Bladder infections are a real "woman's disease." That has everything to do with the typical female anatomy.
Ten questions about a nasty ailment:
Ten questions about a nasty ailment:
1. What is a bladder infection?
In the kidneys, the liquid waste, the urine, is filtered from the blood. This urine flows via the ureters (ureters) to the urinary bladder, where it is temporarily stored. The urine collected in this reservoir will be discharged via the urethra (urethra) in good time. When the mucous membrane of the urinary bladder becomes infected with bacteria from the urine - in most cases it is an Escherichia Coli - we speak of a cystitis or cystitis.
2. Why do women in particular suffer from it?
Young girls are 20 times more likely to have a bladder infection than boys, and adult women are even 50 times more likely than men. The fact that bladder infections are a typical woman's condition is all about human anatomy. In women, vagina and ass are very close to each other, making it easier for bacteria from the gut to infect and colonize the vaginal mucosa. In addition, the urinary tract in women is only a few centimeters long, so that microbes reach the bladder quickly.
3. Are all women at the same risk?
Within the female population there are still a number of clear risk groups. This increases the risk of bladder infections as soon as a woman becomes sexually active. It is suspected that bacteria enter the urinary tract from the vagina and are pushed into the bladder during sexual intercourse.
Pregnant women more often suffer from bladder infections - sometimes even without significant symptoms - which moreover take off more easily. Because of the danger for mother and child, the urine of pregnant women must be checked regularly.
After the menopause, women still make very little female hormone (estrogen). This leads, among other things, to an increased susceptibility of the vaginal mucosa to bacterial infections and a dilution of the mucosa in the urethra. The result is that 20 to 50% of all older women sometimes suffer from a bladder infection.
4. And the men?
Men are naturally much better protected against urinary tract infections: the distance between the ass and the penis is quite large, the opening in the penis is very small and the dry skin around it is not a suitable breeding ground for bacteria. Moreover, the male urinary tract is also about 5 times longer than that of women, making it difficult for microbes to reach the bladder.
When an adult man experiences a bladder infection, an underlying cause is always sought. For example, a prostate enlargement can prevent complete emptying of the bladder, leaving behind urine that forms a breeding ground for bacteria.
5. What are the symptoms of cystitis?
A bladder infection is usually accompanied by very recognizable complaints such as: constantly urinating small amounts, having to get out of bed at night, a burning or painful feeling when urinating, cloudy urine, sometimes with traces of blood.
6. Do I have to consult a doctor?
If there is a suspicion of a bladder infection, a doctor's visit is recommended: the infection can quickly rise to the kidneys and affect the kidney tissue. At that stage, the bladder infection is usually also accompanied by fever, shivering and / or sweating, nausea, pain in the loins and the back and blood in the urine.
The doctor will take a urine sample and examine the urine for the presence of white blood cells, the indication of an inflammatory reaction. A bacterial culture is also carried out on the urine sample so that it is possible to determine which bacterium is responsible for the infection. In about 80% of the cases it is an infection with Escherichia Coli, a bacterium that is also involved in many vaginal infections.
see also article: Cystitis (cystitis): symptoms, causes and treatment
7. How is a bladder infection treated?
With a simple bladder infection, a short course of antibiotics is usually sufficient. Often the doctor will start this therapy before the result of the bacterial culture is known, to prevent the infection from rising and / or becoming too painful. Afterwards it is then possible to switch to a more specific type of antibiotics if necessary.
If the infection is accompanied by serious symptoms and fever, hospitalization and long-term antibiotic therapy may be necessary.
8. What if the problem keeps coming back?
When young children get a bladder infection one or more times in succession, a thorough examination is necessary. After all, there may be a congenital defect such as a urinary reflux. Normally the urinary tracts are formed in such a way that the reflux of urine from the bladder to the kidneys is excluded and the higher urinary tracts (ureters and kidneys) are therefore spared from infections. However, this reflux is possible with some children. In that case, surgery is necessary.
• In boys there may be congenital constrictions in the urinary tract, so that all urine is never urinated. The residual urine then forms a good breeding ground for microbes.
• In young adults, repeated bladder infections can have many causes. For example, it is possible that with an earlier infection the bacteria were not completely eradicated, because the course of antibiotics was stopped too early or because the most suitable antibiotic was not chosen.
• In women who are sexually active, the vaginal mucosa can be overgrown by bacteria, so that there is a constant infection. A bladder sag may be the reason that a little urine is constantly left in the bladder, making bacterial growth possible. Furthermore, kidney stones and problems in the upper urinary tract can cause repeated bladder infections.
• There is also another form of cystitis (also called interstitial cystitis or IC). Confusion with cystitis is obvious, especially if the symptoms are just starting. But there is a lot of difference. A bladder infection is an infection of the bladder mucosa, which is caused by bacteria. Interstitial cystitis starts the same but is not caused by a bacterium. Antibiotics do not help, if at all, and the pain slowly gets worse. The urinary bladder is much more inflamed, which causes pain in the lower abdomen or at the mouth of the urethra. How that inflammation arises is not yet known. It is clear that the pain will disappear temporarily after urinating. But when there is a bit of urine in the bladder again, the pain and urge to urinate returns. It is a vicious circle that continues day and night. Interstitial cystitis can worsen slowly, but often improve after three to ten years. Not much is known yet about the cause of bladder pain syndrome, although there are increasingly strong indications that their own immune system may have something to do with it.
9. How can I prevent bladder infections?
A lot of bladder infections could easily be prevented by drinking more WATER. 2 liters per day is a minimum. After all, in a bladder that is regularly filled and emptied, bacteria have little or no chance of attaching themselves to the bladder wall.
Another simple but effective measure: always pee before bedtime and after sexual contact.
Despite all advertisements, vaginal sprays, showers and even regular soap are not suitable for intimate hygiene: they disrupt the natural acidity of the vagina, making it easier for bacteria to grow out.
10. Is herbal tea useful?
There are quite a few herbal teas that claim to have a disinfecting effect and increased urine output, and are therefore recommended for the prevention of bladder infections: blueberry tea, white dead tea and birch tea are perhaps the best known. The effectiveness of these "grandmother's remedies" has not been scientifically proven, but 1 or 2 cups of these infusions per day does not harm and can already help to achieve the intended moisture intake of 2 liters.
