cystitis and pyelonephritis diagnosis, treatment, and prevention

1. How can you tell the difference between cystitis and pyelonephritis?
2. What is the best treatment for pyelonephritis?
3. What is the best treatment for cystitis?
4. What is the best antibiotic for cystitis?
5. What does pyelonephritis pain feel like?
6. What is the difference between cystitis and urethritis?
7. How long do you treat pyelonephritis?
8. What happens if pyelonephritis is left untreated?
9. What is the most common cause of pyelonephritis?
10. What triggers cystitis?
11. What can I drink for cystitis?
12. What should I eat if I have cystitis?

How can you tell the difference between cystitis and pyelonephritis?

It is usually caused by the bacterium Escherichia coli ('E coli'). A kidney infection is called a pyelonephritis and is usually more severe than a bladder infection alone, which is called cystitis. Pyelonephritis usually affects one kidney only.

What is the best treatment for pyelonephritis?

Outpatient oral antibiotic therapy with a fluoroquinolone is successful in most patients with mild uncomplicated pyelonephritis. Other effective alternatives include extended-spectrum penicillins, amoxicillin-clavulanate potassium, cephalosporins, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.

What is the best treatment for cystitis?

How you can treat cystitis yourself

• take paracetamol or ibuprofen.
• drink plenty of water.
• hold a hot water bottle on your tummy or between your thighs.
• avoid having sex.
• pee frequently.
• wipe from front to back when you go to the toilet.
• gently wash around your genitals with a skin-sensitive soap.

What is the best antibiotic for cystitis?

The first-choice agents for treatment of uncomplicated acute cystitis in women include nitrofurantoin monohydrate/macrocrystals, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX), or fosfomycin. Beta-lactam antibiotics may be used when other recommended agents cannot be used.

What does pyelonephritis pain feel like?

The two primary symptoms of pyelonephritis are pain in one flank, the area just beneath the lower ribs in the back, and fever. The pain can travel around the side toward the lower abdomen. There also can be shaking chills and nausea and vomiting.

What is the difference between cystitis and urethritis?

Unlike cystitis, urethritis resulting from infection is often caused by sexually transmitted organisms and urethritis is a sign of a sexually transmitted disease such as chlamydia or gonorrhea. Cystitis is an infection of the urinary bladder usually caused by bacteria that inhabit the rectum and G.I. tract.

How long do you treat pyelonephritis?

In the current International Clinical Practice Guidelines for the treatment of acute pyelonephritis, the recommended duration of treatment for pyelonephritis is 7 days for fluoroquinolones, 10–14 days for β-lactams and 14 days for trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole.

What happens if pyelonephritis is left untreated?

Untreated infection can damage the kidneys and lead to long term problems. In rare cases, kidney infections can lead to kidney disease, high blood pressure, or kidney failure. If kidney infection spreads to the bloodstream it can cause a serious problem called sepsis.

What is the most common cause of pyelonephritis?

The main cause of acute pyelonephritis is gram-negative bacteria, the most common being Escherichia coli. Other gram-negative bacteria which cause acute pyelonephritis include Proteus, Klebsiella, and Enterobacter. In most patients, the infecting organism will come from their fecal flora.

What triggers cystitis?

Cystitis can also be caused by damage or irritation to the urethra and bladder.
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Other causes of cystitis

• friction from sex.
• chemical irritants, such as those in perfumed soap or bubble bath.
• damage caused by a catheter or surgery on your bladder.
• radiotherapy to your pelvis or treatment with certain chemotherapy medicines.

What can I drink for cystitis?

Changing what you eat and drink may ease your cystitis and stop it coming back. Drink plenty of fluids (ideally water-based drinks) to help flush out any bacteria. Don't drink too much caffeine (eg in tea and coffee), alcohol or acidic drinks (eg fruit juices), as these may make your symptoms worse.

What should I eat if I have cystitis?

THE BASICS OF HEALTHY EATING

• Go with whole fruit more often than juice.
• Select unsweetened fresh, frozen or canned fruits.
• Drink 100% fruit juice (e.g., pear nectar).
• Choose vitamin C-rich options, often.