Understanding Cystitis – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Understanding Cystitis – Causes and Symptoms

There are several factors which can contribute to suffering from cystitis, such as not drinking enough (such as when on holiday in a hot climate), frequent sex, not wiping from front to back after going to the toilet, tight fitting clothing (such as bodysuits and skinny jeans) and bath cosmetics. In addition, the use of perfumed cosmetics in the genital area may cause further irritation.

In Opting Health, Raymond identifies the main symptoms associated with suffering from a bout of cystitis, being as follows:

• frequency in passing urine
• sudden urgency to pass urine
• burning pain on urinating
• difficulty initiating urination
• foul-smelling urine
• blood-stained urine

There are also some key signs that cystitis may have spread to the kidneys, such as fever, pains in the small of the back and lower abdominal pain. As it is always a possibility that untreated cystitis could develop into more severe kidney infections, always aim to seek treatment earlier rather than later.

How to Treat Cystitis – Natural Methods and Antibiotics

Cystitis is usually diagnosed by reporting symptoms to a doctor, although the only way to be totally sure is to have a urine sample tested. There are a range of treatments available for cystitis, including natural methods and a course of antibiotics. In The Essential Guide to Travel Health, Wilson-Howarth  highlights the following natural remedies for cystitis:

• Drink plenty of water.
• Drink water with a teaspoonful of bicarbonate of soda.
• Drink cranberry juice.
• Wear loose-fitting clothing.
• Avoid sex.

In addition to the above approaches, Jones recommends drinking blueberry juice, home-made parsley tea, chewing fresh parsley and the homeopathic remedy cantharis. A short course of antibiotics such as trimethropin may be prescribed, or amoxicillin, if signs are indicating the kidneys may be affected. However, trimethropin should not be taken whilst pregnant and amoxicillin is unsuitable for those with an allergy to penicillin.