Cold bladder – how to treat?

We most often catch a cold in the summer. We then experience a characteristic, constant pressure on the bladder, accompanied by pain and a burning sensation when urinating. The chances of you contracting this unpleasant condition are unfortunately high, as it's one of the most common infectious ailments. It's certain that the symptoms of a bladder cold shouldn't be ignored, as it can lead to a serious illness. What is a bladder cold and how can it be treated? We explain below.

Chronic and acute bladder

There are several forms of urinary tract infections: asymptomatic and chronic inflammation of the urethra and cystitis, as well as acute urinary tract infection, including the kidneys. In asymptomatic infections, the patient reports no symptoms, and urinalysis results are often close to normal. However, this condition poses a health risk and can lead to severe infections, such as pyelonephritis. This form requires treatment in the presence of concomitant anatomical or physiological abnormalities, such as pregnancy or retrograde reflux into the ureters.

Acute infections are characterized by frequent urination, accompanied by pain, burning, fever, and even hematuria. Urine may also change color and odor. Inflammatory changes usually involve the mucous membrane of the urethra or bladder, sometimes also its deeper layers. Chronic infections have less severe symptoms. Pain, frequent urination, and sometimes intermittent difficulty urinating may occur.

What are the causes of cystitis?

Infection most often occurs via the ascending route. The main culprit is bacteria that reach the bladder through the urethra. The anatomical proximity of the terminal section of the large intestine and the genitals favors bacterial transmission to the urinary tract. The most common pathogen is Escherichia coli. Other microorganisms, such as Mycoplasma, Chlamydia, protozoa, and pathogenic fungi, also cause infection. Inflammatory processes occurring in organs adjacent to the urinary tract can also cause infection. Initially, the cause of the symptoms is determined primarily based on laboratory urine tests. In the case of infection, an increased number of white blood cells, sometimes red blood cells, and protein may be present in the urine.
Ultimately, the causative agent is identified based on a bacteriological test, known as a urine culture.

Who gets sick more often?

Women are more susceptible to bacterial urinary tract problems. This is due to their anatomical structure – the female urethra lies directly adjacent to the genitals and the final section of the digestive tract. The short female urethra does not provide a sufficient barrier against microorganisms entering the bladder.
An increase in the incidence is noticeable during the summer, when we swim in lakes and swimming pools.

How to treat a bladder?

Symptoms of infection, after treatment, usually subside within a few days. Managing acute symptoms quickly can help prevent recurrence and dangerous complications that can lead to kidney damage or even kidney failure.
It's important to remember that untreated urethritis can lead to the spread of inflammation to other parts of the urinary tract. A urinalysis is a basic screening test for urinary tract diseases. It can detect conditions such as nephritis, cystitis, and bacterial infections.

At CM Luxmed collection points, you can perform a general urinalysisand a culture with antibiogram. Urine for culture should be submitted in a sterile container, which can be purchased at a pharmacy. Always discuss the results with your doctor. In cases of recurrent infections, hematuria, fever, lower back pain, or more severe symptoms, it is recommended to schedule a consultation with a urologist in Lublin.

Frequently asked questions – FAQ