Cystitis is inflammation of the bladder, usually caused by a bacterial infection, but can also be protozoa, fungi, and aggressive chemicals. Women get sick more often. Every second woman has suffered from cystitis at least once in her life. Bacteria, often E. coli, enter a woman’s bladder through the wide and short urethra (urethra). In women, the urethra, vagina and anus are located nearby, the entrance to them is open, which allows intestinal bacteria to easily infect the urethra.

Symptoms of cystitis:

• Dysuric disorders: frequent urination in small portions. Sometimes urinary incontinence occurs, the urge to urinate more frequently at night
• Urine is slightly cloudy, with a sharp, unpleasant odor or with unchanged blood in the last portion.
• Pain: cutting, spastic in the lower abdomen, intensifying when the bladder is full. Pain and burning also accompany urination.
• The manifestation of general symptoms of the disease - fever, chills, weakness, malaise - does not always appear.

If cystitis is not treated, the infection from the bladder will reach the kidneys. Symptoms of kidney infection include both those associated with cystitis and fever, chills, back pain, nausea and vomiting. A woman with symptoms of a kidney infection should consult a urologist immediately u.

For the first 2-3 days, the woman should remain in bed; recovery for uncomplicated acute cysts occurs by 6-7 days.

Risk factors

• Sexual activity: Cystitis is sometimes called “honeymoon cystitis.” During sex, bacteria can spread from the perineum to the urethral opening. In addition, friction of the penis with insufficient lubrication of the vagina causes the appearance of small abrasions, which contribute to the growth of bacteria and their settlement in the urethra.
• Use of contraceptives - diaphragms and condoms. Diaphragms can cause incomplete emptying of the bladder, and condoms can lead to irritation of the mucous membrane.
• Chemical contraceptives kill good bacteria in the vagina, promote the growth of bad bacteria, and can also lead to allergic reactions.
• Menopause is accompanied by a drop in estrogen levels, which leads to decreased vaginal elasticity, decreased lubrication secretion, and changes in vaginal pH. This set of age-related changes increases the risk of bacterial infection. With low estrogen levels, the tone of the pelvic floor muscles and the tone of the bladder muscles decreases, as a result - incomplete emptying of the bladder, concentrated urine, irritation of the mucous membrane, proliferation of bacteria and infection of the mucous membrane.Concentration of urine also causes limited fluid intake.

The free flow of urine from the bladder may be difficult if

• blockage of the urinary tract by stones, birth defects, cysts;
• fetal weight during pregnancy; during pregnancy, it is very important to promptly treat cystitis to prevent kidney inflammation;
• pelvic organ prolapse.

High risk of cystitis in women with diabetes, spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis.

• Vaginal infections, such as thrush or trichomoniasis, dramatically increase a woman's risk of cystitis.
• Genetic predisposition to recurrent infections.
• Personal hygiene (wiping from back to front when visiting the toilet).

Forecast

Acute cystitis can sometimes go away on its own, without the need to see a doctor. For this, a woman is recommended

• drink more liquid (exclude tomato juice, citrus fruits and their juice), drink a solution of baking soda - a teaspoon per glass of water - to alkalize urine;
• Place a bottle of hot water wrapped in a towel between your legs - relieves pain when urinating.

If a woman is pregnant and symptoms of cystitis persist for more than a day or she has fever, chills, back pain, nausea and vomiting (symptoms of a kidney infection), she should consult a doctor immediately. Cystitis during pregnancy can lead to high blood pressure and the birth of a low birth weight baby.

The doctor will definitely prescribe a urine test. For analysis, it is necessary to take a urine sample from the “middle” of the stream in order to exclude contamination by bacteria from the vagina and perineum: in the toilet, flush the first portions into the toilet, then pee into the container, and flush the remainder from the bladder into the toilet.

Features of the diet for acute cystitis

Drink plenty of water: vegetable and fruit juices, fruit compotes; it’s great if you add lingonberries, cranberries, and tart cherries to the compote; mineral water (calcium chloride), herbal kidney teas with bearberry, corn silk, horsetail, thyme and honey instead of sugar. It is necessary to exclude or limit coffee, strong tea, and alcohol. Avoid spicy seasonings, salted, fried, smoked, sour, and canned vegetables.

Moderate painkillers are recommended to relieve pain. Modern European tactics for treating cystitis reasonably recommend avoiding taking antibiotics for the first 48 hours. Antibiotics should only be prescribed by a urologist who is familiar with the latest international guidelines for the treatment of cystitis..

Cystitis is an inflammatory process localized in the mucous membrane and submucosal layer of the bladder. Cystitis is the most common manifestation of urinary tract infection in childhood. Meanwhile, the diagnosis of cystitis in our country is still not accurate enough: either the disease goes unrecognized (symptoms are attributed to), or there is overdiagnosis (cystitis is interpreted by the doctor as). Both are bad: unrecognized cystitis remains untreated and can cause complications or become chronic; and treatment of pyelonephritis is longer and more serious than what a child needs for cystitis.

