragms all increase the risk of developing Bladder Infection.
- People who have a catheter in their bladder or who have to periodically catheterize themselves have a higher risk of developing Bladder Infection.
- People with Bladder Cancers or abnormal connections between their bladder and intestines also have a higher risk of developing Bladder Infection.
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- Often times, treatment may be based
on the symptoms alone, without additional tests.
- Urinalysis (in which
the urine is tested for the presence of an infection) is the
most common method of diagnosis.
- Blood and Urine cultures may
also be required.
- In women with frequent infections (more than three a year), a full examination of the urinary tract (usually by a specialist) needs to be done. Also, it is sometimes recommended that all men who develop any type of urinary infection, including Bladder Infections,
need to be seen by a specialist.
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- Antibiotics are needed to treat the infection. There are a wide variety of antibiotics available for the treatment of Bladder Infections.
Talk to your doctor to see which one is best for you.
- Some infections only require 3 days
of antibiotics. Other more serious infections require 7 to
10 days of antibiotic therapy.
- Women who have more than three Bladder Infections
per year may need prophylactic therapy (i.e., they are given
antibiotics to prevent repeat infections).
- The most common antibiotics used
for prophylactic therapy are trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole,
nitrofurantoin, and cephalexin. The
antibiotics are taken once a day or at the time of
intercourse.
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