Cystitis: What Should I Do And Know If A Urinary Infection Recurs? Rhebyjthutj
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Cystitis is the most frequent urinary infection in women. It is so common that it will most likely affect all women at some point in their lives. It is estimated that cystitis affects between 50-80% of women, and recurs in 25% . Although we are not facing a serious health condition, it can affect the well-being of many women.
"At least once in her life, each woman will have a cystitis infection and, probably, one in three of those times will have a new episode after the initial infection", points out Dr. José Emilio Hernández, head of the Urology Service. of the General University Hospital of Villalba , integrated into the Madrid public network that works to effectively prevent and treat these infections, especially recurrent cystitis .
Urinary infections: attention to symptoms
Cystitis is the significant growth of bacteria in the urinary tract, which generates an inflammatory response and therefore bothersome symptoms. The most common signs are usually discomfort in the lower abdomen; urination often and urgently; expulsion of few drops of urine; pain when urinating in the form of burning or stinging needles; not feeling relief after urinating; a reddish-pink urine; General malaise such as chills and changes in heart rate or pulse.
It should be taken into account, as Dr. Hernández warns, that not always when these symptoms appear does it mean that there is a urinary infection. Moreover, "up to 30-40% of women in these circumstances have negative urine cultures," admits the expert.
In these cases, it is best to acquire habits to reduce the symptoms, such as increasing fluid intake, avoiding the consumption of irritating substances such as coffee, tea or alcohol and, if necessary, taking a pain reliever. If, after all these measures, the problem is not solved, it is most likely necessary to carry out "a urine culture to confirm the growth of germs and the need to follow an antibiotic treatment", the expert qualifies.
According to data from the Spanish Society of Family and Community Medicine ( semFYC ), more than 95% of urinary tract infections are bacterial , and Escherichia coli is the most frequent causative agent (80-90%).
Why do urine infections recur?
In some cases, a woman may experience repeat or recurring urinary tract infections when she has had three or more episodes in a year or two in the last six months . Re-infections represent 80% of infections. These are new infections caused by different strains, either by other species or by the same species, generally E.coli , but with a different susceptibility pattern.
These reinfections usually appear more than two weeks after the initial infection, and mainly affect young women, in whom it is related to sexual activity; in postmenopausal women, in whom there is an estrogen decline, and in patients with underlying urogynecological pathology, especially related to urinary incontinence or the presence of postvoid residue, according to the Spanish Association of Urology (AEU ) .
Often, the picture is repeated because some mistakes are made, such as inadequate intimate hygiene —both by excess and by default—; inadequate treatment, due to abuse or misuse of antibiotics; or digestive disorders such as irritable colon, ulcerative colitis or constipation. Some women present reinfections without an apparent cause, although there is also a genetic predisposition. Thus, in the case of having a family member with recurrent infections or cystitis, the chances of having cystitis increase.
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Despite suffering repetitive cystitis, it must be taken into account that in most cases it will not have any further clinical significance because it does not spread to other organs or have more complications. The probability of cystitis generating pyelonephritis is low, around 3%.
The role of autovaccines in recurrent urinary tract infections
Following a series of guidelines and good hygiene habits is key to preventing infection. In the opinion of Doctor Hernández, an adequate intake of liquids and frequent bladder emptying stand out , especially "after sexual intercourse", affirms the expert, who also highlights other measures such as avoiding tight underwear and excessive hygiene of the area genital because it can "alter the natural defense mechanisms".
To prevent recurrence, there are also vaccines made from the patient's urine and that act by stimulating one's own defenses and increasing antibodies in the body's mucous membranes, including the genito-urinary. This type of vaccine has been shown in up to 91% of cases to reduce the number and duration of UTIs, medical visits and diagnostic tests, time off work and absence from work, as well as the need to take antibiotics.
The objective of this promising therapy is to prevent the appearance of new episodes, especially in women with repeated or recurrent symptoms. Therefore, they are indicated in those women who have had three or more episodes of cystitis per year, or two or more in the last six months.
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