Prevalence of cystitis in children

There are no accurate statistics regarding cystitis in children in Russia precisely because of problems in diagnosis. Cystitis occurs in children of any age, but if among infants the prevalence of cystitis is approximately the same in both boys and girls, then in preschool and school age girls get sick much more often (3-5 times) than boys. The higher susceptibility of girls to cystitis is due to the following factors:

• features of the anatomical structure: in girls, the urethra is shorter and wider, natural reservoirs of infection are located closely (anus, vagina);
• physiological hormonal and immunological changes in the body of teenage girls both predispose to infections in the genital tract (colpitis, vulvovaginitis) and reduce the protective properties of the mucous membrane of the bladder.

Types of cystitis

Cystitis can be classified according to several criteria:

1. By origin: infectious (the most common form in children) and non-infectious (chemical, toxic, medicinal, etc.).
2. According to the course: acute and chronic (in turn, divided into latent and recurrent).
3. According to the nature of changes in the bladder: catarrhal, hemorrhagic, ulcerative, polypous, cystic, etc.

Causes of cystitis in children

As already mentioned, most often in children (and in adults too) infectious cystitis is found.

It is clear that the cause of infectious cystitis is infection. It can be:

• bacteria (Escherichia coli, Proteus, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus, Chlamydia, etc.);
• viruses (adenovirus, parainfluenza virus, herpes viruses);
• fungi (usually from the genus Candida).

Penetration of the pathogen is possible in several ways:

• ascending (from the genital tract in the presence of colpitis, vulvovaginitis in girls or balanoposthitis in boys, the infection rises up the urethra);
• descending (descends from previously infected kidneys);
• lymphogenic and hematogenous (with the blood or lymph flow, microorganisms penetrate into the bladder from distant foci of infection - in the tonsils, lungs, etc.);
• contact (microorganisms penetrate the wall of the bladder from nearby organs - during inflammatory processes in the intestines, uterus and appendages).

Normally, the mucous membrane of the bladder has fairly high protective properties, and when microorganisms are introduced into the bladder, cystitis does not always develop. Additional predisposing conditions contribute to the “fixation” of microorganisms on the mucous membrane and the occurrence of the disease:

1. Violation of the normal and constant flow of urine (stagnation of urine due to irregular emptying of the bladder; various congenital anomalies that impede the exit of urine from the bladder; functional disorders -).
2. Violations of the protective properties of the cells of the mucous membrane of the bladder are observed with dysmetabolic disorders, when salts (oxalates, urates, phosphates, etc.) are constantly present in the urine, as well as with hypovitaminosis, long-term use of medications.
3. Reduced general defenses of the body (due to hypothermia, chronic fatigue and stress, severe infections, frequent colds).
4. Insufficient supply of oxygen and nutrients to the bladder mucosa due to circulatory disorders in the pelvic organs (with tumors, chronic tumors, prolonged immobilization or lack of movement, for example, during bed rest after injury or surgery).

Causes of chronic cystitis

The transition of acute cystitis to the chronic form is facilitated by:

• untimely and inadequate treatment of acute cystitis;
• congenital and acquired diseases of the genitourinary system (neurogenic dysfunction of the bladder; diverticula - protrusions of the bladder wall in which urine accumulates and stagnates; dysmetabolic disorders; vulvovaginitis).

Symptoms of cystitis in children

Acute cystitis

Urinary disorders

The leading symptom of acute cystitis is urination disorders (dysuria). In most cases, there is frequent urination combined with pain. Children complain of pain, stinging and burning in the lower abdomen, above the pubis during, as well as immediately before and after urination. In some cases, abdominal pain may be constant, worsening during and after urination. Sometimes there are difficulties at the end of the act of urination (the child cannot pee due to pain or he needs to strain to completely empty the bladder). In boys, droplets of fresh blood may appear at the end of urination (terminal hematuria).

The frequency of urination is directly related to the severity of cystitis - in mild forms, urination increases slightly (3-5 times compared to the age and individual norm); in severe forms, the child has a desire to urinate literally every 10-15 minutes (the child constantly runs to the toilet, pees in small portions). In this case, the urge does not always result in urination (false urge). An imperative (imperative) urge to urinate is characteristic when the child is unable to delay the onset of urination. Against this background, urinary incontinence and cases of enuresis are possible even in older children.

In some sick children, instead of increased frequency of urination, the opposite phenomenon is observed - rare urination or urinary retention, which is caused by spasm of the sphincter and pelvic floor muscles or the child’s voluntary inhibition of the urge due to fear of pain.

