Cystitis how long to go away

Back to Health A to Z. Cystitis is inflammation of the bladder, usually caused by a bladder infection. It's a common type of urinary tract infection UTI , particularly in women, and is usually more of a nuisance than a cause for serious concern. But some people experience episodes of cystitis frequently and may need regular or long-term treatment.

There's also a chance that cystitis could lead to a more serious kidney infection in some cases, so it's important to seek medical advice if your symptoms do not improve. Women do not necessarily need to see a GP if they have cystitis, as mild cases often get better without treatment. Try some self-help measures or ask a pharmacist for advice. They may test a sample of your urine for bacteria to help confirm the diagnosis. Most cases are thought to occur when bacteria that live harmlessly in the bowel or on the skin get into the bladder through the tube that carries urine out of your body urethra.

Women may get cystitis more often than men because their bottom anus is closer to their urethra and their urethra is much shorter, which means bacteria may be able to get into the bladder more easily.

Usually caused by bacteria, urinary tract infections are…. Everything you need to know about cystitis Medically reviewed by Xixi Luo, M. What is cystitis? Cystitis is a fairly common lower urinary tract infection. Share on Pinterest Cystitis is an infection of the bladder wall that can lead to ongoing discomfort. Share on Pinterest The prolonged use of a catheter can lead to cystitis. Share on Pinterest Cystitis can be treated with antibiotics.

Medically reviewed by Xixi Luo, M. Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals. Costs associated with obesity may account for 3. Related Coverage. What's to know about interstitial cystitis? Can essential oils treat a UTI?

Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph. What to know about urinary tract infections. Medically reviewed by University of Illinois. Some conditions cause symptoms that may be mistaken for cystitis - for example, vaginal thrush or genital herpes.

Also soaps, deodorants, bubble baths, etc, may irritate your genital area and cause mild pain when you pass urine. Your doctor or nurse may do a simple dipstick test on a urine sample to check for cystitis.

This can detect changes in the urine that may indicate an infection. It is fairly reliable and usually no further test is needed.

If the infection does not improve with treatment, or improves but then returns quickly, you will be asked to do a midstream specimen of urine MSU. This is then sent to the laboratory to confirm the diagnosis and to find out which germ bacterium is causing the infection. If your symptoms worsen or you develop a fever or pain in your loin you should see your doctor. You should also see your doctor if your symptoms do not improve by the end of taking the course of antibiotics or if they come back within two weeks of the course finishing.

Note : if you are pregnant or have certain other medical conditions, you should always be treated with antibiotics to prevent possible complications. Simple steps that may help to prevent cystitis include wiping your bottom from front to back after going to the toilet, passing urine after sex and making sure you don't get dehydrated.

The vast majority of women improve within a few days of developing cystitis. If you get cystitis frequently, there are some things you can try that may stop it coming back. However, it's not clear how effective most of these measures are. Drinking cranberry juice has traditionally been recommended as a way of reducing your chances of getting cystitis. However, large studies have suggested it doesn't make a significant difference.

In adults, cystitis doesn't usually cause a high temperature fever. If you have a temperature of 38C It can be difficult to tell whether a child has cystitis, because the symptoms can be vague and young children cannot easily communicate how they feel. Children with cystitis can sometimes also have symptoms usually found in adults, such as pain when peeing, peeing more often than normal and pain in their tummy.

Cystitis isn't usually a cause for serious concern, but the symptoms can be similar to several other conditions, so it's important to get a proper diagnosis. If you're a woman who has had cystitis before, you don't necessarily need to see your GP again. Cystitis is very common in women and mild cases often get better on their own. Speak to a pharmacist if you need any advice about treating cystitis. However, you should see your GP if your symptoms are severe or don't start to get better in a few days, you get cystitis frequently, or you're pregnant.

Children and men should always be seen by a GP if they have symptoms of cystitis, as the condition is less common and could be more serious in these groups. Cystitis is usually caused by a bacterial infection, although it sometimes happens when the bladder is irritated or damaged for another reason. Most infections are thought to occur when bacteria that live harmlessly in the bowel or on the skin get into the bladder through the urethra tube that carries urine out of your body and start to multiply.

Cystitis is much more common in women than men, probably because the anus back passage is closer to the urethra in women and the urethra is much shorter. There are a number of things that can increase your chances of developing an infection in your bladder.

Some of these are outlined below. If you're unable to empty your bladder fully, any bacteria that get inside may not be flushed out when you go to the toilet and can multiply more easily. For women who have been through the menopause , or are going through it, the lining of the urethra can shrink and become thinner because of a lack of the hormone oestrogen. The natural balance of bacteria in the vagina may also change, which can allow potentially harmful bacteria to become more common.

You're more likely to get cystitis if you have diabetes — a condition where the level of sugar in your body becomes too high. High levels of sugar in your urine can provide a good environment for bacteria to multiply, so any bacteria that get into the bladder are more likely to cause cystitis. Mild cystitis will usually clear up on its own within a few days, although sometimes you may need to take antibiotics. Women who have had cystitis before don't necessarily need to see their GP if the condition returns, as mild cases often get better without antibiotics.

You can try the self-help measures below or ask your pharmacist for advice.