Cystitis...?

[Katt]

A girl friend of mine is prone to cystitis: turns out it
recurs several times a year, in spite of the antibiotics /
vitamin C / cranberry treatments everyone knows about. So can
I ask the good folks hereabouts if they know of anything else
that stands even a slight chance of making a difference...?

Ta!

Katt.

[Montygram]

Tell her to stop consuming any food that has more unsaturated
fat content than whole milk dairy. You can go beyond this and
just use fresh coconut oil if you want to speed up the
process. She is suffering from arachidonic acid overload,
which causes the "-itis" diseases.

See my new post, Will the real "essential fatty acid"
hypothesis please stand up!, for specifics, or read my other
posts - just search this group for montygram.

[Fresh~Hors]

Katt wrote:
> "montygram" <nazztrader@lycos.com> wrote in message news:11-
> 31079319.527277.83270@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> > Tell her to stop consuming any food that has more
> > unsaturated fat content than whole milk dairy. You can go
> > beyond this and just use fresh coconut oil if you want to
> > speed up the process.
>
> Worth a try! Thanks!

She should go back to her physician. And you to yours. The
simplist answer is it's a couple problem and you both may need
to be treated. Read the following.

Cystitis Written by Mr John Macfarlane, consultant urological
surgeon and Dr Paul Klenerman, specialist

What is cystitis?

Cystitis is an infection of the bladder, but the term is often
used indiscriminately and covers a range of infections and
irritations in the lower urinary system. It causes burning
sensations during urination and a frequent need to urinate.

How do you get cystitis?

Infection from intestinal bacteria is by far the most frequent
cause of cystitis, especially among women, who have a very
short urethra (the tube through which the urine passes from
the bladder to the outside). Normally, urine is sterile (there
are no micro-organisms such as bacteria present). Between 20
to 40 per cent of women will get cystitis in their lifetime.

However, it is possible to have bacteria in the bladder
without having any symptoms. There can be several reasons for
the bacteria settling in the bladder. When a person is unable
to empty the bladder completely by urinating, it is called
urine retention. The small drop which is always left behind
may contain bacteria. Conditions that may make it easier for
the bacteria to travel through the urethra include those
listed below.

Toilet hygiene

Particularly common among females, as they have a
shorter urethra than males and it is situated relatively
close to their anus (back passage). Women and girls must
dry themselves from front to back, towards the anus -
not the other way around - to avoid leading bacteria
from their intestine into their urethra.

Congenital deformity in the urinary system

In the case of repeated infections of the urinary
system, particularly among boys and young men, the
individual should be checked for a congenital (present
from birth) deformity somewhere in the urinary system
which prevents the complete emptying of the bladder.

People with a catheter

Everyone with a catheter (to drain urine) will have
bacteria in their bladder, usually without symptoms.
During the change of catheter, small lesions (damaged
areas) may appear, which may increase the danger of
infection (cystitis) and possible blood infection.

Men with an enlarged prostate

An enlarged prostate (male sex gland) prevents the
bladder from emptying completely.

Pregnant women

If pregnant women have bacteria in their urine, their
urine should be cultured twice, regardless of whether or
not they have any symptoms. If the same strains of
bacteria occur, they should be treated. Otherwise, there
is the risk of kidney infection and pre-term delivery
(if near the due date).

Other causes

'Honeymoon' cystitis

Cystitis in women related to increased frequency of
sexual activity.

Venereal diseases

Gonorrhoea and chlamydia infections may cause symptoms
similar to cystitis. Cystitis-like symptoms among young
sexually active men may be caused by venereal diseases.

Parasites

Particularly among people who have been in North Africa
or the Middle East. The bladder may be infested by
parasites - schistosomiasis or bilharzia (river
blindness). The symptoms are similar to cystitis, but
there are no bacteria in the urine.

Postmenopausal women

Due to lack of female sex hormones in postmenopausal
women, a range of changes take place in the whole body.
A consequence of this is that the urinary system is more
easily irritated by cystitis.

Contact dermatitis

Women using a deodorant or other potentially
irritating material on their genitals may develop
cystitis-like symptoms.

What are the symptoms of cystitis?

* Burning sensations or pain during urination.

* Frequent urination.