Changes in urine color

If you visually evaluate urine collected in a transparent container or even just in a pot, then changes in its color and transparency become noticeable. Due to the presence of leukocytes and bacteria in the urine, it becomes cloudy; with hemorrhagic cystitis, the urine acquires a brownish-red color (“meat slop”). In addition, lumps of mucus and a cloudy suspension of desquamated epithelial cells and salts are often found in the urine.

Other symptoms

Acute cystitis, even severe, is not characterized by fever and symptoms of intoxication (lethargy, loss of appetite, etc.). The children's condition is generally satisfactory, their health is disturbed only by frequent urge to urinate and pain.

Features of acute cystitis in infants and young children (up to 2-3 years of age)

Young children are not able to describe their feelings and present clear complaints. Cystitis in babies can be suspected by increased frequency of urination, restlessness and crying during urination.

Due to the tendency of the child’s body at an early age to generalize (spread) the inflammatory process, with cystitis, general signs of infection may be observed (fever, refusal to eat, lethargy, drowsiness, pale skin, vomiting and regurgitation). However, such symptoms are always suspicious of pyelonephritis or other infections and require a more thorough examination of the child.

Chronic cystitis

Chronic cystitis can occur in two forms - latent and recurrent.

In the recurrent form, periodic exacerbations of the chronic process with symptoms of acute cystitis (frequent painful urination) are noted.

The latent form is almost asymptomatic; children experience periodic urgency, urinary incontinence, and enuresis, to which parents (and sometimes doctors) do not pay due attention, attributing them to age-related characteristics or neurological disorders.

Diagnosis of cystitis

Urine for analysis should be collected in a special plastic container.

The doctor may suspect cystitis already at the stage of examining the child and interviewing the parents, when characteristic complaints are identified (frequent painful urination in the absence of symptoms of intoxication and temperature). To clarify the diagnosis of acute cystitis, the following is carried out:

1. (it contains from 10-12 to completely covering the entire field of view; single erythrocytes in ordinary cystitis and many erythrocytes in hemorrhagic; traces of protein; a large amount of transitional epithelium; bacteria; mucus and often salt). It is advisable to collect urine for general analysis in the morning, after a thorough toilet of the external genitalia, from the middle portion (the child first urinates in the potty, then in the jar, then again in the potty).
2. General blood test (for uncomplicated cystitis there should be no changes).
3. Two-vessel urine sample: first urine sample in an amount of about 5 ml is collected in one container, a second larger portion (about 30 ml) is collected in a second container, but not all of the urine - the child should complete urination in the potty. The test allows you to distinguish inflammation in the external genital organs and urethra from cystitis: with inflammatory changes in the genital organs, the most pronounced inflammatory changes are observed in the first portion, with cystitis - the changes are the same in both samples.
4. Urine culture for sterility and sensitivity to antibiotics: collection is carried out in a sterile tube from the middle portion of urine (in a hospital setting, urine is collected with a catheter). Then sowing on nutrient media is performed; after the growth of colonies of microorganisms, their sensitivity to antibiotics is determined. The method is more often used to diagnose chronic cystitis and allows you to select the optimal treatment (antibiotic and/or uroseptic).
5. Ultrasound of the bladder before and after miction (urination) - in acute cystitis and exacerbation of chronic cystitis, thickening of the mucous membrane and suspension in the cavity of the bladder are detected.
6. Endoscopic examination (cystoscopy) used to clarify the diagnosis of chronic cystitis. A thin probe equipped with a light bulb and a projection camera is inserted through the urethra, and the doctor is able to visually examine the mucous membrane. Cystoscopy in young children (up to 10 years old) is performed under anesthesia. During the period of exacerbation of the disease, such examination is not performed.
7. Additionally, during the period of subsidence of acute cystitis or after the exacerbation of chronic cystitis has stopped, other methods are used: voiding cystography (the bladder is filled with a contrast agent and a series of photographs are taken during urination); study of the rhythm of urination (recording the time of urination and the volume of urine excreted for at least 24 hours); uroflowmetry (determining the speed and intermittency of urine flow - the child urinates in a toilet equipped with a special device).

How to distinguish cystitis from frequent urination due to ARVI and colds

With colds, children often experience increased urination, associated with reflex effects on the bladder, as well as an extended drinking regime.

But, unlike cystitis, urination increases moderately (5-8 times compared to the age norm), with no pain or stinging during or after urination, no urgency or other disorders (enuresis, urinary incontinence).

How to distinguish cystitis from pyelonephritis

For pyelonephritis, the leading symptoms are precisely the symptoms of general intoxication (high temperature, vomiting, pale skin, lethargy, lack of appetite), and urination disorders fade into the background. Abdominal pain due to pyelonephritis is usually constant, and at the same time there is usually pain in the lumbar region. With cystitis, the main symptom is dysuria and abdominal pain associated with urination; there is no intoxication or it is mild.

