Cystitis (방광염)

On the Greek island of Kos is the teaching hospital founded by the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates (460-377 BC), also known as the founder of modern medicine. The structure was built onto a hillside, and each section corresponded to the appropriate section of the human body : The building on the hilltop was home to the study of mental illness, while the departments devoted to the bowels and bladder were at the base of the hill. It was in this lower section of the hospital that cystitis ― infection of the bladder ― was first studied.

 

Cystitis is triggered by a bacterial infection of the urinary bladder. Bacteria, most commonly Escherichia coli, make their way up through the urethra and multiply in the urinary tract. The resulting infection leads to a frequent, urgent need to urinate and a burning or painful sensation when urinating. Other symptoms include cloudy or bloody urine, a low fever, and pelvic pain. These days, cystitis is diagnosed with a urine analysis, in which a sample is screened for bacteria, blood, or pus and a culture is done to identify the offending organism. The most common treatment is antibiotics to kill the bacteria; symptoms usually clear up within a few days. Sometimes the cause is a sexually transmitted organism.

 

The bladder can also become inflamed without a bacterial infection. Chemical  irritants, such as products in bubble baths and spermicidal jellies, as well as trauma from sexual intercourse, can cause irritation. About 1 million people suffer from interstitial cystitis, chronic bladder inflammation that has been linked to an autoimmune disorder. Although there's no cure for interstitial cystitis, doctors can prescribe treatments to ease the condition, such as nerve stimulation or medication to relieve pelvic pain and urinary frequency.

 

 

Because they have shorter urethras, women are more likely to develop cystitis.

 

Pregnant women are particularly at risk, because pregnancy can interfere with the complete emptying of the bladder.

 

Compounds in cranberries have been shown to protect against cystitis by blocking bacteria from adhering to the urinary tract walls.