Cystitis in men: causes, types, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, complications, prevention

Most often, men over the age of 40 experience bladder inflammation, which is associated with a natural decline in immunity. Men with infectious genitourinary lesions are susceptible to cystitis.Cystitis is a rare disease in men. Because of the long urethra, it is difficult for the infection to penetrate the bladder. Urine flushes away pathogens that enter the urethra, but if it manages to lodge in the urethra wall, movement through the urethra is so slow that cells of the immune system have time to kill the infectious agent.This explains the 10 times lower incidence of pathological diagnosis in men than in women. The disease occurs only when factors conducive to the development of a large number of pathogenic microbiota are present against the background of a marked decrease in immunity. This condition often results in a full bladder.

Causes of cystitis in men

The disease occurs when E. coli, cocci, or a genitourinary infection invades the bladder. The following changes facilitate this process:

• Under the influence of radiation, immunity is reduced and people suffer from diabetes and blood diseases;
• The immune system reacts negatively;
• Inflammatory processes of the prostate, kidneys, ureters;
• Pressure on the bladder due to prostate cancer or benign growth;
• Fistula formation in the rectum;
• septicemia;
• The damage that sexually transmitted infections cause to the body;
• reverse urinary flow;
• Bladder injury, including bladder injury resulting from surgical intervention in the pelvic area;
• Protozoan viruses penetrate the blood and lymph fluid.

Exposure of the body to low temperatures for a long period of time can lead to a sharp decline in immunity and the development of pathology.

Types of cystitis

Depending on the severity of symptoms, the disease is divided into acute and chronic. Acute cystitis is generally classified as occurring for the first time, occurring no more than once per year, or occurring at least twice per year. After completion of all therapeutic measures, no inflammatory processes were detected in the bladder, and control laboratory tests confirmed the normalization of all indicators.When formulating treatment plans, standard treatment plans may be modified to take into account whether the disease is primary or secondary. Primary cystitis is an independent occurrence of cystitis and is not a complication of another pathology. Exposure to drugs, toxic, infectious or chemical agents may lead to acute pathological changes. Parasitic infections can also cause pathology. Chronic forms can be infectious, traumatic, neurotrophic, or radiation induced.Chronic cystitis is characterized by periods of rest that are replaced by exacerbations during the course of the disease. There are 3 types of chronic forms:

• latent.The disease occurs without obvious symptoms and is discovered during routine physical examinations. The pathology has rare periods of exacerbation with symptoms consistent with acute cystitis.
• persistent.Approximately 2 exacerbations are recorded per year. Symptoms of this disease are moderate.
• Interstitial.This form is characterized by frequent exacerbations and the presence of pain even during rest. This type of cystitis is considered the most dangerous and difficult to treat type, causing rapidly progressive destruction of the bladder wall.

In most cases, when classifying chronic conditions, urologists focus on the severity of organ wall damage, the severity of symptoms, rather than the frequency of recurrences.In medical practice, a classification is also used that allows the pathology to be subdivided according to criteria of the affected part of the bladder. In this case, cystitis is usually distinguished from:

• cervix.The inflammatory process is located in the neck of the bladder, affecting its sphincters. Men face the problem of frequent urination and incontinence. The process of emptying the bladder itself can become painful.
• Three square stones.The inflammatory process begins in the sphincter of the affected organ and spreads to the ureteral orifice. This form often causes urinary reflux. When urine backflows, infectious agents can penetrate the kidneys, causing pyelonephritis. The man suffered from urinary problems, including incontinence in which blood or pus was contained in the urine.
• diffusion.Its distinctive feature is bladder wall damage.

When identifying damage to the mucosa and its underlying structures, it is not enough for the urologist to diagnose diffuse cystitis; he also needs to clarify the subtype of the disease that characterizes the course of the inflammatory process and the damage caused by it.To characterize bladder wall damage during cystitis, an endoscopic approach to biopsy is used. The study of biological material and the analysis of accompanying symptoms allow us to further classify the pathology into:

• catarrhal, will only cause redness and irritation of the mucous membranes;
• hemorrhagic, causing bleeding;
• cystic, in which cysts form on the damaged wall;
• ulcerative, so named from the appearance of ulcers;
• cellulitis, diagnosed when pus forms in problem areas;
• gangrenous, recorded in the presence of tissue necrosis.

There are also some types of disease that are extremely rarely recorded, such as genitourinary schistosomiasis or diseases caused by fungal infections. The inflammatory process may be accompanied by the appearance of numerous plaques on the mucous membrane of the organ; in this case, cystitis is defined as cystitis.

Characteristic symptoms of male cystitis

Pathological symptoms may vary slightly depending on whether the lesion is acute or chronic, the type of pathogen and the nature of the lesion. The severity of the disease depends on the severity of symptoms and the extent of bladder damage.Acute cystitis is characterized by impaired urination, which becomes painful and difficult and is accompanied by frequent urges to urinate, including at night. Patients often complain of a false urge to urinate and a feeling that the bladder is not completely empty. The urine itself becomes black and cloudy and may have a distinctive pungent odor or contain pus or blood impurities.In most cases, the inflammatory process causes an increase in body temperature and severe localized pain in the groin, scrotum and urethra. Intoxication of the body can cause general weakness, lethargy, and decreased concentration. In some forms of pathology, urinary incontinence is documented. As the disease progresses, urination begins to be accompanied by an obvious burning sensation. In the chronic form of the disease, the intensity of symptoms is less pronounced, and high temperatures are rarely recorded. With latent cystitis, pathological signs may be completely absent; the presence of an inflammatory process can only be detected through laboratory tests.Interstitial cystitis is associated with a markedly increased urge to urinate and with persistent, persistent pain in the suprapubic area. General changes in the body can be attributed to the development of anxiety, irritability, and progressive depression.