In addition, with pyelonephritis, specific changes are noted in the general blood test (increased number of leukocytes with an increase in the content of rods, acceleration of ESR, signs).

Treatment

Acute cystitis

Treatment of acute cystitis is usually carried out at home (under the supervision of a nephrologist or pediatrician). Only in case of complicated cystitis (with the development of pyelonephritis or suspicion of it), as well as in case of cystitis in infants, hospitalization is required.

Treatment of acute cystitis consists of prescribing an extended drinking regime, diet and medications.

Extended drinking regime

To ensure a continuous flow of urine and wash out microorganisms from the cavity of the bladder, the child needs to drink plenty of fluids (at least 0.5 liters before the age of one year and more than 1 liter after a year; at school age - from 2 liters per day). Drinks that have anti-inflammatory and uroseptic (cleansing and disinfecting the urinary tract) properties are especially recommended - these are fruit drinks, compotes and decoctions of cranberries, sea buckthorn, lingonberries; tea with lemon, black currant. You can give compotes (from dried fruits and fresh berries), boiled water, diluted freshly squeezed juices (watermelon, carrot, apple and others), still mineral water. The drink is served warm, constantly throughout the day (including at night).

Diet

The diet of children with cystitis excludes foods that have an irritating effect on the mucous membrane of the bladder, increase blood flow to it and aggravate the symptoms of inflammation: hot seasonings, marinades and smoked foods, salty dishes, mayonnaise, strong meat broths, chocolate. In the presence of dysmetabolic disorders, appropriate diets are recommended:

1. For oxaluria and uraturia, it is necessary to exclude sorrel, spinach, green onions, parsley, limit meat products - meat is served boiled, every other day. It is not recommended to consume broths, offal, smoked meats, sausages, cocoa, strong tea, and legumes.
2. With phosphaturia, milk is limited; dairy and fermented milk products are temporarily limited; the diet is enriched with acidifying foods and drinks (fresh juices, berries and fruits).

Drug treatment

In most cases, for the treatment of acute cystitis, the use of uroseptics (Furagin, Furamag, Nevigramon, Monural) is quite sufficient. Sulfonamides (biseptol) are used less frequently. It is not advisable to prescribe antibiotics, but in some cases the doctor may recommend them (especially if pyelonephritis is suspected) - protected penicillin drugs (amoxiclav, flemoclav solutab, augmentin) and 2-3 generation cephalosporins (zinnate, ceclor, alfacet, cedex) are usually used. A uroseptic or antibiotic is prescribed orally for a course of 3-5-7 days, depending on the severity of the disease, response to treatment and dynamics of laboratory parameters. The choice of drug and determination of the duration of treatment is carried out only by the doctor.

To relieve pain, painkillers and anti-spasm drugs are used (no-spa, papaverine, baralgin, spasmalgon).

Features of the treatment of chronic cystitis

It is advisable to treat chronic cystitis in children in a hospital setting, where there are more opportunities for a detailed examination of the child and a full range of treatment procedures.

The principles of treatment of chronic cystitis are the same: extended drinking regimen, diet and drug therapy. However, great importance is attached to determining the cause of the chronicity of the process and eliminating it (treatment of vulvovaginitis, strengthening the immune system, etc.).

In drug treatment, they are more often used, and for a long time (14 days or more), alternating 2-3 drugs. And after the antibiotic, a long-term course of uroseptic can be prescribed, in a small dosage - to prevent relapse.

Due to long-term antibacterial therapy, children are likely to develop, therefore individually selected prescription of drugs and their combinations (, acipol, narine, etc.) is necessary.

Local prescription of uroseptics and antiseptics (instillation of medicinal solutions into the cavity of the bladder), physiotherapy (UHF, mud applications, iontophoresis with antiseptics, inductothermy, medicinal electrophoresis) are widely used.

For persistently recurrent cystitis, immunomodulatory drugs (a course of Viferon or Genferon) are indicated.

Features of monitoring a child after cystitis

The child is observed in the clinic at the place of residence - for 1 month after acute cystitis and at least a year after treatment of chronic cystitis, with periodic general urine analysis and other studies on the recommendation of the attending physician. Children can be vaccinated no earlier than 1 month after recovery (and vaccinations against diphtheria and tetanus - only after 3 months).

Prevention of cystitis

Prevention of cystitis comes down to general strengthening measures, prevention of hypothermia, careful hygiene of the genital area, frequent changes of underwear, as well as timely treatment of inflammatory diseases of the genital organs. In addition, constant consumption of fluids (water, including mineral water, compotes, fruit drinks) is recommended, especially in children with the presence of salts in the urine.

Which doctor should I contact?

