Smorgasbord Health Column – Family Health – Bacterial and Interstitial Cystitis – Causes and Treatments by Sally Cronin
Over the last posts I have focused on our kidneys and the urinary tract. Apart from kidney stones, cystitis is one of the most common conditions both men and women experience related to this system in the body.
Many people are misdiagnosed with the wrong type of cystitis and this has a direct effect on their treatment and recovery. Bacterial cystitis and Interstitial cystitis are easily confused so it is important to understand the differences and seek the correct medical diagnosis.
What Is Bacterial Cystitis?
Bacterial cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder caused by an infection that has developed either from external sources or within the urine itself.
It can affect both men and women, although it is more common in women due to the proximity of the urethra to the external reproductive organs. Bacteria can be introduced in a number of ways and also be the by-product of certain processes within the body.
- Poor hygiene is one of the main causes and in women it is always important to wipe front to back so that bacteria in faecal matter does not enter the vagina or the urinary tract.