* Cloudy and foul-smelling urine.

* Pain directly above the pubic bone.

* Children under five years of age often have less
concrete symptoms, such as weakness, irritability,
reduced appetite and vomiting.

* Older women may also have no symptoms other than
weakness, falls, confusion or fever.

Who is at special risk?

* Women or girls who do not practice proper toilet
hygiene.

* Pregnant women.

* People with a congenital deformity in the urinary
system.

* Men with an enlarged prostate.

* People using a catheter.

Good advice

It is important to drink sufficiently, so the bladder is
flushed thoroughly.

During urination the bladder should be emptied completely. It
is a bad habit to sit on the toilet bent forward and reading
while urinating.

A trick is to place yourself backwards on the toilet, so you
lean against the wall. This posture is more suitable in
securing a complete emptying of the bladder than the usual
sitting posture.

Warm clothes on the lower part of the body will also help
prevent cystitis.

As a prevention, it may be helpful to drink cranberry juice
every day or take capsules. There is no doubt that this simple
and natural treatment brings relief to many women with
cystitis. It is thought that the cranberry juice works by
preventing common bacteria from 'sticking' to the walls of the
bladder and so preventing infection taking hold.

Urination immediately after sexual intercourse will flush out
most bacteria from the urethra.

Try to urinate at least once every three hours. Women who
avoid urination for long periods suffer from more infections
of the urinary system.

What treatments are available?

There are a number of products available from your pharmacist
to treat cystitis. These can be used unless a woman is
vomiting or if there is blood in the urine or if a woman is
pregnant in which case she should consult her doctor. Usually,
a single course of treatment clears up the problem, but if
symptoms persist after trying an over-the-counter remedy then
you should consult your doctor.

How does a doctor diagnose cystitis?

The most important examination of urine is done by chemical
testing (dipstick test), which is very quick, and by urine
culture where the specimen is sent to a hospital laboratory to
grow and examine the bacteria. The specimen must be fresh. It
is also important that the woman has separated her labia
(lips) during urination, to avoid bacteria from the skin and
vagina contaminating the specimen. If there is inflammation,
the doctor will identify bacteria and red and white blood
cells in the urine.

In the case of repeated, inexplicable, infections of the
urinary system, a referral should be made to a hospital for
tests such as ultrasound scanning or X-rays of the urinary
system and cystoscopy (telescopic examination of the bladder).

Future prospects

Some people, particularly women, may have repeated infections.
To avoid this, follow the good advice above. Women who have
more than two episodes of cystitis yearly may benefit from
medium term use of an antibiotic as protection against
infection. The effectiveness of long-term antibiotics (over 12
months) has not been clearly established.

References Cooper, B and Jepson, R. Recurrent cystitis
in non-pregnant women. Clinical Evidence Issue 5. June
2001 1338-1345

Jepson RG, Mihaljevic L, Craig J. Cranberries for preventing
urinary tract infections (Cochrane Review). In: The Cochrane
Library, Issue 1, 2000. Oxford: Update Software.

Jepson RG, Mihaljevic L, Craig J. Cranberries for treating
urinary tract infections (Cochrane Review). In: The Cochrane
Library, Issue 1, 2000. Oxford: Update Software.

The Cochrane Review Groups are working on further evidence:
Expected in Issue 2, 2000:

Albert X, Gosalbes V, Huertas I, Pereir=F3 I, Sanf=E9lix J,.
Interventions for preventing recurrent urinary tract infection
in women (Protocol for a Cochrane Review). In: The Cochrane
Library, Issue 1, 2000. Oxford: Update Software. Expected to
be published in Issue 2, 2000.

Lutters M, Vogt N. Antibiotics duration for treating
uncomplicated, symptomatic lower urinary tract infections in
elderly women (Protocol for a Cochrane Review). In: The
Cochrane Library, Issue 1, 2000. Oxford: Update Software.

Last updated 02.03.2005

[Katt]

"montygram" <nazztrader@lycos.com> wrote in message
news:1131079319.527277.83270@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> Tell her to stop consuming any food that has more
> unsaturated fat content than whole milk dairy. You can go
> beyond this and just use fresh coconut oil if you want to
> speed up the process.

Worth a try! Thanks!

Katt.