If signs of acute cystitis appear in a child, you should contact your pediatrician or family doctor. If necessary, he will prescribe a consultation with a urologist or physiotherapist. In the chronic course of the disease, an examination by an immunologist, infectious disease specialist, or endoscopist is required.

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Cystitis is both an independent disease and combined with other diseases of the internal organs. Difficult stool, diarrhea and cystitis at the same time are ailments that occur quite often in the female half of the population, especially during pregnancy. The connection between cystitis and stool disorder is caused by various reasons. Why does diarrhea or constipation occur with inflammation of the bladder, and how to eliminate these ailments?

general information

Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bladder is a fairly common urological disease in women, less often in men.

It manifests itself with many unpleasant symptoms, one of which is stool disorder - diarrhea or constipation. Often, disturbed stool itself acts as a provocateur for the development of the inflammatory process, and at the same time is a symptom of other internal diseases.

Constipation as a symptom of cystitis

• disturbance of intestinal motility due to the presence of the hormone progesterone in the body;
• hemorrhoids, anal fissures;
• enlargement of the uterus and its pressure on the intestines;
• low fluid intake and lack of vitamins in the diet.

Reasons for appearance

If you eat improperly, constipation may occur.

Difficulty passing stool is often caused by:

• poor nutrition (excessive consumption of “junk” food, dry food);
• leading a sedentary lifestyle (lack of moderate physical activity and limited movement);
• changes in a woman during menopause, causing constipation and exacerbation of certain diseases;
• intestinal obstruction, which causes stool retention;
• hemorrhoids and anal fissures;
• exposure to frequent stress and depression;
• insufficient fluid intake;
• the use of medications that have this side effect.

Methods of disposal

The best method of getting rid of constipation is to eliminate the cause that caused it. After the cause of constipation disappears, the inflammatory process in the bladder will stop. Self-therapy methods aimed at eliminating the source of illness:

1. If the cause of difficult fecal passage is poor nutrition, you should review it and remove foods that negatively affect the intestines.
2. Introduce the following foods into your diet: fiber-rich fresh fruits, boiled vegetables, dairy products, dried fruits.
3. If you have a sedentary lifestyle, take care of yourself and increase physical activity.
4. Eliminate the source of stress and take anti-anxiety medications.
5. If the cause is hemorrhoids, treat cracks and bumps in a timely manner (medically or surgically).
6. Take laxatives to soften stool and painlessly remove it from the body. This will significantly alleviate the condition.

Many people consider urinary pathology to be a disease of adults, but this assumption is deceptive. Cystitis often develops in children, and manifests itself at different ages. The symptoms of cystitis in children and adults are similar; the main difference in the treatment of cystitis in children is that it is carried out in more delicate ways and requires increased caution.

general information

The organs of the urinary system are covered inside with a delicate inner membrane. Inflammation of this membrane caused by infection is called cystitis. An inflamed bladder is a common pathology. It can manifest itself at the age of 4 years and up to 12 years, much less often from 1 year to 3 years, and cystitis in infants is extremely rare.

In girls, the pathology occurs 3 times more often than cystitis in boys. This trend is due to the individual anatomy of the genitourinary system. Sexual consistency in infection is observed from the age of 3 years and older.

Forms and types of pathology

Types of disease

According to the location, the inflammatory process occurs:

• diffuse (affects the entire surface of the organ);
• local (observed in a separate area of ​​the mucous layer).

Depending on the causes of bladder inflammation in children, the pathology is divided into the following types:

• Hemorrhagic. An infectious pathogen provokes inflammation of the mucous membrane. Its gradual destruction occurs, which increases the permeability of blood vessels. Blood enters the urine and this affects the color and smell.
• Catarrhal. Inflammation spreads only to the mucous membrane of the organ.
• Ulcerative. The walls of the organ become covered with ulcers.
• Interstitial. The reason for the development of this species is far from infectious. A characteristic feature is a reduction in the size of the organ.
• Trigonite. Local inflammation affecting the bladder triangle.
• Cervical. The inflammation process is localized in the neck of the organ.

Forms of pathology

Cystitis detected in a child can occur in two forms:

• Acute - can develop over several hours, affecting the surface layer of the organ mucosa. Acute cystitis in children can be cured in 7-10 days with timely assistance.
• Chronic is the result of frequent repetitions of the acute form. Chronic cystitis in children develops in parallel with the presence of an underlying disease. It is more difficult to cure; treatment takes a long period of time.

Reasons for the development of pathology

Speaking about the reasons that provoked the pathology, it is important to understand what caused the inflammation process. In each individual situation, the circumstances that caused the pathology are completely different. But the main causes of cystitis in children that provoke its development are identified. The disease is usually caused by infection with microbes.

Pathogens

The most common route for the development of infection in the bladder is ascending; much less often, the infection enters and develops along the descending route or through the blood.