Diagnosis of cystitis

Making the diagnosis requires a visit to a urologist, who conducts a personal examination of the patient and studies a range of complaints. The patient needs to undergo a rectal examination procedure. The doctor inserts a finger into the rectum to check the condition of the prostate. This method allows you to determine whether your symptoms are related to prostatitis or prostate enlargement.The next stage is a referral for laboratory tests, which will not only confirm the presence of the inflammatory process, but also determine the type of infecting agent in order to select the drug with the greatest sensitivity to it. The list of laboratory tests includes:

• General urinalysis.The development of cystitis is manifested by an increased concentration of leukocytes in biological fluids, the presence of mucus, bacteria, epithelial cells or blood impurities.
• General blood analysis.Changes in the indicator indicate the severity of the pathology. The list includes tests for leukocytosis and increased eosinophil concentrations.
• Seeding potBy studying pathogens in the urine or on the walls of the urinary tract, their susceptibility to the effects of various antimicrobial drugs can be assessed.
• Infection detectionSexually transmitted diseases.

If the results obtained give a vague picture and do not allow a clear determination of the patient's condition, additional studies may be performed, including biochemical blood tests, immunograms, and assessment of prostate-specific antigen concentrations.Additionally, during a comprehensive examination, instrumental diagnostic methods are used:

• Cystography and cystoscopy;
• Ultrasound examination of kidneys and prostate;
• Uroflowmetry.

Bladder ultrasound provides the most detailed image of the condition of the bladder, but in the acute course of the pathology it is not possible to fill the organ with urine to the required limits, which precludes the use of this method.

Treatment of cystitis in men

The course of treatment can only be prescribed by a doctor. For mild or moderate pathology, outpatient treatment is possible, including regular follow-up examinations with a urologist. If the condition is severe, with acute urinary retention, severe pain, or bleeding, hospitalization may be required.Surgical treatment is rarely used; indications for surgery are acute urinary retention in the presence of tissue necrosis or prostatic adenoma. In other cases, conservative treatment methods are used.When acute cystitis is diagnosed, men are advised to stay in bed for 3-5 days. He will need to follow a diet that eliminates foods or drinks that irritate the bladder wall:

• Alcohol;
• Strong tea and coffee;
• Pickled or smoked foods;
• Hot spices.

Patients need to increase fluid intake to 3 liters per day while avoiding carbonated and energy drinks. To suppress the inflammatory process, patients take a combination of antibacterial drugs, antiseptics and antispasmodics. In addition, herbal decoctions with mild anti-inflammatory and significant antibacterial effects can be used, such as those based on chamomile and calendula.To relieve moderate pain, you can also use a heating pad in the lower abdomen, but this method is contraindicated with hemorrhagic or tuberculous pathological forms. Microenemas using narcotics can relieve acute pain but should only be used with the permission of the attending physician. Treatment of acute cystitis rarely lasts longer than 14 days.Treatment of chronic cystitis includes measures to eliminate factors that support and initiate the inflammatory process. If congestion is present, treat with massage and appropriate medication; if stones or prostatitis are found, take steps to remove them. After determining the susceptibility of the pathogen, antibiotic treatment is selected.Chronic cystitis can be treated not only with medication, but also with physical therapy. The second group involves inserting a catheter into the bladder and flushing it with an antibacterial or antiseptic solution (such as one based on sea buckthorn oil). Additionally, electrophoresis, mud therapy, and induction heat therapy are used.For tuberculous cystitis, drugs that inhibit the activity of pathogens and fish oil-based drops can be used.When treating pathologies in the form of radiation, instillation of regenerative agents is also used, but if the lesions are extensive, plastic surgery is recommended. To treat interstitial cystitis, a variety of medications are used, including pain relievers, hormones, antibacterials, anti-inflammatory drugs, and antihistamines.Herbal decoctions are used as adjunctive treatment. When preparing herbal teas, use the dried flowers or leaves of chamomile, St. John's wort, nettle, and eucalyptus. These drugs are mild, have no significant impact on the immune system, and stimulate the body's natural protective functions. Treatment lasts up to 1 year, and the herbal mixture must be changed every 2 months.

complications of disease

Without prompt medical attention, the infection may enter the kidneys and cause pyelonephritis or urinary reflux. In some forms of pathology, fistula formation can become a complication. Injury to the bladder sphincter does not always result in urinary incontinence; acute urinary retention may also occur.

Prevent cystitis

The development of disease, including protection against sexually transmitted infections, can be prevented by maintaining close relationships. Men need to monitor the overall status of their immunity, which requires prompt treatment of all infectious diseases, combating prostatitis and annual physical exams. Quitting smoking, leading an active lifestyle, and avoiding hypothermia can help prevent cystitis.Cystitis in men is rarely diagnosed, but that doesn't mean this pathology is harmless. As immunity decreases and the body undergoes changes caused by natural aging (after 40 years of age), the risk of developing pathologies increases significantly.It must be remembered that the disease may be asymptomatic for some time, so men should not refuse preventive medical tests that can detect inflammation at an early stage.