Definition of Cystitis

Cystitis refers to inflammation of the bladder. The term urinary tract infection is sometimes used in reference to bladder inflammation caused by a bacterial infection, which is a common condition.

Causes

• Most commonly caused by bacterial infections, cystitis can also develop due to certain medications, radiation treatment and sensitivity to certain chemicals.

Symptoms

• Common symptoms seen with cystitis are strong urges to urinate, passing frequent but small amounts of urine and a low-grade fever.

Risk Factors

• Certain risk factors can increase your likelihood of developing bladder infections, such as being a sexually active woman, having an enlarged prostate or bladder stones.

Diagnosis

• Your doctor will record your symptoms and may perform additional tests, such as a urinalysis, inspection of your bladder and various imaging tests such as x-ray or ultrasound to determine if you have cystitis.

Treatment

• Most cases of cystitis can be cleared up rather easily with the use of antibiotics, in order to eliminate the bacterial infection causing it. In cases where the cause is unknown, other medications or surgery may be tried.