Acute cystitis is a bacterial infection of the bladder or lower urinary tract. Acute means sudden or severe.

See also:

Cystitis - recurrent Cystitis - noninfectious Interstitial cystitis Urinary tract infection

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REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M.
Back to TopAlternative

Names

Uncomplicated urinary tract infection; UTI - acute; Acute bladder infection; Acute bacterial cystitis;
Back to TopCauses

Acute cystitis occurs when the lower urinary tract (urethra and bladder) become infected by bacteria. Most cases are caused byEscherichia coli (E. coli), a bacteria found in the intestines. When you urinate, you help remove bacteria from the bladder. However, sometimes the bacteria grow so fast that some remains in the bladder. Cystitis is rare in men. Women are more likely to have cystitis. It is much easier for the bacteria to travel into a woman's bladder, because it does not have to travel as far. The condition is very common, and most often affects sexually active women age 20 to 50. Sexual intercourse may increase the risk of cystitis.. However, the infection may also occur in those who are not sexually active. Older adults also have high risk for developing cystitis. This is due in part to conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostatitis, and urethral strictures. The following also increase your risk for cystitis:

Bowel incontinence Diabetes Blockage of the bladder or urethra HIV History of analgesic nephropathy or reflux nephropathy Immobility or decreased mobility Insertion of instruments into the urinary tract (such as a catheter or cystoscope) Not drinking enough fluids
In-Depth Causes
Back to TopSymptoms

Abnormal urine color (cloudy) Frequent or urgent need to urinate

Foul or strong urine odor Need to urinate at night (nocturia) Painful urination (dysuria) Pressure in the lower pelvis Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

Chills Fatigue Fever Flank pain Mental changes or confusion * Nausea and vomiting Pain during sexual intercourse Penis pain (rare) * Often in an elderly person, mental changes or confusion are the only signs of a possible urinary tract infection.
In-Depth Symptoms
Back to TopExams

and Tests

Urinalysis commonly shows white blood cells (WBCs) or red blood cells (RBCs). There may be blood in the urine. Urine culture (clean catch) or catheterized urine specimen may be done to find out what kind of bacteria is causing the infection and to determine the appropriate antibiotic for treatment.
In-Depth Diagnosis
Back to TopTreatment

Cystitis should be promptly treated. Antibiotics are used to fight the bacterial infection. You should finish the entire course of antibiotics. Commonly used antibiotics include:

Amoxicillin Cephalosporins Ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin Doxycycline Nitrofurantoin Sulfa drugs (sulfonamides) such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim) A medicine called phenazopyridine (Pyridium) may be used to reduce the burning and urgency associated with cystitis. Over-the-counter products that increase acid in the urine, such asascorbic acid or cranberry juice, may be recommended to decrease the concentration of bacteria in the urine. Follow-up may include urine cultures to make sure that bacterial infection is gone.
In-Depth Treatment

Back to TopOutlook

(Prognosis)

Most cases of cystitis are uncomfortable but disappear without complication after treatment.
Back to TopPossible

Complications

Acute kidney failure Chronic or recurrent urinary tract infection Kidney infection
Back to TopWhen

to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of cystitis, or if you have already been diagnosed and symptoms get worse. You should also call if new symptoms develop, particularly fever, back pain, stomach pain, or vomiting.
Back to TopPrevention

Keeping the genital area clean and wiping from front to back may reduce the chance of introducing bacteria from the rectal area to the urethra. Drink plenty of fluids to allow for frequent urination to flush the bacteria from the bladder. Urinating immediately after sexual intercourse may help eliminate any bacteria that may have been introduced during intercourse. If you do not urinate for a long period of time, the bacteria has time to multiply. Frequent urinating may reduce risk of cystitis in those who are prone to urinary tract infections. Drinking cranberry juice prevents certain types of bacteria from attaching to the wall of the bladder and may reduce your risk of infection.

Cystitis is a term that refers to bladder inflammation that results from any one of a number of distinct [1] syndromes. It is most commonly caused by a bacterial infection in which case it is referred to as [2] a urinary tract infection.

Signs and symptoms

Pressure in the lower pelvis Painful urination (dysuria) Frequent urination (polyuria) or urgent need to urinate (urinary urgency)

Need to urinate at night (nocturia)

[edit]Differential

diagnosis

There are several medically distinct types of cystitis, each having a unique etiology and therapeutic approach: Traumatic cystitis is probably the most common form of cystitis in the female, and is due to bruising of the bladder, usually by abnormally forceful sexual intercourse. This is often followed by bacterial cystitis, frequently by coliform bacteria being transferred from the bowel through the urethra into the bladder. Interstitial cystitis (IC) is considered more of an injury to the bladder resulting in constant irritation and rarely involves the presence of infection. IC patients are often misdiagnosed with UTI/cystitis for years before they are told that their urine cultures are negative. Antibiotics are not used in the treatment of IC. The cause of IC is unknown, though some suspect it may be autoimmune where the immune system attacks the bladder. Several therapies are now available. Eosinophilic cystitis is a rare form of cystitis that is diagnosed via biopsy. In these cases, the bladder wall is infiltrated with a high number of eosinophils. The cause of EC maybe attributed to infection by Schistosoma haematobium or by certain medications in afflicted children. Some consider it a form of interstitial cystitis. Hemorrhagic cystitis, can occur as a side effect of cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, and radiation therapy. Radiation cystitis, one form of hemorrhagic cystitis is a rare consequence of patients undergoing radiation therapy for the treatment of cancer. Several adenovirus serotypes have been associated with an acute, self-limited hemorrhagic cystitis, which occurs primarily in boys. It is characterized by hematuria, and virus can usually be recovered from the urine. In sexually active women the most common cause of urinary tract infection is from E. coli and Staphylococcus saprophyticus. [edit]Diagnostic

approach

A urinalysis may reveal white blood cells (WBCs) or red blood cells (RBCs). A urine culture (clean catch) or catheterized urine specimen may be performed to determine the type of bacteria in the urine and the appropriate antibiotic for treatment.

[edit]Treatment Treatment depends on the underlying cause.