• infectious infection of the bladder through the ascending route (through the urethra);
• penetration of infection through a descending route in kidney disease (pyelonephritis).

Streptococci and staphylococci serve as a source of bladder pathology.

The main irritants that provoke urinary pathology include:

• streptococcus;
• staphylococcus;
• coli;
• chlamydia;
• ureaplasma.

Other reasons

Additional reasons predisposing to the development of the disease include:

• Hypothermia of the body, leading to a decrease in local defense, opening the way for infection. An enhancing factor is the presence of a source of infection in the kidneys or genitourinary system.
• Failure to maintain personal hygiene can provoke cystitis in a girl, especially at a young age, when the protective forces of the mucous membrane are minimal and the entrance to the urethra is wide.
• Hereditary predisposition.
• Decreased immunity, including due to taking medications.

At-risk groups

Cystitis in adolescents and schoolchildren is much more common than in infants or newborns. Moreover, the main percentage of diseases is observed in little girls. A distinctive characteristic of the course of the disease in girls is that cystitis occurs together with urethritis. Cystitis in a boy and urethritis occur as independent diseases. In babies under one year old, the development of cystitis in boys and girls is exactly the same. Children most at risk are:

• with low immunity;
• congenital abnormalities of the genitourinary system;
• with the chronic course of other diseases.

Symptoms and signs of pathology in children

Signs of cystitis in young children are not always distinguished by their specific manifestation, therefore it is customary to divide symptoms according to age criteria:

• clinic of symptoms in newborns and children under 1 year of age;
• symptom clinic for older children.

This division is quite justified, because making a diagnosis in a child is difficult precisely because he cannot describe his feelings, and parents with cystitis in children do not always notice unusual behavior in time. Children both at 2 and 10 years old are aware of the feeling of poor health and will describe unpleasant symptoms.

Younger age

Cystitis in young children is characterized by nonspecific symptoms:

• anxiety;
• moodiness;
• cry;
• urine color changes (from light to dark);
• the number of urinations decreases or, conversely, the process of urination occurs more frequently;
• Infants experience urinary retention due to spasm;
• Body temperature rises extremely rarely.

Older age

With cystitis, an increase in temperature is possible.

For this age, the manifestation of symptoms becomes more pronounced:

• pain in the lower abdomen (near the bladder), in the lower back, increasing when the bladder is filled and at the time of urination;
• false urge to urinate, decreased amount of urine, incontinence;
• changes in the physical and chemical characteristics of urine (cloudy, clumps, sediment, sometimes pus and a bad odor appear);
• the temperature rises, sometimes to very high levels.

Diagnosis of the disease

The doctor can make initial assumptions when examining the child and conducting a detailed interview with his parents. The specialist must clarify his assumptions and determine the correctness of the diagnosis after conducting the examination. Parents should know what tests help specialists make the correct diagnosis and select the necessary treatment:

• General urine analysis. The presence of leukocytes in it indicates an inflammatory process. In addition, the urine contains mucus, red blood cells and bacteria.
• To recognize what kind of infection is in the urine of children, doctors prescribe a urine culture. This analysis is used for the chronic form of the disease.
• Blood analysis. If additional complications are not added to the pathology, there will be no changes in the composition of the blood.
• Cystoscopy. Using an endoscope allows you to visually examine the condition of the bladder. At a younger age, the cystoscopy procedure is performed under anesthesia.

Treatment of pathology

How to help a child with cystitis? To achieve the fastest possible results, it is necessary to treat cystitis in children under certain conditions. First aid for cystitis includes:

• provide the child with rest and bed rest;
Treatment with antibiotics should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor.

Antibiotics are the main medicines for cystitis in children. The drugs perfectly suppress the development of infection, so the treatment of chronic cystitis cannot be done without them. When treating cystitis, tablets are prescribed for a long period of time (at least 14 days), always under the supervision of a doctor. Preference is given to drugs of the protected penicillin group “Augmentin”, “Amoxiclav”. In case of individual intolerance, Sumamed and Azithromecin are prescribed.

Treatment of acute cystitis is carried out with uroseptics “Furagin”, “Monural”, “Furamag”. Tablets and powders of sulfonamides (“Biseptol”) are used much less frequently. The advisability of taking antibiotics and the duration of the course of treatment are determined by the doctor. Pain in this form is relieved with painkillers and anti-spasm tablets (Baralgin, No-shpa, Spazmalgon).

Cystitis is an inflammatory process affecting the mucous membrane of the bladder. Children of both sexes and at any age are susceptible to the disease. The older ones will talk about unpleasant sensations, but the little ones only express concern by crying. Mothers may attribute this behavior to intestinal colic or teething. This is the danger and insidiousness of cystitis. If left untreated, it will become chronic. Therefore, it is better to visit a doctor once again than to face the consequences of an untreated disease.

Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder, which most often occurs against the background of a bacterial infection.

Why does the bladder become inflamed?

Cystitis begins with infection in the bladder:

• viruses;
• fungi;
• bacteria.

The development of the disease is facilitated by favorable conditions for the active reproduction of pathogenic microflora:

• hypothermia;

Girls are 6 times more likely to have this disease compared to boys: It is easier for infections to ascend into the bladder through a wide and short urethra than through a long and narrow one.

The disease is most often diagnosed at the ages of 1-3 and 12-16 years. In the first case, this is due to the fact that small children can play outside or on a cold floor for a long time, even if they are very cold. And teenagers become hypothermic because they want to look fashionable and dress inappropriately for the weather.

The disease in young children is difficult to detect on time.

Types of disease

Classification of cystitis according to the reasons leading to inflammation:

• Primary- the disease arose independently.
• Secondary- it developed against the background of other pathologies (bladder stones, urethritis and others).

Varieties for reasons:

• Infectious- caused by pathogenic microorganisms.
• Non-infectious- developed against the background of allergies, treatment with certain medications, as a result of chemical or thermal exposure.

According to the flow form:

• Spicy- inflammation with bright and rapidly developing symptoms.
• Chronic- a sluggish and weakly manifesting disease. It is characterized by alternating periods of exacerbation and remission (when nothing bothers you).

By severity:

• Cervical(Only the bladder neck is affected).
• Trigonite(inflammation of the mucous membrane of the cystic triangle).
• Diffuse(the surface of all walls is included in the process).

Attention! If acute cystitis is not treated, it becomes chronic. It is important to detect it in a timely manner to avoid complications.

Symptoms of cystitis in children

You can suspect the disease in infants based on the following signs:

Children of preschool and school age may additionally complain of:

• lower abdominal pain;
• difficulty and frequent urination;
• urinary incontinence (sometimes);
• false urge to urinate.

Attention! An increase in temperature in young children who cannot describe their condition can be associated with a cold. And you will treat your baby for it, and not for cystitis. Then the disease will turn into a chronic inflammatory process that is difficult to treat.

How to distinguish from pyelonephritis

The bladder and kidneys are located close. These organs are connected by the ureters. Infection can travel along them. If cystitis develops first, then if untreated, the pathogens rise up the canals and can cause pyelonephritis. And vice versa: Inflamed kidneys can lead to bladder infection. These diseases are sometimes diagnosed at the same time.

The symptoms of these two diseases are similar. Only with pyelonephritis the pain is not in the lower abdomen, but in the lumbar region. Possible nausea and vomiting. But only a doctor can tell exactly what the baby is sick with, having the results of diagnostic tests in hand.

Before treatment, you must undergo a medical examination.

What will happen if left untreated?

Cystitis is a disease that It is easy to treat, but takes a long time. And if you do not follow the doctor’s recommendations, the disease will result in consequences:

• - infection ascending through the ureters and kidney damage.
• Vesicoureteral reflux is the movement of urine from the bladder to the kidneys, which is unnatural for her.
• Impaired functions of the bladder neck (incontinence develops).
• Loss of elasticity in the walls of the bladder and its reduction in size as a result of the replacement of muscle tissue with connective tissue. This leads to partial or complete loss of organ functions and causes rupture when there is a large accumulation of urine (very rare).
• Infections of the genital organs, which can result in infertility (especially in girls).

The insidiousness of the disease lies in the fact that in its acute course it lasts 7-10 days. Then he retreats. And if, based on the absence of symptoms, you stop taking medications, the inflammation will become chronic with all possible consequences.

To prevent this, you need to complete the treatment, even if nothing has bothered you for a long time.

Elena writes:

“After 4 days of treatment, I noticed that my two-year-old daughter stopped experiencing pain when urinating. The frequency of urges decreased to normal, the behavior became normal. I stopped giving medications because I think it is harmful for healthy children to take them. I am not my child’s enemy, but it turned out that my decision became the reason for cystitis becoming chronic. And only thanks to the doctor we were able to achieve stable remission.”

Even if the symptoms no longer make themselves felt, interrupting the medication is prohibited.

Diagnosis of the disease

Diagnosis of cystitis in children may include:

To avoid cystitis, if you have any complaints about pain in the lower abdomen or sediment in your urine, make an appointment with your pediatrician.

You can go to a urologist - a specialist in the urinary system, or a nephrologist - a doctor responsible for kidney health. It would be a good idea to consult a surgeon to rule out appendicitis.

What to do? - Doctor Komarovsky answers

If you suspect cystitis, Dr. Komarovsky recommends immediately contacting a doctor for diagnosis. The sooner treatment begins, the less pain will bother the child, and the easier it is to prevent the disease from becoming chronic.

