What are the signs and symptoms of cystitis?
The signs and symptoms of cystitis include: passing small amounts of urine, burning sensation, stinging, a feeling of urinary urgency or incontinence, blood in the urine, discomfort in the lower abdomen, low back pain, fever, frequent urination, waking up at night to urinate often, cloudy urine, foul-smelling urine, a feeling of nausea, and general malaise.
If you experience any of the above symptoms, you may be suffering from cystitis or a urinary tract infection.
What preventive measures should I take?
If you are prone to chronic or recurrent episodes of cystitis, there are several ways to help prevent these episodes. Not all of them may apply to you, but over time, it is important to understand what the causes are.
What diet should I follow?
Diet
- Avoid alcohol, caffeine, carbonated drinks, and fruit juices.
- Drink water-based fluids such as herbal teas or cranberry juice.
- Cranberry juice helps prevent organisms from adhering to the bladder and urethral walls, thereby inhibiting the development of infections. It is a preventive measure, and its effect may take several weeks to reach the desired result.
- Maintain daily fluid intake at around 1.5 liters per day.
- Avoid spicy foods, acidic foods, pickles, vinegar, beans, onions, and any other foods you know irritate your bladder.
- Try to avoid constipation, as it can lead to incomplete emptying of the bladder.
Hygiene
A microorganism called E. coli develops in the intestine and can often enter the bladder and cause infection.
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and rinse well after every bowel movement.
- Wash one hand again and gently clean your anus. Never wash the vagina or urethra with the same hand. Rinse thoroughly.
- Fill a medium-sized bottle with warm tap water. The water should be warm — neither cold nor hot. The combination of warm water and soap helps remove oil residues.
- Sit on the toilet and pour the warm water over the perineum. Gravity will allow the water to run from front to back, passing over the anus.
- Use your other hand to clean the entire perineal area as the water flows from the bottle. Remove any trace of soap.
- Dry the area well. Use a separate towel or a dry piece of cloth. A large towel is not necessary.
This simple procedure will prevent all E. coli infections. All women should adopt it.
- Avoid toilet paper, bidets, water basins, and washcloths.
- Prefer showers over baths.
- Never use powders, antiseptic or antibiotic creams, vaginal deodorants, or anti-itch creams.
- Avoid using tampons.
Sexual intercourse
- Wash the perineal area before intercourse.
- The use of spermicides increases the risk of urinary infections, and the upper part of the condom can alter the angle of the bladder, facilitating the entry of microorganisms.
- After intercourse, urinate and then pour cold water using a bottle over the perineum.
For those suffering from chronic conditions, specialists recommend having an antibiotic available so that a single dose can be taken at the first signs of discomfort. Of course, prevention is better than treatment.