After confirmation of the diagnosis, complex therapy begins, which includes:

Treatment of cystitis in children

In case of inflammation of the bladder, it is important to provide conditions for a speedy recovery and reduce the risk of developing consequences. To do this, you need to follow all the doctor’s recommendations, diet and take prescribed medications in combination with traditional medicine.

General rules

A sick baby needs:

Attention! Mothers often ask whether it is possible to bathe a child during cystitis. Yes, but not in cold water. Taking a bath, swimming in a pool or even the sea have a beneficial effect on the condition of the bladder in chronic forms of the disease. It’s just important not to get too cold!

Drug treatment

Cystitis is usually caused by bacteria. Therefore, the disease needs to be treated. But a doctor must prescribe them, based on the results of urine culture for flora. Only by determining the type of pathogen can you select a drug to which the infection will be 100% sensitive.

If the study shows that the inflammation is viral or fungal in nature, taking antibacterial agents will not cure the disease. On the contrary, a bacterial infection may be associated with it. Then the healing process will take a long time.

Antibiotics are prescribed for treatment.

The table below provides a list of popular drugs intended for the treatment of cystitis, indicating their effect, course duration and dosage by age.

Drug (form of medicine)	Action	Treatment regimen
(tablets 125 or 250 mg, powder for suspension 125 mg/5 ml or 250 mg/5 ml)	Antibacterial	Course: 7 days. Up to 12 years: 40 mg per kilogram of body weight per day, divided into 3 doses, with an 8-hour break between them. Example: weight 18 kg. Then the daily dose is 18×40=720 mg. For one dose: 720 divided by 3. This is 240 mg. Then it is convenient to take a 250 mg tablet or 5 ml suspension three times a day. From 12 and older: 375 mg three times a day (15 ml of suspension 125 mg/5 ml, or 7.5 ml of suspension 250 mg/5 ml, or tablets 250+125 mg, or 3 tablets of 125 mg).
Monural (granules in bags of 2 and 3 g).	Antibacterial	Once at the first symptoms of cystitis for children over 5 years old in the amount of 2 g (1 small sachet). Dilute in a glass of water and give to the child.
Canephron (oral solution and tablets).	Antimicrobial, antispasmodic, diuretic and anti-inflammatory.	Course: from 2 to 4 weeks. Children under 7 years of age: 15 drops of solution three times a day. Children from 7 to 14 years old: 25 drops of solution or 1 tablet 3 times a day. Children over 14 years of age: 50 drops or 2 tablets three times a day.
Furadonin (50 mg tablets).	Antibacterial.	Course: 1-1.5 weeks. Daily dose: 5-8 mg per kilogram. Divided into 4 doses. Calculation example: child’s weight is 20 kg. Then you can take 100-160 mg of the drug per day. A regimen of half a tablet (25 mg) 4 times a day is suitable. To prevent relapses in chronic cystitis, it is allowed to use Furadonin at a dose of 1-2 mg per kilogram of body weight per day in one dose. At 20 kg it is 20-40 mg. A suitable option is 0.5 tablets. Duration - 3-6 months.

Tatyana wrote:

“My son has chronic cystitis secondary to pyelonephritis. Exacerbations are frequent. And treatment with antibacterial drugs several times a year for 10 days is a serious blow to the child’s body. The doctor recommended Monural. You only need to take it once - at the first symptoms. The antibiotic remains inside for several days and during this time manages to cope with the infection.”

Traditional methods of treatment

People with cystitis advise:

Svetlana writes in her review:

“During cystitis, my daughter often cried. Her lower abdomen ached. She constantly wanted to go to the toilet, but either could not, or urination was painful. Relief came from sitz baths with chamomile infusion. We did them several times a day.”

Attention! In order not to harm the child, resort to folk remedies only after consulting a doctor.

Registration at the dispensary

When drug treatment ends, the doctor prescribes control tests to make sure that the disease is defeated. After this, the little patient is registered and given a medical exemption from vaccinations (usually for six months). Children with a chronic form of the disease are not deregistered, but those who have had acute cystitis are deregistered after 6 months.

During clinical observation it is necessary:

Important! A urine sheet is a table in which the results of all urine tests are recorded, indicating the date of delivery. The document is maintained by the parents of the registered child. You need to take it with you when visiting a doctor.

Prevention of cystitis in children

To prevent the disease from returning, follow these preventive measures:

• Avoid hypothermia.
• Maintain personal hygiene. The baby should change his underwear every day and wash himself (from front to back).
• If you complain of pain or difficulty urinating, take your child to the doctor immediately.

Cystitis is a disease that is easily treatable. Relief occurs within 2-3 days. This is where parents make the mistake of stopping giving medications. If the treatment course is not completed, the disease becomes chronic and often returns. Therefore, the main task is to finish the medications according to the regimen indicated by the doctor in the prescription. This will prevent the development of complications.

Alisa Nikitina